The creative collaboration between AUEB and Diazoma bears fruit
Project Lavrio year 2023-2024. Completion of the innovative action “Education, Entrepreneurship and Culture” for the academic year 2023-2024 between the Teacher Education Program of AUEB, the Association “Diazoma” and the collaborating bodies
Elafonisos Eco Week; 10 – 16 June 2024
Spring Rites and the Crocus Collectors of Thera
Demolition of the Expropriated Buildings on the Site of the Ancient Theatre of Acharnes Commences
The Central Archaeological Council (KAS) of the Greek ministry for culture and tourism has given a green light to the restoration of the ancient theater of Delos, one of the most important religious centres of ancient Greece, an island of the Cyclades where Apollo, god of light, was born according to mythology. It is no coincidence that the centre of the theater, the orchestra, is considered to be the brightest point in the Mediterranean in a study of the University of Athens.
The ancient theater of Delos is one of the few that was constructed entirely from marble. Its construction started around 314 BC and ended around 70 years later, in 250 BC. In 88 BC, the theater, which has a capacity of up to 6,500 spectators, was abandoned after the Mithridates plundered the island. Today, exactly 2,100 years later, the Central Archaeological Council approved a project for the restoration of the monument.
The project was presented by engineer Constantinos Zampas and his collaborators, Gerasimos Thomas and Irini Doudoumis, and is an initiative of the “Diazoma” organisation. It is based on a study carried out by Philip Fraisse and Jean Ch. Moretti of the French School of Archaeology, who started the first excavations by the end of the 19th century. Several small interventions and cleanup operations will protect the theater against the ravages of time and will restore its lost splendour. The actual restoration work will include moving and labelling the architectonic pieces in the area, protection of the rock surfaces to make it easier for rainwater to flow away, and the protection of containment walls. The operation will cost around 1.5 million euros, according to the Greek press. No new marble will be used in the project.
Hopes are high that after the project, the thousands of tourists who visit the island every year will also visit the theater.
According to engineer Zampas, the theater may even be used for small events after its restoration, hosting up to 200 people. Currently the theater does not look at all like its original form, due to the many architectonic pieces lying around everywhere, in addition to the thick vegetation and the debris that has accumulated in the area.
