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I think stoicism is a great way to see life, is fascinating. It could make ourselves more in control 

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I think stoicism is a great way to see life, is fascinating. It could make ourselves more in control 

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facing daily challenges with clarity and integrity

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Treating others with fairness even when they have done wrong

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Self -restraint and moderation

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Pursuing self improvement through

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we can harness our will power to fill our lives with meaning even in he bleakest situations

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we can harness our will power to fill our lives with meaning even in he bleakest situations

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we used Stoic to mean someone who remains calm under pressure and avoid emotional extremes

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we used Stoic to mean someone who remains calm under pressure and avoid emotional extremes

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The name Stoicism comes from Stoa Poikile

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The name Stoicism comes from Stoa Poikile

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The Stoa Poikile was an ancient portico, built between 475 and 450 BC by the architect Peisianax, located on the north side of the Agora of Athens. Its name, in English "Painted Porch", comes from the fact that its interior walls were decorated with paintings made by renowned artists of the time.

From a historical point of view, the Stoa Poikile acquired significance because of Stoicism. Indeed, this was the place where the first Stoics, led by Zeno of Citium, met to discuss philosophy.

Unfortunately, today, this piece of history no longer exists. All we have left are its ruins.

What Was A Stoa & What It Was Used For

In ancient Greece, the Stoa was a portico usually located near the Agora.

The latter was the heart of every Greek city: that is, the square where its main political and economic activities took place.

Obviously, as we can well imagine, because of its central role, this huge square was constantly crowded. Hence, the existence of the Stoas.

Indeed, the Greeks used to build these porticos precisely to provide the many citizens who frequented the Agora a place where they could meet sheltered from the weather both in winter and summer.

Therefore, they were public buildings that belonged to no one and were open to all.

As for their use, from what we know, these porticos were mainly used as meeting points by ordinary citizens or as selling points by merchants. However, on rare occasions, they were also used to host government events.

The Stoa Poikile: Aesthetics And History

Picture of the entrance of a generic Greek Stoa

The Historical Significance Of The Stoa Poikile

Although the Stoas were nothing more than simple public spaces, one of them somehow managed to acquire a high historical significance and is still remembered today.

We are talking about the Stoa Poikile: namely, the portico located in the northern area of the Agora of ancient Athens.

At first glance, this Stoa, apart from the fact that it housed on its interior walls some paintings made by important artists of the time, had nothing different from the others. So much so that, just like all Stoas, it was usually populated by fishmongers, beggars, jugglers, fire eaters, merchants, etcetera.

However, in reality, there was a difference. This Stoa along with the categories just mentioned used to host also another type of people: namely, philosophers. More precisely, the ones belonging to the Stoic school.

In fact, the Stoa Poikile was the place where the founder of Stoicism, Zeno of Citium, chose to give his daily lectures on philosophy. And, in the end, it was precisely this seemingly irrelevant choice that distinguished this portico from the others and gave it historical significance.

An ordinary portico nowadays considered legendary only because it was frequented by some philosophers (who, moreover, in ancient Athens, were quite common and numerous)? It might sound strange. But if we think about it, it is not at all.

After all, if we consider the high fame that - almost 2500 years after its creation - Stoic philosophy still enjoys, it is only natural that the place where it developed has become famous in turn.

Architectural Style & Paintings Of The Stoa Poikile

The Stoa Poikile was a portico built of limestone, about 36 meters long. Located in the northern part of the Agora of the city of Athens, it was strategically designed with the open side facing south.

Therefore, its particular geographical location made it a place that was able to provide the citizens of Athens with adequate protection in both winter (from the cold wind and rain) and summer (from the scorching sun).

Its facade was composed of a first outer row of Doric columns followed by a second inner row of Ionic columns.

However, in ancient times, more than for its architecture, this portico was admired for the paintings hanging on its interior walls.

Indeed, shortly after its construction in the 5th century BC, the Stoa Poikile was decorated with some painted wooden panels made by the illustrious artists of the time Polygnotus of Thasos, Micon of Athens, and Panaenus - thus becoming a kind of art gallery.

More precisely, as reported by the account of the ancient traveler and writer Pausanias, the panels on its walls were four and all of them depicted important military events (both historical and mythological).

Namely:

1) The historical "Battle of Oenoe" (460 BC): where the Athenians, thanks to their superior fleet, managed to defeat the fearsome Spartans.

2) The mythological battle between Theseus (hero and founder of Athens) and the Amazons (the legendary warrior women).

3) The mythological war between Troy and Athens: which, in the end, saw the military success of the latter thanks to the ingenious trick of the Trojan horse.

4) The historic battle of Marathon (490 BC): which saw a crushing victory of Athens over Persia.

Detail of the painting depicting the "Battle of Marathon"

In addition to these paintings, the "Painted Porch" was also decorated with some mementos of past victories on the battlefield - such as the shields originally belonging to defeated Spartan soldiers.

Why Zeno Chose To Give His Lecturs In The Stoa Poikile

In order for us to understand why Zeno chose to hold his lectures in the Stoa Poikile, it is essential that we first understand his philosophical background. So, very briefly, let's go over his history.

Before becoming the great philosopher we all respect, Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, was a rich young merchant. From what we know, his conversion to philosophy took place in Athens: that is, in the place where he found himself catapulted by fate following a shipwreck of his merchant ship.

A shipwreck: the fateful event that started Stoicism

The story goes that one day the young Zeno, now without money or possessions, while strolling through the streets of Athens, came across a bookstore where a speech on the philosophy of Socrates was being held and, intrigued, decided to go in and listen to it.

At the end of the event, deeply fascinated by what he heard, he asked the person who gave the speech where he could find a man like Socrates. In other words, where he could find a wise person under whom he could study and practice philosophy.

Luckily, at that very moment, the Cynic philosopher Crates of Thebes was passing by and Zeno was told that this was the man he was looking for.

From that day on, thus began for the young former merchant a long apprenticeship in philosophy that lasted for about ten years, which led him to absorb the principles of different philosophical schools (he did not study exclusively under Crates) and culminated in the creation of a new philosophical system: namely, Stoicism.

As already said, after the foundation of his own school, the place that Zeno chose to spread his ideas and find new pupils was the portico located in the Agora of Athens called "Stoa Poikile".

The exact reason behind his choice is unknown to us. However, many have speculated that it stems from his way of seeing philosophy itself. Indeed, inspired by Socrates and trained by a Cynic, Zeno saw philosophy not as a mere intellectual discipline but as a way of living.

Therefore, probably, in his eyes, teaching under a portico of the Agora of Athens - in a place teeming with life, where one could breathe life - made much more sense than doing it locked within the four walls of an academy or a gymnasium (as done by the other rival schools of philosophy) - that is, an artificial environment completely separated from real life.

The Origin Of The Names "Stoicism" & "Stoics"

For those who do not know, the Stoa Poikile was not only the place where the first "Stoics" gathered to discuss philosophy, but it is also the reason why we call them that.

Indeed, the words "Stoicism" and "Stoic", used to refer respectively to the philosophical system and to those who adhere to it, both derive from the word "Stoa".

The decision to call his philosophical school and his followers by the name of the place where he held his lectures rather than by his own name (as was customary among the philosophical schools of the time) was taken by Zeno himself.

The reason for this odd choice? Well, Zeno's belief that his teachings were universal and that, therefore, naming them after himself meant belittling them.

Hence, the decision to pay homage to the Stoa Poikile - the legendary place where these "universal teachings" were first handed down.

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The Stoa Poikile: The Legendary Birthplace Of Stoicism

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The Stoa Poikile was an ancient portico, built between 475 and 450 BC by the architect Peisianax, located on the north side of the Agora of Athens. Its name, in English "Painted Porch", comes from the fact that its interior walls were decorated with paintings made by renowned artists of the time.

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people despair and curse their awful fate, but for Zeno of Cyprus it became the foundation of his life's work and legacy

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people despair and curse their awful fate, but for Zeno of Cyprus it became the foundation of his life's work and legacy