ΧΑΪΔΑΡΙ ΧΑΪΔΑΡΙ - ΣΥΝΑΝΤΗΣΗ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ | Page 146

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emptied significantly in the 19th century, since it is rarely
mentioned by historical sources.
During the first years of the 19th century, the notorious
Lord Elgin (1766-1841) visited Daphni and according to
various travellers removed three ionic columns from the
façade of the exonarthex. They probably belonged to
the sanctuary of Daphnaios Apollon and are today in the
British Museum.
The Daphni Monastery
during the 1821 Revolution
The Ottomans besieged and burnt the monastery during
the Revolution, with the help of a monk, Paisios. A
tradition that burnt bodies of the monks were left in the
courtyard until 1854 is probably not correct, although
the soot layer on the mosaics attests to fire, probably
an attempt to melt the gold of the tesserae. The siege
happened probably during the 1821 unsuccessful
campaign by Omar Vrioni. After this, the monastery
became the base of Greek guerilla captains.
The Daphni Monastery after the Revolution
After the Revolution the monastery was completely
deserted. Last abbot was Agathaggelos (about 1815-1840),
who resided in Athens. In 1838-1839 a Bavarian road
guarison was stationed in Daphni. The French historian
Jean Alexandre visited a deserted place in 1840. So did
the famous Danish writer, Hans Christian Andersen
(1805-1875) in 1841, accompanied by Ludwig Ross and
Philippos Ioannou. Monk cells had become stables. The
catholicon preserved some of its grandeur but also
traces of the Ottoman disrespect. Thirteen years later,
during the Anglo-French occupation of Piraeus, a French
battalion stationed in the monastery and conducted
archaeological excavations in the area.
After the French, a small group of nuns came to the
monastery. At the same time, Daphni became a popular
excursion destination for Athenians and featured in
Emmanuel Roidis’ Papissa (Female Pope) Ioanna (1866),
one of the most debated books of modern Greek
literature. The church was devoted to the Dormition of the
Virgin and celebrated on the 23rd of August with a large
feast. In 1883-1885 the monastery became a psychiatry.
The wretchedness of the monastery reached its zenith
when it was used as an animal pen in 1887. The general
clamour combined with earthquake damages in 1886,
1889 and 1894 prompted the government to the rescue
and restoration of Daphni. Works continue until today.
Landscape in west Attica with Eleusis in the background.
19th century, engraving.