Walking down the street of Hephaestus these days in Monastirakileaving behind the hustle and bustle of shops and tourists, the visitor who comes to the end of the busy shopping street and expects to come across that old building that for a while hid the archaeological site of the various lodges is sure to be in for something of a surprise: the building, numbered 14 on the diagonal Agios Philipou street, which once housed restaurants, no longer exists. It was demolished a few days ago after being first declassified as a heritage site and expropriated by the Greek state at the expense of American School of Classical Studies in Athensin order to continue from next summer, together with the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens, the excavations which he had been carrying out for many years in this particular part of the Ancient Agora.

The story began at least ten years ago. In 2010, the American School of Classical Studies in Athens demanded the declassification of this particular building, as well as another one located at 20 Agios Philipou Street, at the intersection with Hadrianou Street. According to the message “K” (2.3.2017), all departments then gave a positive conclusion on the declassification of two buildings, which was carried out by the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2013.

These two buildings were the only ones of 11 at that time that were not bought and demolished by the American School or expropriated by the state on its behalf – always at its own expense – to continue excavations. work., which since the 1980s has brought to light part of the Diverse Lodge. The owners of the two buildings, as well as the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Culture, have petitioned the Council of State to cancel their declassification, arguing that the priority given to the illumination of classical antiquities has damaged the Plaka residential complex and its architecture. However, the State Council eventually gave the go-ahead for the demolition, and the expropriation of the buildings was recorded in the 2019 Official Gazette.

It was important to remove this particular building so that excavations could begin at the center of the site.

“Slowly but steadily, from 1980 to 2006, we found various sides of the Divergent Lodge, such as the west, rear and east, but it was not fully revealed,” says Craig Mauzy, deputy director of excavations at the American School of Ancient Agora. “In recent years, we have done some more excavation at the front, however, the last remaining site is above the middle, so it was important to remove this particular building so that we could start excavating at the center of the site. Basically, we’re looking for the northeast part of the Diverse Lodge. And it’s interesting to know what kind of story is hidden there.

According to Craig Mausey, excavations in the area, which will be carried out by the American School of Classical Studies in conjunction with the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens, will begin in June 2023. As usual, they will be held with the participation of student volunteers from domestic and foreign universities. In addition to the unknown parts of the Various Stoas, which take their name from the paintings that adorned its walls, one can find Leokorion, a sanctuary dedicated by the Athenians in the 5th century BC. to the daughters of the Lion King and which, of course, is likely to be under a building that has not been demolished – reaching a mutually beneficial agreement with its owner is an unresolved issue, Mr Mausi emphasizes. Also, according to information from the Ephorate of Antiquities, during the excavations, unlike what has happened so far, an attempt will be made to preserve the found Byzantine buildings.

“We archaeologists are destroying a modern city that we don’t really like to find what is underneath,” concludes Craig Mauzy, “and every time the American School acquires a building, some people get hurt. However, those who live or work on nearby Astyggos Street are happy because they now have a view of the Acropolis. All this changes the image of the district, but in a few years the changes will be perceived as part of it. And there will be other places with stunning views, such as on the road from Monastiraki to Thissio: you will lean over the fence and see the Various Stoas, which will introduce you to this part of the Ancient Agora.”