I-agora—Isikhungo Esibalulekile Sase-Athene Yasendulo

UMPHAKATHI wezihlakaniphi wase-Athene waba nesiyaluyalu! Kwakusakazwa imiqondo emisha njalo kuyi-agora, noma imakethe yalowo muzi wamaGreki. Nokho, kulokhu kwakuhluke kakhulu. Indoda ethile engumJuda eyayisanda kufika kulo muzi, kwakubonakala sengathi ‘ingummemezeli wonkulunkulu bezinye izizwe.’ Yayikhuluma amazwi aphawulekayo ‘kulabo okwakwenzeka ukuba babe khona.’ Ama-Epikhuru azazisayo namaStoyiku ayengavezi zinyo, ngokuqhosha abuza: “Yini leliphoshophosho elithanda ukuyisho?” Yebo, i-agora yase-Athene yayiyindawo ekahle yokubambela izinkulumo-mpikiswano zawonk’uwonke nganoma yini nje ekhona emhlabeni. Kodwa ukukhuluma ngonkulunkulu abangaziwa—cha, lokho kwase kukubi ngokweqile!—IzEnzo 17:17, 18.

Basabela ngokusola okunjalo abantu base-Athene lapho umphostoli uPawulu eshumayela okokuqala kuyi-agora yase-Athene. Wayekhuluma ngoJesu Kristu nangovuko. Nokho, yini eyayingavamile kangako ngokukhuluma ngalezo zindaba ezintsha kuyi-agora, kulowo mphakathi wase-Athene owawubonakala uthanda ukuxoxa ngezinto ezintsha?

I-Athene Ithola Indawo Yayo Yomphakathi

Empeleni okwakungavamile kwakuyiyo ngokwayo i-agora nendima yayo ebalulekile enkolweni nasekuphileni komphakathi wase-Athene. I-agora yase-Athene isendaweni ewumthambeka engaba amahektare angu-60 enyakatho-ntshonalanga ye-Acropolis. Kubonakala sengathi ekuqaleni kwekhulu lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E., phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kwesikhulu sikahulumeni nomenzi-mthetho wase-Athene uSolon, lesi siqinti sasiyisiza sendawo yomphakathi yalo muzi. Ukumiswa kombuso wentando yeningi e-Athene, owagxila ngokwengeziwe ekuphileni komphakathi, kwaholela ekusakazekeni komsebenzi wokwakha ekuqaleni kwekhulu leminyaka elalandela. Lokhu kwenza i-agora yaba indawo esetshenziswa kakhulu nenendima ebaluleke ngokwengeziwe.

Igama lesiGreki elithi a·go·raʹ lisuka esenzweni esisho “ukubuthana, ukuhlangana.” Lokhu kuvumelana kahle nokusetshenziswa kwe-agora njengendawo yomuzi eyinhloko yokuhlangana. I-agora yaba indawo ebalulekile yokuzijabulisa neyezinto zomphakathi. Kwakuyindawo yezakhiwo zikahulumeni zokuphatha nezokwahlulela, indawo eyinhloko yokuthengiselana neyebhizinisi, indawo yemidlalo yaseshashalazini yamaGreki, indawo yezemidlalo nendawo ethandwayo yokubamba ingxoxo edinga amathamb’engqondo.

Ungathanda yini ukuthatha uhambo ubone izinsalela zamathempeli, imipheme, imifanekiso yabantu, izakhiwo eziyizikhumbuzo nezakhiwo zomphakathi ezikuyi-agora yase-Athene? Njengoba sizama ukuhlola umlando we-agora, ake sishiye umsindo nesiyaluyalu sedolobha lanamuhla futhi sithathe izindlela eziwubhuqu, singene ezindaweni ezithulile ezonakele ezazenziwe ngemabula, amatshe agwediwe, lapho izakhiwo ezidilikile okuhanjwa kuzo uma kungenwa sezigcwele ukhula nezimila zasendle.

Amathempeli, Izindawo Zokukhulekela Nonkulunkulu Abayisivikelo

Izivakashi zihlatshwa umxhwele ukuba khona kwamathempeli amaningi, izindawo zokukhulekela nezindlu ezingcwele ezinikelwe konkulunkulu abahlukahlukene. Konke lokhu kwenza i-agora yaba isikhungo esiyinhloko sokukhulekela, esilandela i-Acropolis ngobukhulu. Phakathi neNkathi Yokuchuma ye-Athene yasendulo, inkolo yayisingene shí kuzo zonke izici zokuphila komphakathi. Lokho kwakusho ukuthi bonke onkulunkulu abahlukahlukene okuthiwa “onkulunkulu abayisivikelo” beminyango kahulumeni nezinkonzo zokuphatha base benikwe izindawo ezingcwele zethempeli kuyi-agora.

Esivelele kulezi zakhiwo kwakuyiThempeli LikaHephaestus. Unkulunkulukazi u-Athena wayehlotshaniswa noHephaestus. Bobabili lab’onkulunkulu babekhulekelwa lapha njengonkulunkulu abayisivikelo bobuciko nobungcweti. Izinto zasendulo ezisansimbi nezobumba ezatholakala kuleli thempeli zenza kwaba sobala ukuthi kwakungelikaHephaestus, unkulunkulu wamaGreki wobuciko owayefuna kusetshenziswe umlilo. Cishe ekhulwini lesi-7 C.E., leli thempeli elalilondolozwe kahle laguqulwa lenziwa iSonto LamaGreki Lobu-Orthodox likaSt. George, nakuba lingasasetshenziselwa leyo njongo namuhla.

Yebo, i-agora yayidinga owayo unkulunkulu oyisivikelo. Lona kwakunguZeus Agoraios, okwakucatshangwa ukuthi wayeqondisa ubuciko bokukhuluma futhi okwanikezelwa kuye i-altare elihlotshisiwe elenziwe ngemabula eyigugu okuthiwa i-Pentelic. (Qhathanisa nezEnzo 14:11, 12.) I-altare eliseduze nalapho likaNina Wonkulunkulu laliphahlwe uhide lwamatshe akhangayo ezikhumbuzo zamaqhawe.

Phambidlana, sithola ithempeli elincane lama-Ionian. Isazi sesayensi yokuma komhlaba uPausanias wathi liyiThempeli LikaBab’ u-Apollo. Ngani? Ngoba ngokwenganekwane yasendulo yamaGreki, wayenguyise ka-Ion, ongumsunguli wohlanga lwama-Ionian, abantu base-Athene abayingxenye yalo.a Kulesi sikhundla, u-Apollo wayengomunye wonkulunkulu abayisivikelo benhlangano ephethe kahulumeni, ikakhulukazi maqondana nezinhlangano ezihlukahlukene ezazikhona kulowo muzi.

Lapho siya enyakatho, sibona izinsalela ze-limestone zethempeli elincane, elakhiwa phakathi nekhulu lesine leminyaka B.C.E. Lapha, kwakukhulekelwa uZeus no-Athena Phatrios, onkulunkulu abayinhloko bezinhlangano zenkolo yokhokho. Cishe kwakudingeka ube ilungu lalezi zinhlangano ukuze ube isakhamuzi sase-Athene. Ngaphesheya nje komgwaqo, kunezinsalela ze-altare loNkulunkulu Abayishumi Nambili.

EMphemeni KaZeus Eleutherios oseduze nalapho, kwakusadunyiswa unkulunkulu oyinhloko wamaGreki, kulokhu njengonkulunkulu wenkululeko nokukhululwa. Lo mpheme, noma i-stoa, wawuyindawo edumile yokuhambahamba noma okuhlanganwa kuyo. Isazi sefilosofi esidumile uSocrates kuthiwa sasihlangana nabangane baso kulo mpheme, lapho babekwazi khona ukuhlala baxoxe noma bathi ukuhambahamba kuwo. Izinto eziningi ezazinikezelwe neminikelo okwakwenziwa ngokuqondene nalo mpheme, njengamahawu amaqhawe empi afa elwela i-Athene, kwakuhlobene ngokuqondile nokukhululwa kwedolobha ezitheni noma ukulondolozwa kwenkululeko yalo.

IPanathenaean Way

Umgwaqo obanzi wobhuqu okuthiwa iPanathenaean Way unqamula phakathi kwe-agora. Igama lawo nesimo sawo esikhethekile kwasuselwa emkhosini wezwe lase-Athene, iPanathenaea. Phakathi nalo mkhosi kwakuhanjwa nesembozo sikankulunkulukazi u-Athena ngalo mgwaqo kusukwa eNdlini Yodwendwe (eseduze nesango lomuzi) kuyiwe e-Acropolis. Ingxenye engenhla yodonga eqoshiwe yeParthenon iyasisiza ukuba sibe nombono wendlela lo mkhosi nodwendwe lwawo okwakukuhle ngayo—abakhwele amahhashi, izinqola ezigijimayo, izinkomo nezimvu zomhlatshelo, izinsizwa nezintombi ziphethe izinto ezizosetshenziswa lapho kwenziwa umhlatshelo. Lolo dwendwe lwalubukwa izakhamuzi zase-Athene nezivakashi zazo, njengoba abaklami be-agora bayiklama ngendlela yokuthi laba bakwazi ukubuka kahle. Ngokwesibonelo, imipheme enendawo ephakeme enezitebhisi ngaphambili yayenziwe ngobuciko ukuze iqondane kahle nomgwaqo okudlula kuwo udwendwe. Izitebhisi eziningi ezakhiwe ngaphambili kule mipheme zazingakwazi ukuhlalisa izibukeli eziningi.

‘Igcwele Izithombe’

Njengoba inamathempeli, imifanekiso yabantu namatshe ezikhumbuzo okuningi kangaka okuhlanganiswe ndawonye, akumangalisi ukuthi “umoya” womphostoli uPawulu “wacasuka ngaphakathi kwakhe lapho ebona ukuthi umuzi wawugcwele izithombe.” (IzEnzo 17:16) Lokho uPawulu akubona lapho engena kuyi-agora kumelwe ukuba kwamshaqisa. Izithombe zikankulunkulu uHermes ezazinezitho zobulili zaziziningi kangangokuthi kwakudingeka wonke umpheme, owaziwa ngokuthi uMpheme KaHermes, ukuze zibekwe. Izambatho kweminye imifanekiso edwetshiwe kaHermes zazinama-swastika—izimpawu zenzalo nokuphila. Kwakunomfanekiso kaVenus Genetrix, unkulunkulukazi wothando lobulili, kanye nokaDionysus oneziphambano eziningi zezitho zobulili. Kwakunetshe eliwumngcele elaliwuphawu ‘lobungcwele’ be-agora elalinesitsha esinamanzi “angcwele” okuhlanzwa okungokwesiko kwabo bonke abangenayo.

Ngenxa yesimo esinjalo esigxile kakhulu enkolweni, singakuqonda kalula ukuthi kungani isimo sikaPawulu sasiyingozi kakhulu. Wayesolwa ngokuba “ummemezeli wonkulunkulu bezinye izizwe,” futhi umthetho wangaleso sikhathi wawuthi ‘akufanele kube nomuntu onabanye onkulunkulu abahlukile, noma abasha; noma akhulekele noma ibaphi onkulunkulu abangaziwa ngasese ngaphandle kokuba evunyelwe uhulumeni.’ Khona-ke, akumangalisi ukuthi umphostoli wayiswa e-Areyophagu ukuze aphenywe.—IzEnzo 17:18, 19.

Isikhungo Sokuphatha

Isakhiwo esiyisiyingi esibizwa ngokuthi iTholos sasiyikomkhulu likahulumeni wase-Athene. Izikhulu eziningi zomuzi zazilala kulesi sakhiwo ebusuku ukuze kuhlale kunezisebenzi ezinomthwalo wemfanelo ezitholakala eduze. Izisindo nezilinganiso ezisetshenziswayo zazigcinwa eTholos. Kwakunezakhiwo zeminyango ehlukahlukene yokuphatha eduze nayo. INdlu Yomkhandlu yayisemphemeni oyela ngasegqumeni elisenyakatho-ntshonalanga yeTholos. Lapho, amalungu oMkhandlu angu-500 ayeba nemihlangano yawo ayenza kuyo imisebenzi yekomiti futhi alungiselele imithetho yeSishaya-mthetho.

Esinye isakhiwo sikahulumeni esibalulekile kwakuwuMpheme Wasebukhosini. Lapho i-Archon Yombuso Wase-Athene—enye yezimantshi ezintathu eziyinhloko zomuzi—yayisebenzela khona. Yayisingathela lapho imisebenzi eminingi enemithwalo yemfanelo yokuqondisa ngokuphathelene nezindaba zenkolo nezomthetho. Kungenzeka kakhulu ukuthi kwakulapha lapho uSocrates kwadingeka aye khona lapho esolwa ngokungahloniphi onkulunkulu. Imithetho yawokhokho base-Athene yayiqoshwe ezindongeni zesakhiwo esibhekene nalo mpheme. Ama-archon, noma izimantshi eziyinhloko, ayema phezu kwetshe elibekwe phambi kwaleso sakhiwo minyaka yonke ukuze enze isifungo somsebenzi wawo.

UMpheme Ka-Attalus

Isakhiwo se-agora esilondolozwe kahle kakhulu uMpheme Ka-Attalus. Eseyinsizwa, u-Attalus, iNkosi yasePhergamu (yangekhulu lesibili leminyaka B.C.E.), wafunda ezikoleni zase-Athene, njengabanye abazukulu abaningana bemikhaya yasebukhosini ezweni laseMediterranean. Lapho ehlala esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, wanikela ngalesi sipho esihle—uMpheme Ka-Attalus—epha umuzi okukhona kuwo isikole ayefunda kuso.

UMpheme Ka-Attalus wawusebenza ngokuyinhloko njengendawo yokuhambahamba efulelwe nebukekayo neyokuhlangana nokuxoxa ngokukhululekile. Indawo ephansi kanye nengxenye yayo ephakeme kwakwenza lo mpheme ube indawo enhle kakhulu yokubuka udwendwe, kuyilapho ukuthandwa kwayo njengendawo yokuhambahamba kumelwe ukuba kwayenza futhi yaba indawo ephumelelayo yesikhungo sezitolo. Kungenzeka ukuthi uHulumeni owayeqashisela abahwebi lezo zitolo ukuze kutholakale inzuzo kulesi sakhiwo.

Njengoba usubuyiselwe esimweni sawo sakuqala, uMpheme Ka-Attalus uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu somklamo ongokwe-geometry. Ukuvumelana kwezici ezihlukahlukene zaso sonke lesi sakhiwo, umehluko ojabulisayo wendlela izinsika ezisezansi nezingenhla ezibekwe ngayo, ukuba khona komthunzi nokukhanya ngendlela ethakazelisayo, izinto zokwakha zezinga eliphezulu nezinhle, konke kuwenza uhluke. Isicefe sokufana kwezinto sincishiswe ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene, ikakhulukazi ngokusetshenziswa kwezinhlobo ezintathu ezihlukene zemihlobiso esengxenyeni engenhla yezinsika—wamaDorian, wama-Ionian nowabaseGibithe.

Indawo Okwenzelwa Kuyo Izinto Ezingokwesiko

Isakhiwo esasiyinkundla yezenzakalo eziningi ezingokwesiko e-Athene kwakuyiHholo LeKhonsathi. Kwakuyisipho esanikelwa u-Vipsanius Agrippa, umkhwenyana woMbusi waseRoma u-Augustus. Ingxenye yalo engaphambili yayikhonkwe ngemabula emibalabala. Ingxenye okwakuhlala kuyo izilaleli, eyayihlalisa abantu abangaba yinkulungwane, yayinobude obungaba amamitha angu-25 futhi ekuqaleni yayinophahla olungenazo izisekelo zangaphakathi. Lena kwakungenye yezindlela zokufulela okwakudinga isibindi kakhulu ukuyizama esikhathini sasendulo! Nokho, kungenzeka ukuthi okuningi kokuzijabulisa okwakuba khona lapho kwakungabazisa kumaKristu eqiniso, ngenxa yezindinganiso zawo zokuziphatha eziphakeme.—Efesu 5:3-5.

Kungenzeka ukuthi abantu ababenelukuluku lokwazi bangezikhathi zasendulo babehambela iNdlu Yomtapo Wezincwadi kaPantainos. Izindonga zayo zazinamakhabethe okwakugcinwa kuwo imiqulu ye-papyrus neyesikhumba eyayilotshwe ngesandla. Igumbi eliyinhloko lale ndlu yomtapo wezincwadi elalinohide lwezinsika lalibheke egcekeni elingasentshonalanga—elaliyindawo enhle yokuhambahamba, ukufunda noma ukuzindla. Kwatholakala umbhalo oqoshiwe onemithetho emibili yendlu yomtapo wezincwadi. Omunye wawuthi: “Ayikho incwadi okufanele kuhanjwe nayo,” omunye uthi: “[Indlu Yomtapo Wezincwadi] ivulwa kusukela ngehora lokuqala kuya kwelesithupha.”

I-agora Namuhla

Eminyakeni yamuva nje, i-American School of Classical Studies iye yayivubukula cishe yonke i-agora. Njengoba iyindawo ethule engaphansi kwe-Acropolis ephakeme, iye yaba indawo ethandwa ababuki bamazwe abafuna ukubhekabheka umlando we-Athene yasendulo.

INdawo Yendali Yamasekeni okuthiwa iMonastiraki—ebude buduze nje ne-agora ne-Acropolis—ingenye futhi indawo ethakazelisayo. Inikeza izivakashi umbono omangazayo kodwa othakazelisayo womlando namasiko esizwe samaGreki nezinto ezazenziwa endaweni esamakethe yaseMpumalanga Ephakathi kanye namanani okwakuthengiselwana ngawo. Isivakashi siyababona noFakazi BakaJehova lapho bekwenza ngenjabulo kona kanye lokho umphostoli uPawulu akwenza eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-1 900 edlule—ukushumayela obala izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ‘kulabo okwenzeka babe khona.’

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 28]

Ezohwebo E-Athene

I-agora yayingesona nje isikhungo esiyinhloko sezihlakaniphi nesezakhiwo zikahulumeni wase-Athene kuphela kodwa futhi yayiyimakethe eyinhloko yalo muzi. I-Athene yaba isikhungo sezohwebo futhi yaziwa kakhulu ngamandla emali yayo angaguquguquki kakhulu kanye nokuba qotho kwama-archon, ayenegunya lokuqinisekisa ukuthi zonke izindaba zebhizinisi zisingathwa ngokwethembeka nangokungakhethi.

I-Athene yayithengisela amanye amazwe iwayini, amafutha omnqumo, uju, imabula nezinto zokwakha njengezinto zobumba nokusansimbi okulungiswe kahle. Yona ngokuyinhloko, yayithenga okusanhlamvu. Njengoba i-Attica (isifunda esizungeze i-Athene) yayingakwazi ukwenza imikhiqizo eyanele yokondla izakhamuzi zayo, izindinganiso zokuhwebelana zazinzima. Imakethe yasePiraeus (ichweba lase-Athene) kwakudingeka njalo ibe nokudla okusekusha okwanele ukuze inakekele kokubili umuzi nebutho lempi. Futhi abahwebi babengavunyelwe ukuba bagcine ukudla ukuze bakuthengise ngenani eliphakeme ngezikhathi okudingeka kakhulu ngazo.