workmen were employed, including 50 master masons, 20 carpenters, and five steelworkers. With the exception of the reconstruction of the Panathenaic Stadium in 1895–1896 the rebuilding of the Stoa of Attalos was the most ambitious reconstruction of a freestanding ancient building carried out in Athens to that time. The reconstruction is particularly important in the study of ancient monuments because it is a faithful replica of the original building, to the degree possible within the limits of archaeological knowledge. The Stoa was formally dedicated on 3 September 1956 at an event attended by members of the royal family, the Archbishop of Athens, various politicians and members of the public. In 1957, the Greek state assumed responsibility for the administration and security of the museum and the archaeological site. The ceremony of the signing of the 2003 Treaty of Accession of 10 countries – Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia – to the European Union was conducted in the Stoa of Attalos on 16 April 2003. The Greek Ministry of Culture undertook further renovations in 2003 to 2004. The second floor of the building was refurbished and reopened in 2012. Museum of the Ancient Agora The Stoa of Attalos houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. Its exhibits are mostly connected with the Athenian democracy. The collection of the museum includes clay, bronze and glass objects, sculptures, coins and inscriptions from the 7th to the 5th century BC, as well as pottery of the Byzantine period and the Turkish conquest. Gallery References Further reading External links Ministry of Culture: The Museum The Museum Stoa of Attalos photos Buildings and structures completed in the 2nd century BC Ancient Greek buildings and structures in Athens Hellenistic architecture Landmarks in Athens Attalos Ancient Agora of Athens Colonnades Hellenistic Athens Archaeological museums in Athens