Byzantine monuments in modern Greece: Ideology and practice of restorations 1833 - 1939

When the modern Greek state was founded two hundred years ago, immediate interest was paid to the preservation of monuments from the nation's historical past. Such interest initially covered monuments of classical antiquity, leaving aside the remains of medieval times. It took some decades of national progress and an ideological realignment for Byzantine civilization to be accepted in the canon and its art to be appreciated.
The aim of the present study is to identify and present the development of the reception and treatment of Byzantine architectural heritage in the first century of the Greek state. The author analyses noteworthy and representative cases of intervention in Byzantine monuments in Greece, evaluating approaches to the restoration principles and the practices adopted.
The book documents actions undertaken by the Greek state as well as non-governmental bodies for the preservation and reappraisal of Byzantine heritage in Greece, and explores the ideological and cultural context, establishing linkages with contemporary European intellectual currents. It highlights the impact of the reevaluation of Byzantium on the measures for the protection, rescue, and restoration of Byzantine ecclesiastic monuments. The study, based on rich, hitherto unknown archival material, constitutes a significant contribution to the research into the history of Greece's cultural heritage as well as to the history of European restorations.