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Historical importance and
the locality of the Temple of Artemis Agroteras
The site of the temple of Artemis
Agrotera (the Huntress) is one of the most important
historical and archeological sites that have survived
in the center of Athens. It is situated on Ardittou
St, (Mets area) a few meters from the Panathenian Stadium
and the hill of Ardittos, facing the Acropolis, the
temple of Olympian Zeus and the Lycabetos.
The ionic temple of the 5th century
B.C, deemed to have been a work by Kallikrates, the
architect of the ionic temple of Apteros Nike on the
Acropolis with which it shares great similarities holds
a principal position in the history of ancient and contemporary
Greece and Greek architecture due to its detailed documentation.
Ilissos river was flanked by sacred
sites from ancient times. The temple of Artemis Agrotera
is the only sacred site remaining on the south bank
of Ilissos river (the ancient naming of the area being
Agrae meaning “hunting ground” from which came the epithet
“Agrotera) and was considered the place of initiation
for the lesser Eleusinian Mysteries known as the “Agrai
mysteries” according to Plutarch and Pausanias.
The temple is directly linked to the battle of Marathon
since each year on the 6th day of the month
Boedromion (mid September) the anniversary of the battle
of Marathon and for many consecutive years the Athenians
honored goddess Artemis with great festivities and offerings
(500 goats) for assisting them in their victory against
the Persians in the battle of Marathon (Pausanias Attica1,
19,6).
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Stuart & Revvett Panaghia stin
Petra |
It suffered many changes in its long
history. It was converted into a Christian basilica
in the 5th century and much later in the 17th century
with the addition of a dome into the church dedicated
to the Virgin Mary known as "Panagia stin Petra".
The detailed drawings of elevations, ground plans and
members of the temple and its pediment (now in the museum
of Berlin and Venice) executed by architects J. Stewart
& N. Revett on their visit to Athens give
testimony of the monument as it stood in 1753
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Stuart & Revett View
from Panathenian Stadium |
The Turk commander of Athens Ali Haseki
pulled down the temple in 1778 and its parts
were used to build the walls of Athens.
Surviving tombs of the early Christian cemetery, the
remains of the semiexagonal apse of the church, part
of the ancient marble pediment now in the Archeological
Museum, Athens, and a quantity of small votive vessels
used in the lesser Eleusenian mysteries came to light
with the first official excavation by A.Skias
in 1897.
Two ministerial decrees in 1958
and 1960 declare the area fifty meters on either
side of the Ilissos riverbed an archaeological protected
area. In 1962 during the construction for the
broadening of Ardittou Street the architect-archaeologist
I.Travlos discovers the retaining wall of the
temple on the NW side causing a detour. This wall is
visible still today although it is deteriorating. He
also found a large quantity of votive vessels as had
his predecessor A. Skias six decades earlier.
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Travlos ground plan of wider area |
I.Travlos discovered the retaining
wall surviving today in 1962. |
In I964 the Central Archaeological Council(
ΚΑΣ 44-7/7/64) of the Greek Ministry
of Culture after three consecutive meetings decided
on the expropriation and protection of the site of the
temple of Artemis Agrotera an area covering 1.390,70
squ. mts. flanked by Arthittou, Kefalou, Thomopoulou
and Koutoula Sts for it “concerns one of the outstanding
monuments of ancient Athens even if it is proven that
there are no remains due to the great importance of
the temple that existed on the site” and its formation
into “an archeological site free of buildings and
open to the public”.
In 1972 the Central Archaeological
Council (ΚΑΣ18/01/72) once again votes
in favor of the expropriation followed by the government
decree 2162/1198-24/04/1973 published in the
government gazette Δ’142 - 19/05/73 where it
declares the direct expropriation of the building block.
This decision is recalled in 1974 by the Central
Archaeological Council (ΚΑΣ 5-23/04/74) on
vague grounds.
Τhe Central Archaeological Council
once again discusses the issue (ΚΑΣ 14-13/04/93)
and unanimously votes for the expropriation.
Melina Mercouri in the same
year as Minister of Culture declares together with the
minister of the Economy the expropriation of the block
valued at 194,698,000 drachmas. Following Melina’s death,
the new minister Th. Mikroutsikos withdraws the
decision from the government gazette brings the matter
once again to the Central Archaeological Council where
on 26/07/94 it is decided to postpone the previous
decision and to excavate the open spaces to see if there
are any archaeological remains. This decision was followed
by a series of protests from NGO' s, local associations,
professional associations, the press, and distinguished
citizens. The decision was taken to the high court to
be annulled and local citizens organized a picket on
the site.
The excavation is conducted in a very
limited area by the third Ephorate of prehistoric and
classical antiquities. During the excavation the early
Christian graves discovered by A.Skias are once again
revealed allowing the accurate positioning of the temple
on site under the ruins of the houses belonging to K.
Livanos (son of the then minister of tourism D. Livanos
who had purchased the property in 1990 with contract
price of 8,835.750 for 229.50 m2) and K. Giakoumatos.
Excavation in these properties did not take place although
one of the reasons the issue was reexamined was that
these two houses allegedly had basements and if any
remains existed they would have been destroyed during
their construction.
The basement scenario was misleading
because the Giakoumatos house had no basement and the
drop in the natural land in the Livanos property seems
to coincide with A.Skias ground plan and notes during
his excavation. Considering that these houses were stone
construction of the turn of the century they probably
built their foundation on the solid rock.
Aftter the excavation a new meeting of the Central Archaeological Council was called (KAS 4- 24/01/95) where the council again unanimously decides in favor of the previous (KAS 14-13/04/93) decision and proposes to finance the expropriation by including the site in the project for the unification of Archaeological Sites of Athens.
The declaration of the expropriation is published in the government gazette (431- 22/07/95) signed by both the Minister Th.Mikroutsikos and the then Minister of Economy. The amount is to be financed by the Ministry of Culture through the funds of the unification of Archaeological Sites. Although the amount for the expropriation is valued at 472.000.000 drachmas (ΥΠΠΟ- ΑΠΑΛ-Φ270/ 57265/992/ 23/12/1998) the Ministry of Culture does not fulfill its decision and the deadline expires on the 19/8/99.
The proposition to link the temple of Artemis Agrotera to the temple of Olympian Zeus is rejected by a decision signed by the then Minister of Culture E. Venizelos (15/2/2001) who states that the formation of the archaeological site will take place only after the site has been expropriated.
Following the lawful withdrawal of the expropriation declaration on the 12/02/02 signed by both ministers E. Venizelos and A. Fotiades the Central Archaeological Council meets on the ΚΑΣ 13/27.02/02 and ΚΑΣ 32- 2/7/03 and decides again in favor of the expropriation of the site.
Two months before the Olympic games the consul-general in Los Angeles USA Mr. D. Zevelakis noting the destroyed sign and the state of deterioration of the site writes a letter (9/6/04) to the secretary-general of the ministry asking them to show concern.
The Citizens of Mets Initiative a few days before the OlympicGames seeing that nothing has been done to dignify the site and because the temple is historically linked to the battle of Marathon and the Marathon race write letters to both the Minister of Culture Mr. K.Karamanlis and the Mayor of Athens Mrs. D. Bakogianni (27/7/04) asking for permission and support in organizing a historical exhibition on the contemporary retaining wall with blown up images of the Stuart & Revett drawings showing the temple as it was in 1753. The Mayor of Athens promptly replied and offered her support for the exhibition recognizing the importance of the site. The exhibition was vandalized.
In 08/10/2004 the owners address the Minister of Culture officially asking that the issue be reinstated for discussion at the Central Archaeological Council and that their demands for liberation of the site and permission to build be accepted.
In 7/12/2004 the third Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities suggest that the building that are in ruins be demolished without using mechanical means and that the unexcavated areas be examined so that they may reply to the owners whether or not they may construct and under what terms.
In 21/12/2004 the deputy minister Mr. Tatoulis decides to reinstate the issue for discussion in the Central Archaeological Council with the subject title of "Approval or not of construction in the building block flanked by the streets of Ardittou, Koutoula, Thomopoulou, and Kefalou".
Protests from NGO’s and local associations which reach the press suspend the imminent meeting of the Central Archaeological Council.
On the 6/7/2005 the minutes from the last two meetings (2002,2003) of the council were given after 6 months following two extrajudicial protests and an order from the district attorney. In the ΚΑΣ 32- 2/7/03 minutes which was called at the owners protest for not being invited to the previous 2002 meeting, mention is made by three of the owners of offers from building and construction companies interested in purchasing their part of the archeological site. Also two new owners of property on the site emerge in the form of two companies under the names of NIALCO and DRALFO.
On the 10/7/2005 four days later, the issue is discussed suddenly at the Central Archaeological Council under the new title "Approval or not of the demolition of the existing buildings for the conduction of an archeological research on the building block flanked by the streets of Ardittou, Koutoula, Thomopoulou, and Kefalou". inadvertently opening the way to construction since such an approval follows a construstion permit.
At the meeting the following NGOs were present:
Elliniki Etairia for the Protection of the Enviroment and Cultural heritage, the ARDITTOS and PARILISSIOS associations, the Architectural Association of Greece, the citizens of Mets initiative and a vote of protest was read from the ICOMOS (international council of monuments and sites) Representatives of the owners were also present.
The Central Archaeological Council decides on an at situ visit.
On 12/9/2005 the members of the Centaral Archeological Council visit the site of Artemis Agrotera.
Reperesentatives of the NGO's and the owners are present.
A new meeing of the Central Archeological Council is again imminent.
On Wednesday October 19 2005 at 6.00 p.m the Central Archeological Council meets to discuss the issue concerning the site of Artemis Agrotera Approval or not of the demolition of the existing buildings for the conduction of an archeological research on the building block flanked by the streets of Ardittou, Koutoula, Thomopoulou, and Kefalou" after the at situ visit of the members of the council on the 12/9/2005
The majority of the members of the Central Archeological Council that met on the 19/10/2005 agreed to the carrying out of an excavation after the demolition of the existing buildings on the block flanked by the streets of Ardittou, Koutoula, Thomopoulou, and Kefalou on the following terms - That a written agreement be given by the owners of the properties for the demolition of the buildings and the excavation
- That the above mentioned works will be funded by the ministry of culture
- That the demolition of the buildings and the excavation will be carried out by the 3rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in the presence of a civil engineer from the Directory of Restoration of Ancient Monuments
- That ancient material incorporated in the buildings to be demolished will be selected
- After the excavation, the subject will once again be discussed at the central archeological council
On the 31/10/2005 the decision of the deputy minister P. Tatoulis is issued in accordance to the Central Archeological Council’s advice Neither in the terms stated by the Central Archeological Council, nor in the subsequent ministerial decision, is mention made of the manner in which the demolition and the excavation will take place, despite the fact that on the 7/13/2004 the third Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities proposes that the works be executed "without the use of mechanical means".This omission creates great anxiety because the use of mechanical means is likely to have destructive consequences in the locating of ancient remains whether they are embedded in walls of the more recent buildings or on the ground, as well as the on the more recent natural building materials which we think should remain on the site and be recycled in the project which will make the archaeological site accessible to the public As the "Citizens of Mets initiative" we have no objection to the excavation, we wish however that it be executed in the same manner as it would, if the site had been expropriated and always bearing in mind its accessibility in the future as an archeological site.
On the 22/11/2006 representatives of “PARILISSIOS” Citizens of Mets Initiative meet with the director of the 3rd Ephorate to express the anxiety of the citizens that was caused by the announcement of the impending demolition with the use of mechanical means.
On the 20/11/ 2006 the documents are submitted to the associations in which are mentioned that the 3rd Euphorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities announces a competition to the lowest bidder for the demolition of 4 buildings on Arditou St 18-24, as described by architect S. Chalatsis in the technical study . The cost amounts to 60,000 euro and the works will be completed in 20 days. According to the technical indications the buildings will be pulled down manually and with suitable machines
On the 17/11/2006 the associations request copies of the technical study of the demolition and the proclamation for the commission for the work.
On the 14/11/2006 and 16/11/2006, representatives of the ministry of Culture ask citizens neighboring the archeological site to provide them with water, stating that the demolition of the buildings will start on the 20/11/2006 with machines, which will raise a lot of dust.
On the 12/1/2006, the Director of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Ms Kyparissi answers that the omission in the ministerial decree indicated by the associations, stems from the fact that since all the demolition works are to be executed and financed by the ministry of culture it is obvious that they will be done with the methods and conditions best suited for the protection of the antiquities thus eliminating the need for a special reference to the use or not of mechanical means.
On the 1/12/2005, Associations “ARDITTOS”, ”PARILISSIOS”, and Citizens of Mets Initiative, direct an extrajudicial protest towards the deputy minister of Culture Mr. P. Tatoulis stating that no mention is made in the ministerial decision of the fact that the demolition of the ruined buildings will be executed without mechanical means.
On the 27/11/2006 the demolition of the ruined buildings begins.
On the 12/12/2006 the partial demolition of the buildings came to an end due to the termination of the funds. During the demolition archeological material was found incorporated in the walls of the buildings. The works will continue after the approval of new funds.
On the 14/12/2006 MP Fotis Kouvelis (member of the Coalition of the Radical Left party) places a question in Parliament to ministers of Culture, Internal affairs, Public Administration and Decentralisation asking if they have in mind to take steps for the protection, preservation and accessibility of the archeological and historical site of the temple of Artemis Agrotera.
On the 4/1/2007 the Minister of Culture
answers to MP F. Kouvelis that the demolition of the buildings will be concluded in the coming year and the further excavation of the entire site will contribute in forming a final picture concerning the extent and the level of necessity for the preservation of the antiquities and in taking the final decision concerning the specific properties
On the 11/1/2007 MP F. Kouvelis places a second question in Parliament adressed to the Minister of Culture asking what archeological findings came to light during the demolition of the old buildings and what was the assessement of these by the archeologists of the 3rd Ephorate. He also asked for a list of the findings.
On the 27/1/2007 following the question posed by MP F. Kouvelis, the minister of culture Mr G. Voulgarakis answers that remnants from the ancient or early christian monument where found in the building material of the remaining buildings during demolition and have been taken to storage.
On the 16/1/2008 MP Fotis Kouvelis poses questions in parliament to both the minister of Culture and the minister of the Enviroment, Physical Planning and Public Works after two applications by a building and real estate company on the 15/11/2007 and 21/12/2007 respectively to the City Planning office and the office for Derelict Buildings of the municipality of Athens, for the permision to demolish the existing buildings after the purchase of that section of the archeological site on the 28/3/2006 by the above mentioned company.
To the Minister of Culture the question is:
How is it permissible for commercial transactions to take place on an archeological site which is under the protection of the Ministry of Culture.
To the minister of the Enviroment Physical Planning and Public Works:
How can a permission for demolition be administered by the ministry to a private company since the demolition of the existing buildinds is to be undertaken by the Ministry of Culture following the decicion taken on the 31/10/2005
On the 14/12/2008 an artistic venue on site takes place. 7 visual artists paint seven broken hearts reperesenting the 7 decisions taken by the Archeological Council for the expropriation, protection and excavation of the site that never came to fruition
On the 4/3/2009 during the 6th Panorama of Ecological films entitled "Windows looking out onto our Planet" organised by Elliniki Etairia for Culture and the Environment,28 Tripodon st. Plaka,the film "the Temple of Artemis Agrotera" directed by Ch. Akritides and presented by Ch. Fragou was shown.
On the 4/6/2009 the World Day for the Environment, the Ecogreen party gave a press conference on site
On the 9/9/ of September, 2009 the Greek Ombudsman an independent authority with her document no.9761/05/2.7 addressed to the Ministry of Culture asks to be informed concerning the process of the expropriation of the archaeological site.
From the briefing it was revealed by chance that the Greneral Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Mr. Dravillas on the 28th of August 2009, after the early elections were announced, signed a bill of credit for the continuation of the demolition of the remaining building on the Archaeological site.
On 9/10/2009 The third Ephorate of Pre-classical and Classical Antiquities moves to announce a competition for the demolition of the rest of the buildings on the archaeological site as well as the careful clearing of all the rubble so that the site be prepared for excavation. The maximum budget is set at 44,000 euros.
On the 4/11/2009 the attorney withdraws from the high court the petition to repeal ΓΔΑΠΚ/ΑΡΧ/Α1/Φ3/88473/4359/31-10-2005 decision of Minister of Culture P. Tatouli.
On 10/11/2009 the results of the competition are accepted with a budget of 34,748 euro including VAT.
As one may see on the site itself, the results of the first demolition which was conducted with a budget of 55,200 euros and was not completed due to "a lack of funds", left behind an abandoned site.
Instead of using the public funds to carefully remove the rubble of the first demolition where the foundations of the temple lay, the Ephorate has moved to demolish the rest of the buildings which are of a larger volume than those of the first demolition, using a smaller budget!
On 17/11/2009 the attorney applies to the town planning office of Athens to find out if there have been any applications for a permit to demolish building by the real estate development company that bought into the site. She is informed that an application for demolition was deposited by the company in September of 2009.
On the 11/11/2009 M.P. Fotis Kouvelis poses a written parliamentary question to the Minister of Culture and Tourism asking him to reply on what the ministry intends to do given the bad condition of the site after the first demolition in 2006 and especially in view of the second demolition which is being planned.
On the 24/11/2009 representatives of the Ecogreens Nikos Chrysogelos and Ioanna Kontouli visited the site to be informed of the threats that it is facing and declared their support for its protection.
On the 30/11/2009 the attorney delivered an extra-judicial declaration to the town planning office of Athens, stating that it should not issue any permit since the ministerial decision 8847/4359//31-10-2005 refers that only written consent from the owners is required and the demolition of the building as well as the excavation will be performed by the Third Ephorate of Pre-classical and Classical Antiquities with funds of the Ministry of Culture.
On the 1/12/2009 the town planning office of the city of Athens sent a letter to the Third Ephorate of Preclassical and Classical Antiquities to find out if it will move to demolish on the site without a permit from the town planning office. If a permit is required it wishes to be informed clearly and in writing.
On December 3/12/2009,the 3rd Ephorate of Classical Antiquities replies to the town planning office of Athens that it has commissioned the demolition to a contractor following a competition and has hired 4 experienced workers and an archaeologist to oversee the demolition and to check for archaeological remains among the rubble. It is now awaiting the issue of the permit from the town planning office if it is necessary otherwise it will move to demolish the buildings without a permit(as it did in December 2006)
On the 11/12/2009 the Minister of Culture and Tourism replies to the parliamentary question posed by M.P. Fotis Kouvelis
On Saturday 19/12/2009 a workshop and event took place at "Ftero" 7, Markou Mousourou St with the participation of children and adults for the protection of the archaeological site of Artemis Agrotera.
On the 21/12/2009 the demolition of the remaining building on the archaeological site began. Although work is to be conducted by a contractor who was hired by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism a permit was issued by the town planning office in the name of the real estate company that bought a share of the property in 2006. The permit number is 1430/2009.
Οn Wednesday,13/1/2010 at 15.00 the Central Archeological Council will meet to discuss whether or not to appoint a committee to conduct an autopsy on site to specify whether or not the square contained within the streets Ardittou, Thomopoulou, Kefalou and Koutoula in the area of Mets of the Municipality of Athens wiil be declared an unstructered area A(absolute protection).
The meeting of the central archaeological council was postponed following a request from the owners(see greek press)
On the21/1/2010 an important ancient fragment was found and a well.
On the 22/1/2010 the demolition was interrupted
The Citizens of Mets Initiative
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