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Vangelis
Damages Greek Temple
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A
concert to be held at the 2,500 year old Temple of Zeus in Athens
is causing dismay among archaeologists and locals alike. The concert
has been organized by the company overseeing the Cultural Olympiad
for the 2004 Olympics, to be held in Greece, and will premiere Vangelis'
new choral symphony, "Mythodea," featuring Jessye Norman,
Kathleen Battle and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Vangelis is
best known for writing the soundtrack to Chariots of Fire,
but is something of an icon in his own country.
The site, which is in central Athens, is all that remains of the Temple
of Zeus and includes 16 surviving columns and the ruins of the temple
itself. Concern grew to alarm this week when a crane tumbled into
an ancient well. The crane, along with other construction equipment,
was erecting scoffolding, seating, tents and a huge wrap-around screen.
Critics of the event regard it as "too Hollywood," and assert
that it is not an appropriate use for an ancient monument. In addition,
there is concern that some of the scaffolding could collapse in a
high wind and destroy parts of the temple.
The Culture Minister is committed to such uses of ancient buildings,
however. He feels that the monuments must play a part in people'd
everyday lives in order to be relevant.
The Greek government is also currently engaged in transforming part
of the battlfield of Marathon into a lake for rowing events. Local
and international outrage didn't so any good there either.
And they wonder why the British won't give back the Elgin Marbles... |
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Today
in history... |
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1862 - It
was on this day that the Rev. Charles Dodgson told Alice Liddell
and her sisters the story of Alice, who followed a white rabbit
down a hole and entered a magical land. Alice Liddell insisted
that he write it all down.
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