Greek Pagan Group Is Battling Plans For New Parthenon Museum

CNN yesterday reported on recent activities by a pagan group in Greece known as Ellinais. According to a 2007 AP article, the group wants to revive worship of twelve ancient Greek gods. It has won a court battle to be recognized as an official religion. Now it is attempting to get government approval for it to perform weddings and other rituals. In Athens on Sunday the group staged an illegal ceremony on the Acropolis amid the ruins of the Parthenon, praying to Athena (the ancient goddess of wisdom) to protest plans for the building of the controversial New Acropolis Museum. The group objects to the recent removal of marble pediments from the Parthenon and the re-housing of artwork from a current small museum on the Acropolis to the newly planned Museum. High priestess Doretta Peppa said: "The new museum is a monumental eyesore, an architectural monstrosity within the most traditional and archaeologically-rich part of Athens. It is an insult to our heritage..."