(Events are in descending order)

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 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 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 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 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 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 27/11/2006 the demolition of the ruined buildings begins.

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.

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

1. That a written agreement be given by the owners of the properties for the demolition of the buildings and the excavation
2. That the above mentioned works will be funded by the ministry of culture
3. 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
4. That ancient material incorporated in the buildings to be demolished will be selected
5. 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 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

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 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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Picture as it is today

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.

Aftter the excavation a new meeting of the Central Archaeological Council was called (ΚΑΣ 4- 24/01/95) where the council again unanimously decides in favor of the previous (ΚΑΣ 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

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.

Τhe Central Archaeological Council once again discusses the issue (ΚΑΣ 14-13/04/93) and unanimously votes for the expropriation.

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.

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”.

Travlos ground plan of wider area

I.Travlos discovered the retaining wall surviving today in 1962.

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.

The Citizens of Mets Initiative