The fountain

The fountain at Dimopratiriou Square at Monastiraki was built in 1852 to beautify the square and provide water in an emergency. In addition, the site was home to public auctions. The employees who oversaw them were forced to sit in the nearby “Agoniston” coffee house (80 Mitropoleos street, the building on the right in the pic) among the patrons who yelled, argued, played cards, and pushed each other in a pandemonium of exuberant noise that drowned the serene sound of running water emanating from the fountain.