The Acropolis in Athens has captured the imaginations of readers, writers and travellers for centuries and every year draws crowds from all over the world. One of the world's most famous heritage sites, it has long been a national monument of Greece and a potent symbol of western civilization. But the Acropolis is typically viewed in the context of 5th-century-BC Athenian society, while the multiple local and international meanings and identities that the site shapes today are overlooked. This book looks at the meaning of the Acropolis in contemporary Greece. How are global ideas adopted and adapted by local cultures? How do Greeks deal with the national and international features of their ancient classical heritage? How do the global cultural constructions surrounding the Acropolis become part of local practices which project Greek cultural difference?The author examines this historic site as a powerful agent for negotiations of power on an international level. Drawing from a wide range of sources as well as original fieldwork, this handsomely illustrated book will make compelling reading for anyone interested in heritage issues, archaeology, anthropology material culture studies, and tourism.

Table of Contents:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PREFACE CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION I.A. GLOBAL AND LOCAL HELLENISMS I.B. TRACING THE ACROPOLIS I.C. OUTLINE OF THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS CHAPTER II. AN HISTORICAL OUTLINE II.A. EARLY HISTORY II.B. THE NATIONAL ERA II.B.1. The Establishment of the Greek State II.B.2. The Revival of the Two-Headed Eagle and the Reconciliation of the Classical and the Byzantine Past II.B.3. Preparing for the 20th Century II.B.4. The 1930s Generation and the Regeneration of 'Greekness' II.B.5. The War and its Aftermath II.B.6. Towards a Democratic Pluralism CHAPTER III. GREECE CONDENSED: MATERIALISING NATIONAL IDENTITY III.A. THE ACROPOLIS AS HISTORY III.B. THE ACROPOLIS AS TERRITORY III.C. THE ACROPOLIS AS GREEK FLAG III.D. THE ACROPOLIS AS BODY III.E. CONCLUSIONS CHAPTER IV. CONTESTING GREEK IDENTITY: BETWEEN THE LOCAL AND THE GLOBAL IV.A. INTRODUCTION IV.B. BUILDING AN IMAGE - THE 'MISSION' OF ANTIQUITIES ABROAD IV.C. REQUEST FOR REPATRIATION/RESTITUTION OF HELLENISM IV.D. REVIVAL - RESTORATION - REGENERATION IV.E. NAMES, POWER AND THE CLAIMS OF IDENTITY IV.F. WRITING HISTORY IV.G. CONCLUSIONS CHAPTER V. CONSUMING INALIENABLE WEALTH V.A. COCA-COLA VERSUS THE ACROPOLIS: THE CLASH OF THE TITANS V.B. THE OLYMPICS IN ATLANTA - HOW THE GOLDEN OLYMPAID TURNED INTO PLASTIC V.C. FROM THE SALOON TO THE HERODEION: BLUE JEANS AND CLASSICAL HERITAGE V.D. TOURISM IN GREECE: THE 'DOUBLE-DECKER' AND THE FATE OF THE ACROPOLIS V.E. CONCLUSIONS CHAPTER VI. THE AESTHETICS OF SACREDNESS VI.A. INTRODUCTION VI.B. GREEK SYNCRETISM VI.C. THE 'WORSHIP' OF THE ACROPOLIS VI.D. VISUALISING OCA ACROPOLIS VI.E. PURITY AND POLLUTION - FORMALISED BEHAVIOUR VI.F. THE ACROPOLIS' GUARDS VI.G. THE DISCOURSE OF PURITY AND POLLUTION AS A FORM OF RESISTANCE VI.H. WHITE - THE COLOUR OF PURITY VI.I. A CONTEST OVER 'CLEANLINESS' VI.J. THE PURSUIT OF AUTHENTICITY AND THE REUNION OF TELOS AND ORIGIN CHAPTER VII. CONCLUSIONS