WAS THE AGORA OF THE ITALIANS AN ÉTABLISSEMENT DE SPORT! *
Introduction
While one must always approach a subject as controversial as the function of the Italian Agora at Delos with caution, I am convinced that a solution to this problem is attainable. x Rather than having served as a slave-market (or as any other sort of market, for that matter), or as a vaguely defîned lieu de réunion or schola for the Italian collegia, the function of this building (fig. 1) should more properly be described as that of an all-purpose recreational facility, and more specifically as a combined palaestra, gladiato- rial arena, and bath complex.2 My reasons for this conclusion are architectural, epi-
* This paper would hardly hâve been possible, were it not for the assistance of the following people and institutions : Olivier Picard, Philippe Bruneau, Philippe Fraisse, Hervé Duchêne, Philippe Jockey, Pascal Darcque, and Kelly Christophi of the École française d'Athènes; William Coulson, David Mitten, Sara h Ale- shire, and Robert Bridges of the American School of Classical Studies ; Olga Palagia of the University of Athens ; Gottfried Gruben and Aenne Ohnesorg of the Institut fur Bauforschung in Munich ; H.W. Pleket of the University of Leiden ; John Contreni, Randy Roberts, David Parrish, and Gordon Young of Purdue University ; Joseph Alchermes of the University of Minnesota ; the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Purdue Research Foundation. I hereby express my sincerest gratitude to one and ail. Naturally, I alone am responsible for the argument and for any of the flaws which exist therein. (1) For the traditional view that it functioned as the gênerai meeting place of the Romans and Italians at Delos, see Th. Homolle, BCH 5 (1881), p. 390; 8 (1884), 116; Hatzfeld, BCH 36 (1912), 118; F. Durrbach, Choix d'inscriptions de Délos avec traduction et commentaire. (1921-22), p. 212; E. Lapalus, L'Agora des Italiens, EAD XIX (1939), p. x, n. 5 — hereafter Lapalus ; P. Roussel, Délos, colonie athénienne. (1916), p. 305. For the argument that the building served as a slave market, see M. Cocco, "Sulla funzione dell'Agora degli Italiani di Delo", PP 25 (1970), p. 446-449; F. Coarelli, L'"Agora des Italiens" a Delo : II mercato degli schiavi?" in Delo e l'Italia (1983), p. 119-146 — hereafter Coarelli, Delo. For the response of Ph. Bruneau, see "L'Agora des Italiens servait-elle de marché aux esclaves?", BCH 99 (1975), p. 267-311; "Deliaca 44 : L'Agora des Italiens était-elle un marché aux esclaves?", BCH 109 (1985), p. 557-564, and "Deliaca 49 : Lee propylées et autres accès de l'Agora des Italiens", BCH 111 (1987), p. 331-339. (2) The limitations of the earlier arguments are well known : the market argument is vitiated by the lack of communication between the building's interior courtyard and the "magasins" which align its exterior sides on the west, south, and east. With no apparent access between the two zones, the building's overall design marks a clear démarcation, architecturally as well as functionally, not only between the two places, but also
