US/ICOMOS International Symposium - March 11-15, 2009 in New Orleans

Wildfires in Ancient Olympia, Greece: A Threat and a Challenge

12 March 2009New Orleans

Presentation by Mrs. Elena Korka

Director of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities

Director for the Documentation and the Protection of Cultural Objects Ministry of Culture, Greece

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear colleagues, (1)I am particularly honored to be invited by the wonderful organizers toparticipate in the 12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium, here, inNew Orleans, and to have the opportunity to share with you theexperience obtained recently in Greece by the Archaeological Service inregard to the proper development of infrastructures and skills designed tolimit the risk of natural disasters. At the present day, this issue is one of the most serious problems facing our Natural and Cultural Heritage.Risk mitigation and the management of man-made and natural disastersthreatening our Heritage and are, today, a major challenge to the worldcommunity especially, in view of the climate changes that are takingplace. (2)It has been demonstrated that climate change causes extreme weatherconditions and at the same time helps to intensify the natural phenomenathat are striking various parts of the planet with ever-increasingfrequency, with a dramatic impact on the economy, society and

environment. These disasters are the consequence of the lack of propermanagement of the environment and uncontrolled human activityWorld Heritage monuments are inevitably exposed to the these dangers.It is a natural consequence therefore, that both international organisations(such as UNESCO, ICOMOS, etc.) and national institutions in countrieswhich are sensitised and have suffered from natural disasters in recentyears, should unite their voices and actions in order to restrain suchhazards.(3)Greece is one of the countries that has experienced the force of nature inthe worst possible manner. Our country was almost called upon to bereborn, like the phoenix from the ashes, after the devastating fires in2007, which marked our society, and led to the loss of life, which is, of course irreparable.(4)At the end of the summer of 2007, in conditions of very hightemperatures, huge fires broke out on the 3

of August on many fronts inthe Peloponnese, in south-west Greece. These large-scale fires consumedmore than 150,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land in the span of five days. The force and rapid spread of the fire suddenly threatenedAncient Olympia, when, on the 26

of August, the residents of thishistoric town saw the flames ante portas.(5)In the meantime, mechanical and human resources fought to counter thefire on all fronts in the Peloponnese, exhausting their resources in theirattempt to save the inhabitants of the region, the stock-raising units thatare its main economic source of income, and the natural environment.They were up against the non-ceasing strong winds that blew in the area,

constantly and uncontrollably changing the direction of the fire. “Theclouds of smoke from the forests and from properties were so thick that itwas very difficult to see in which direction, and at what speed, the firewas moving”. These words were the testimony of the inhabitants of Ancient Olympia who bravely fought to extinguish it.(6)On the site, the larger part of the vegetation was destroyed by the fire. Atthe very last minute, nonetheless, the flames slept over the monumentsand did not affect them, as if by the hand of Zeus. Superhuman effort wasmade by the local residents and the staff of the Archaeological Service of Ancient Olympia, who worked all night defending their history and theirheritage. Unfortunately the press often gave the impression of completedestruction.(7)The Archaeological Museum and the Sanctuary of Zeus remaineduntouched. (8) However, the hills surrounding the Museum, including theKronios hill – the symbol of Olympia’s natural environment – werecompletely burnt. The storage room of the German ArchaeologicalInstitute was also burnt and the architectural members stored therein werecovered with soot.(9)On the following day, the intervention of the state and ordinary citizenswas immediate. The titanic task of restoring the environment of Olympiabegan at once. After the consultation of the Central ArchaeologicalCouncil which delineated the terms and conditions for the properrehabilitation of the site, the project began. For the reforestation study thetexts of ancient Greek authors and 19th-century travellers, were used asreference. Lysias used to write: “The valley of Olympia is the mostbeautiful place in the whole of Greece.” (10)