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| Athens, Agora; Altar of the Twelve Gods © American School of Classical Studies at Athens |
Following the story the Kathimerini, adds that the protesters were members of the Citizens' Initiative for the preservation and enhancement of the Altar of the Twelve Gods, who until Monday were continuously in the altar's site to deter teams from Attiko Metro SA to get down to business. As reported on the evening of the 12th of April they left the site, having first received a commitment from the government that the monuments of the Agora as a whole will be protected and re-emerged over the next decade. "Members of the Initiative for two months, struggled around the clock to rescue and promote the altar and we have nothing to do with what happened this morning," the Initiative representative said.
The Kathimerini story did not claim that Polytheists were the 'troublemakers' in contrast of what To Vima clearly states that "members of polytheistic organizations, which had occupied the site where archaeological reburying work was undergoing for the antiquities." It is important to note the language used by the newspaper To Vima which is clearly biased. It is also important to underline what Kathimerini notes that the reburying has been called "emerging" - Central Archaeological Council has approved the reburial of the altar, faithful to the notion that the monuments are better protected hidden - as part of a renovation of the Metro line exactly were the altar exists which is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of recent years. According to reports, citizens formed a cordon around the monument, which was split violently by the riot police who up to now patrol the site. The work had continued.
It only remains to see if the monument is indeed 'reburied' under the new lines of the Metro when the times comes "over the next decade" to be re-emerged.
Sources: To Vima 14/04/2011 and Kathimerini, by Lina Giannarou, 14/04/11
Categories:
agora,
altar,
archaeology,
athens,
gods and goddesses
Of course it was a great shame that the green metro line was routed over the alter of the 12 Gods - an important and central monument within the ancient Agora of Athens. BUT.... surely the green line has been running now some 100 years - and of course is now receiving some over due repairs and maintenance. So what I do not understand is why there is this "sudden" outcry and protest..... Of course; if we were talking about creating a new metro line - it would be routed differently. But the alter of the 12 Gods was surely (and I agree regretably) destroyed 100 years ago. I am just not sure this is not headline grabbing in the media... however well intentioned it all sounds. In truth, I know that some modern day followers of the Olympic Religion (Hellenists as some say) both agree and dis-agree with the protest in view of the tardiness of the debate.....
It is true and I agree with your point! I do feel that this is the only true grim reality where a modern train line exists within the borders of a very active archaeological site (thousand visitors every single day) and runs above the one most significant monument, the altar of the 12 Gods, the epicentre of the Athenian agora. However I also can understand the frustration by a great number of Athenian citizens - not just polytheists - who protested against the Attiko Metro SA, especially now when all the Greek society is in discontent towards their government and the state. In my view point this is another example of lack of planning and mismanagement from the part of the Greek governmental bodies.