Did you think only humans walked the stone-paved paths of the Agora? Two feline souls, Seronikos and Henrikides, are the unseen masters of this ancient city. Imagine wandering beneath the Attican sun, only to spot a grey figure napping in the shadow of a column—or catching the gaze of a whiskered guardian perched upon the scent of books. They are the ones who add a purring rhythm to the ancient silence of the Agora.
At times, they pose atop a column like rulers seated on the Basileus’ throne; at others, they slip past like the faint sound of paws between the pages of Poietika. Seronikos roams with reason, Henrikides with imagination—they traverse this silent city, chasing myths through its streets and playing games with time itself. Each one pursues the tail of a legend.
Cats are the invisible stones of this ancient system. They were neither chosen nor voted for, yet they know best who has fallen in love with which vase in silence, or who reads which book most tenderly. Who knows—perhaps Aristophanes once wrote a play just for them: “Ailouros Dionysou”, a lost masterpiece...
This section is dedicated to the quietest, yet wisest, members of Agoreion. Şero and Henry are not just cats—they are time travelers. With their paws, they carry the traces of the past; with their murmurs, they leave melodies upon the stone paths of today.
⚖️ Agora Law No. 347, Line 12: Any citizen who shows disrespect to a cat shall be subjected to ostrakismos on the first Sunday. Every cat whose paw is stepped on earns one vote. 🐾
agoreion.com/philos.seronikos.kerameikos 🕊️
Şero Pıtır
MS Nisan/2022
🐾
Seronikos was born in the shadow of the Panathenaic Way. According to legend, one day he curled up right in front of Euripides’ sandal. Though the poet first shooed him away, he paused upon seeing the weight of tragedy in Seronikos’ eyes. “There is Electra’s loneliness in this gaze,” he murmured, and shared his fig honey with him.
From that day on, Seronikos was regarded as the most literary cat in Athens. He wandered backstage during tragedy rehearsals, and strolled the Theater of Dionysus by night. It is said that Aristophanes once wrote him into a play as a background character — but Seronikos rejected the role, finding the script beneath him. With his dramatic silence, he is said to have made even the sophists of the Agora envious.
🕊️ agoreion.com/philos.henrikides.kerameikos
Henry Pıtır
MS Nisan/2022
🐾
Henrikides’ tale is a bit more political. As a kitten, he once curled up on Pericles’ chair atop the Pnyx Hill. When Aspasia saw him, she smiled: “Little citizen,” she said, “perhaps democracy begins with you.” Since that day, Henrikides has been considered the mascot of the people’s assembly.
At night, he would sneak into the Bouleuterion and sleep atop the decision tablets. Once, he was caught stealing a potsherd during an ostrakismos vote — one that bore the name of a playwright. But no one scolded him. For everyone knows: there is always something of the Athenian sky in Henrikides’ eyes — clear, free, and wise.