No, the circus hadn’t come to town. In fact, there is no town. A tent has covered the Temple of Apollo at Bassai for 15 years
to protect it from frost and the elements while it is being restored. This is the most remote sanctuary in
mainland Greece and at 1130 meters above sea level, the elements are a real
issue.
We were the only visitors this morning. At this rate it will take eons to raise
the 300K euros for the restoration unless UNESCO comes through with more
money. Once you enter the big top
you get to see what all the excitement is about. First of all, it was designed by the same architect who did
the Parthenon. Second, it is the
most complete structure we have seen.
Granted, it is supported by scaffolding while the work continues but its
central structure, the cela, is still intact. The friezes are in the British Museum for safe keeping and
the grounds around the temple have become a staging yard for the bits and
pieces, all carefully sorted and numbered, that will someday be replaced where
they belong.
