Stoa

A classical Greek building with a long open colonnade, one- or two-story, for civil, religious, or commercial purpose. It essentially was a long, straight colonnade, with vertical wall (and sometimes rooms) behind and roof over. The colonnade is sometimes doubled, and a projecting wing may be added to either end. They are often found on the edge of an agora or a temenos. Several such buildings are in Athens, from about 650 BC onwards, such as the Stoa of Attalus and Stoa Poikile (c 460 BC). The popular Hellenistic and Roman philosophy of Stoicism takes its name from the Stoa Poikile.

Type of classical Greek building, consisting essentially of a long, straight colonnade, with vertical wall (and sometimes rooms) behind and roof over. The colonnade is sometimes doubled, and a projecting wing may be added to either end. Examples occur from about 650 bc onwards. The type does not seem to have been bound to any particular use or purpose, but an association with the presence of teachers ard philosophers led for example to the popular Hellenistic and Roman philosophy of Stoicism taking its name from one famous stoa, the Stoa Poikile at Athens.