“Internationally acclaimed Byzantinologists unite their voices for the preservation of antiquities at the Venizelos Metro Station in Thessaloniki”, announced the Association of Greek Archaeologists . The same announcement contains related video messages from Maria Mavroudi, Professor of Byzantine Archaeology at the University of Berkeley, Jean-Pierre Sodini, Emeritus Professor at Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne and Member of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, Young Richard Kim Associate Professor of Classical and Mediterranean Studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and Dimiter Angelov, Professor of Byzantine History at Harvard University’s Dumbarton Oaks.
Also being sent is a translated text by Jean-Michel Spieser, Emeritus Professor of Early Christian and Byzantine Archaeology and Art at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. The professor, who knows the city well because of his doctoral dissertation on Early Christian Thessaloniki, mentions, among other things, the important findings of the Venizelos station: “For me it is self-evident that the findings must remain in place and be accessible to the public. Their detachment would cause the loss of their unique character, as they would become part of an artificial framework no longer allowing ancient Thessaloniki to be seen as it was […]. I wholeheartedly hope that the Council of State will vindicate you and decide on the “in situ” preservation of the antiquities. These will be of great interest to science, the education of students, but also to Thessaloniki’s tourism. The site will be an additional enhancement to the city , as are the beautiful churches with their mosaics and frescoes”.
It is reminded that various institutions have appealed to the Council of State requesting the annulment of the decision on removing and relocating the antiquities. The appeal is scheduled to be heard on Friday, November 6.