Memorandum of cooperation between the Academy of Athens, the Municipality of Athens and the Ministry. Of Culture for the promotion of the Plato Academy

“The strength in unity. “Today, the Ministry of Culture, the Academy of Athens and the Municipality of Athens are taking a very important step for the rebirth of the Plato Academy,” said the mayor of Athens, Costas Bakogiannis, immediately after the signing.Memorandum of Cooperation for the Promotion of the Archaeological Site of the Plato Academy and the Operation of the International Audience of the Academies».

As Mr. Bakoyannis pointed out, this is “a project with three goals: the necessary archaeological excavations, the formation of a new park and the museum of the city of Athens, all with the modern principles of green design. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us but we feel confident that we will succeed.”

During the ceremony for the signing of the memorandumthe general secretary of the Academy of Athens, Christos Zerefos, underlined that “today is a very big day”, stating that “so far, for almost all the decisions regarding the project” the senate unanimously concluded “which is new”.

«Aristophanes was inspired to create a kick-off to find Plato’s tomb first and then, with the excavations, to find Plato’s AcademyMr. Zerefos reminded, referring to the history of the important landmark. As he explained, the architect Panagiotis Aristofron himself “managed with his effort to find the peristyle, the Gymnasium, important findings and to find them he spent a large fortune buying buildings that were in the Plato Academy to be released then, in his ten ’30, the place so that the excavations can proceed “.

Defending Mr. Bakoyannis, he commented that “we owe the Plato Academy as we know it today to the tax authorities of Athens, to the archaeologists, but we also owe it to Panagiotis Aristofron”, adding that “sometimes there is an injustice in history because the pioneers tend to forget. “But we are talking about a rare personality who, without seeking recognition, devoted time, money from his own fortune, to a national cause.”

For the project in Plato Academy A program contract has already been signed between the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Athens, which means that the physical object has been agreed but also the financing has been secured, so these are technically mature projects. In fact, archeological excavations are expected to begin in the coming weeks, during the summer, while work on the park, which includes the reconstruction of the playground, landscaping, signage, lighting and urban equipment, is expected. to start very soon based on a study by Doxiadis’s office. Funding has been provided through the “Adopt your city” program from sponsors.

Regarding the museum of the city of Athens, the architectural competition is expected to be announced in the next period by Anaplasi SA and the philosophy of its requirements moves to the logic of assimilation of the museum and the neighborhood into a whole that balances and collaborates. The museum will also house the International Audience of Academies, for which Mr. Zerefos stated that there is international interest. «The Academy of Athens today performed its duty towards the will of a great man and a great wife, the couple Aristofronos, who envisioned the complete excavation and unveiling of Plato’s Academy, the tomb of the great philosopher, but also the most interesting of an Audience of the AcademiesMr. Zerefos pointed out in his statements after the event and added: “I am already able to know that many Academies will applaud and are waiting for us to start the work to create the museum of Athens and in this area. , which is in the legacy of Aristofronos, to be there and the Common of the Academies “.

The Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, who had already signed the memorandum, was absent from the event for health reasons and was represented by the general secretary George Didaskalou.