The Artemis Project

To build or not to build, that is the question.

Now, I just want to clear the air now and state that I for one, as a student of archaeology, am not a fan of rebuilding or reconstructing Ancient monuments.

WAIT!

I know that most of you reading this are thinking “Boo! What a buzz kill! They should call you Ebenezer ‘parochial traditionalist’ scrooge!


So I’d just like to take this moment to say, NO! I’m not partial to reconstruction of Ancient Monuments for a few reasons:

1) They are usually done really, really badly! I love in situ monuments and am grateful that they have survived through time and stand as these undeniable tangible manifestations of past events. But I do not like to visit sites where you can see modern materials tacked onto ancient monuments. That really does just spoil the whole experience, for me anyway.

2) The art and stylistic features of the ancient remains can be quite different in modern reconstructions.

3) The chauvinism of the selected artists and architects employed to reconstruct the damn thing…talk about god complexes!

Anyway, the Selçuk Artemis Culture, Arts, and Education Foundation in conjunction with the University of Vienna announced plans to rebuild the Temple of Artemis.

I can only a assume that this was a massively complicated decision to make, what with archaeological ethics, the global financial crisis, the fact that the temple was formally one of the seven ancient wonders of the world…

WHAT?!
Yes that’s right! The temple of Artemis was once one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World.
And it is now set for reconstruction!

Personal biases aside, the project should hopefully be done well if the process for selecting the sculptors is anything to go by:

To find the best sculptures to adorn the restored temple, a lottery will be held to form a selection committee chosen from representatives of 196 U.N. member countries.
Each selected representative will then select two sculptors from the nation they represent. The selected sculptors will then take part in workshops run by the Artemis Culture, Arts and Education Foundation.
The sculptors will first begin work on the cubic bases for the columns, with sculptures to be inspired by either of two sayings attributed to Heracleitos of Ephesus: “War is the father of everything” and “Everything flows and nothing abides.”
An international jury will then choose two sculptures from all the pieces produced by artists to be featured in the temple. One of the winning sculptures will be displayed on one of the cubic circles and the other will be displayed in the temple's yard.

You can find the rest of the article here

Now…is it just me, or does this project just sound like a very elaborate and very expensive version of Antiques Roadshow with somewhat of a renovation rescue-esque twist?

Just me?...how unusual…I’m just going to go and play with my fossil collection now…

http://www.voicesnewspaper.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2401