\f1 \fs22 Musical performances, on the other hand, were staged in special buildings called oideia or odeons, while
athletic contests were held in stadia. Squares (agorai) and porticoes (stoai) were other important features of Greek cities. Toward the end of the sixth century BC they were joined by halls for the council (bouleteria), for the popular assemblies (ekkles
iasteria), and for the initiates to the sacred mysteries (telesteria). From the fifth century BC onward Greek cities were laid out in a gridiron pattern, with streets meeting at right angles and regular blocks, an approach to planning that the literary t
radition associates with the name of \b \cf2 \ATXht8 Hippodamos of Miletus\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 . This scheme became widespread during the Hellenistic period and in the Roman world.\par
