A tourist is being shown to lift an ancient marble at the archaeological site of Portara – the Temple of Apollo- on the island of Naxos. The picture of the disrespectful half-naked “Hercules” has been posted on social media and triggered outrage in the local community.
The picture was posted also on Facebook by local businessman on Naxos, Alexandros Frantzeskos, who speaks of “Banana republic tourism” and sharply criticizes the absence of guards at the archaeological site to protect the heritage:
Another picture also posted on social media, shows a family with children enjoying a lunch with spicy souvlaki and accompanying beverages out, a picnic out of plastic bags and the ancient stones used as chairs and tables.
After the incident, the Cyclades MP of ruling New Democracy, Markos Kafouros, is bringing the issue to Parliament.
In a report to the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, he asks to know what measures the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades intends to take to protect the monument, when they will be implemented and how the safeguarding will be ensured, naxostimes.gr reported.
Kafouros emphasized that Portara is not just a tourist attraction, but a global symbol of culture, which requires respect and substantial care and not the image we have seen in recent days with picnics and damage to the monument.
Mayor of Naxos, Dimitris Lianos, told media that a guard has been temporary placed in the archaeological site, however, he was not sure whether the position was permanent.
The Portara of Naxos – the Great Door – or the Temple of Dilios Apollo, is a massive marble doorway that stands proudly as the jewel of Naxos. It lies close to the port, on the islet of Palatia.
In ancient times, a strip of land connected the northern side of Naxos port to the islet of Palatia.
According to one Ancient Greek myth, the islet of Palatia was exactly where Ariadne, the Minoan princess, was abandoned by her lover Theseus after he killed Minotaur on the island of Crete.
Some researchers claim, though, that this temple was to be built in honor of Apollo, the Greek god of light who protected music and poetry. Proof of this lies in the fact that the temple faces in the direction of Delos – Apollo’s birthplace, according to mythology.
In the 6th century BC, when Naxos was at its peak of glory, the then-ruler tyrant Lygdamis wanted to build the highest and most magnificent building. He ordered the construction of a massive temple, but when war broke out between Naxos and Samos, construction work stopped abruptly.
After that, Lygdamis was overthrown in 506 BC, and the temple, which was supposed to be at least a hundred feet tall, was never completed.
The temple’s architectural order would be Ionic. The structure would be 59 meters long and 28 meters wide, with a peristyle of 6×12 columns.
Today all that remains of the temple is the Portara. It is around 6 meters high and 3.5 meters wide and consists of separate monoliths. Each one weighs about 20 tons.
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Greece is more or less a Banana Republic, without any bananas though. With collapsing educational standards, very poor public transport, and (as always) useless state institutions that do not serve the public properly, Mitsotakis thinks that he can turn the country into a regional hub for AI computer centres. The latter, combined with out-of-control tourism, should guarantee Greece’s future as something less than a banana republic. Methinks it might resemble the poorest communist countries — where only the political elite has a good quality of life.
Bananas are grown on Crete. They are quite small and I don’t particularly like the taste but obviously that is just persoanl preferance.
There seems to be a pattern! People coming to Greece and doing whatever they feel like! Apart from a young Greek thinking it was funny to push a homeless person in the fountain.
Morals…None!!
that guy was not a Greek but a tourist
Ah,ok my mistake.
I thought I heard he was Greek.
Sorry my mistake 😔 I misheard
This is nothing new. I was in the acropolis of Lindos 30 years ago. The guard was an old man, around 75. He was sitting in the shade because it was 50C that day. The German tourists (I heard them talking, so I know) were clomping all over the ruins with their doc martins – no one told them anything. Even then, we wondered why they could not make archeology students monitor these sites in the summer, or those studying to be tour guides. Make it part of their education. Pay them, even!
But, another complaint, you go to the museums and are told that the books are “εξαντλημενα”. Why??? These books should be available all the time. It’s a museum, things don’t change. But everywhere I go, I can get books on Agio Oros, or the Acropolis, but when I went to Vergina, nothing. Not even souvenirs from Vergina. No wonder the tourist places capitalize on this. When will we ever learn?