Despite coming in for a lot of bad press recently in Germany for economic reasons, the country’s media are being much more supportive to Greece in their appreciation of the efforts being put into restoring the Acropolis.

From:
Greek Reporter

German Media Praises Acropolis Restoration Efforts
Posted on 09 January 2011 by Venetia Aftzigianni

The German media is impressed by the quality of renovations on the Acropolis. Begining in the mid-1970′s, the project has involved painstaking repairs on major monuments, including the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and Athena Nike Temple, and the Acropolis walls. The architectural masterpieces suffered from pollution and a flawed reparation attempt in the 1930′s. Workers used iron clamps in their repairs that eventually rusted and cracked the marble.

German journalists have uncharacteristically praised Greek efforts.

For instance Bernhard Schulz, editor for the Tagesspiegel newspaper of Berlin, wrote an article complimenting the accomplishment of the Greek state to reduce the smog which is very harmful to marble. Furthermore he referred to the exemplary work of the Greek Conservation Commission which achieved to restore the Acropolis. The German editor surprised by the beauty, writes: “Between the blue sky and white marble I have that feeling of happiness, the one that I always have in front of the harmony of classical buildings. And now this small church, so small compared to the Parthenon, it comes as a perfect embodiment of all nostalgia for Greece, beginning from the age of Vinkelman till today. ”

However, the journalist does not fail to comment the different restoration concepts of the past two centuries and certainly cannot forget the banners hanging in Propylea writing “No Dismissals”. Bernhard Schulz also refers to the filling of gaps in the existing monuments with Pentelic marble. Moreover, he recalls the state and European financing of the restoration and finally talks about Elgin. As for the result, he writes: “Nothing can outshadow the overall impression of the Acropolis: a bright white monument despite the dissatisfaction that has spread to the state and society … The Restoration Committee was able to restore classical Athens, despite the shadows creeping everywhere in the Greek capital.” Finally, he concludes by: “It is noon, the blue sky seems even more bright, white marble columns more frosty and bright, and the visitor feels that in Greece there are things more permanent than the current crisis.”