The picture of the disrespectful half-naked “Hercules” has been posted on social media and triggered outrage in the local community.
The picture was posted also on Facebook by local businessman on Naxos, Alexandros Frantzeskos, who speaks of “Banana republic tourism” and sharply criticizes the absence of guards at the archaeological site to protect the heritage.
After the incident, the Cyclades MP of ruling New Democracy, Markos Kafouros, is bringing the issue to Parliament.
In a report to the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, he asks to know what measures the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades intends to take to protect the monument, when they will be implemented and how the safeguarding will be ensured, naxostimes.gr reported.
Kafouros emphasized that Portara is not just a tourist attraction, but a global symbol of culture, which requires respect and substantial care and not the image we have seen in recent days with picnics and damage to the monument.
Mayor of Naxos, Dimitris Lianos, told media that a guard has been temporary placed in the archaeological site, however, he was not sure whether the position was permanent.
In ancient times, a strip of land connected the northern side of Naxos port to the islet of Palatia.
According to one Ancient Greek myth, the islet of Palatia was exactly where Ariadne, the Minoan princess, was abandoned by her lover Theseus after he killed Minotaur on the island of Crete.
Some researchers claim, though, that this temple was to be built in honor of Apollo, the Greek god of light who protected music and poetry. Proof of this lies in the fact that the temple faces in the direction of Delos – Apollo’s birthplace, according to mythology.
In the 6th century BC, when Naxos was at its peak of glory, the then-ruler tyrant Lygdamis wanted to build the highest and most magnificent building. He ordered the construction of a massive temple, but when war broke out between Naxos and Samos, construction work stopped abruptly.
After that, Lygdamis was overthrown in 506 BC, and the temple, which was supposed to be at least a hundred feet tall, was never completed.
The temple’s architectural order would be Ionic. The structure would be 59 meters long and 28 meters wide, with a peristyle of 6×12 columns.
Today all that remains of the temple is the Portara. It is around 6 meters high and 3.5 meters wide and consists of separate monoliths. Each one weighs about 20 tons.
