The Ancient Agora of Athens was founded in the middle of the 6th century B.C. northwest of the Acropolis, and bounded on the south by the hill of the Areopagus and on the west by the hill known as the Agoraios Kolonos. The Agora's initial use was for a commercial, assembly, or residential gathering place. The Ancient Agora of Athens is a flat area defined by the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis and the hill of Areopagus in the south and the hill of Kolonos Agoraios in the west. It is traversed by one of the most important ancient roads, the Panathenaic Way, which led to the Acropolis from the main gate of the city, the Dipylon Gate. This road served as the processional way for the great parade of the Panathenaic festival, which was held to honour the city patron goddess Athena. Archaeological finds demonstrate the importance of this site for the various functions of the city. The Bouleuterion, the buildings with the public offices and the archives have all been excavated and studied. The use of the area as a commercial center indicated by the numerous shops where potters, shoemakers, coppersmiths and sculptors manufactured and sold their products.