An ancient monument in Greece called the Diolkos is being worn away by erosion, industry and neglect. The Diolkos was the ancient pathway used by ships to travel overland on the Isthmus of Corinth, thus reaching Athens more quickly and avoiding the dangerous Peloponnese peninsula. The route was in use for hundreds of years and represents a unique engineering feat.
The Diolkos was excavated in the late 1950s but has been largely neglected since that time. In June the local government agreed to clean up the monument and continue some archaeological work but no further rescue efforts have been planned.
A number of concerned citizens are asking for petition signatures to convince the Greek government to protect and excavate this unique ancient monument.
Click here to sign the petition.
Photo by Rich Pianka
Monday, September 24, 2007
Diolkos Petition
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
The damage of Diolkos is going on, as one more ancient block fell from the monument during the last weeks of October 2007.
Although on Sept. 4th, 2007 the Central Archaeological Council approved a “Master Plan” for Diolkos (which calls for immediate temporary protection measures), relevant services remain largely inactive; even the exchange of letters seems to be going at a snail’ s speed, creating doubts even about the intentions of the services involved and drawing a picture of mindboggling inability...
The Master Plan actually comprises the basic information about Diolkos (which the services “in charge” lacked and which was largely forced upon the Ministry by privates) and considers steps to be taken for the monument’s salvation (an obligation that never ceased to exist and in which the Ministry has up to now tragically failed).
The long festival of hypocrisy and illegality that has determined the monument’s deterioration is – at last - becoming known to the large public. See for example article presented by the most popular greek portal at www.in.gr/Reviews/imagegallery.asp?lngReviewID=1667&lngChapterID=16500&lngItemID=57977 It is good to see the veil of silence about Diolkos finally lift itself and a greek tragedy, complete with an innocent victim, slowly come to light.
The petition for Saving and Restoring Diolkos has already received signatures originating from 81 countries.
Ploease join your voice for the salvation of a defenceless monument that has already suffered too much!!
Sofia Loverdou
Freelance Science Journalist
Correction:
The link I was referring to in the last post, is the following:
www.in.gr/Reviews/imagegallery.asp?lngReviewID=1667&lngChapterID=16500&lngItemID=57977
Post a Comment