Modern Athens: Illuminating the “Shadows of the Ancestors”

A critical analysis of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century debate surrounding the demolition of nonclassical monuments from the Acropolis of Athens reveals that such practices were part of a broader social reconstruction of the past, often concealing tensions between post-Enlightenment modernity and Greek antiquity. The study focuses on the removal of the Frankish Tower near the Propylaea, highlighting how purist approaches to heritage preservation during this period reflected metropolitan modernity's disdain for the old in favor of an idealized classical image. By examining celebrations and critiques of these purist practices, the research exposes the false contest between antiquity and modernity, offering new insights into the cultural and historical dynamics shaping Athens' transformation.

Giannakopoulou, G. (2015). Modern Athens: Illuminating the “Shadows of the Ancestors”. Journal of Modern Greek Studies, 33(1), 73–103. https://doi.org/10.1353/mgs.2015.0011