Ancient Greece

A social distancing marker reads "Stay Here!" with the Parthenon temple seen in the background, as the Acropolis archaeological site opens to visitors, following the easing of measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Athens, on Monday. [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters]

The height limit of buildings constructed in the vicinity of the Acropolis in central Athens should be reduced to no more than 21 meters, according to a recommendation submitted by the Environment Minister Kostis Hatzidakis to the Central Council of Urban Affairs and Disputes (KESYPOTHA), which convened on Thursday.

Greece's Council of State issued two rulings that temporarily suspend the construction of buildings in central Athens that would obstruct the view of the Acropolis Hill.

Following a marathon session on Wednesday, Greece's Central Archaeological Council (KAS), the country's top advisory body on the protection of antiquities, ruled in favor of the demolition of the top two floors of a hotel built in the central Athens district of Makriyianni, Kathimerini understands.

The Culture Ministry is planning eight interventions to improve access, safety and cost-efficiency at the Athens Acropolis, Greece's foremost archaeological monument, which receives some 1.5 million visitors a year.

Australians continue to study the celebrated funeral oration attributed to Pericles at school and at university. Often the French are surprised to learn this. For them, Australia is simply a distant land with fierce bushfires and very strange animals. Yet studying ancient Greece in Australia dates back to the arrival of Europeans two centuries ago.

"Forgetfulness and Historical Thinking in Herodotus against the Background of the Greek Literary Tradition" is the title of a lecture that Dr Carlos Hernandez Garces will deliver at the Norwegian Institute at Athens on Tuesday, January 28.

A woman walks past a neon-lit star decorating the Dionysiou Areopagitou promenade for the Christmas season, with the the ancient Parthenon temple at the Acropolis in the background, in Athens, on Monday. The installations are part of a bigger holiday decoration project implemented in the Greek capital in cooperation with the Athens Digital Arts Festival. [Petros Giannakouris/AP]

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed solidarity with Greece on the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles during his visit to the Acropolis Museum on Tuesday morning, which wrapped up his official two-day visit to Athens.

Police shut down central avenues in the Greek capital on Monday morning as a two-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping got underway.

The road closures concern Syntagma square, the Presidential Mansion and the area around the Acropolis Hill.

The Syntagma metro station will remain closed and trains will pass through without stopping.