ΧΑΪΔΑΡΙ ΧΑΪΔΑΡΙ - ΣΥΝΑΝΤΗΣΗ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ | Page 147

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Drawing depicting a restored view of the south side of the Daphni catholicon by Benouville (1877).
Intervention – excavation – restoration
(end of 19th – beginning of 21st century)
The first intervention is the late 13th – early 14th century
Cistercian repairs. After the Ottoman return of the
monastery to orhtodox monks, the buildings were repaired
again, but then gradually abandoned. The 19th century
changes in the use of space (psychiatry, animal pen)
caused important damages and triggered many complaints.
Unfortunately, the propositions of G. Lampakis
member and the rest of the committee of the Christian
Archaeological Society in Athens (1885), were not applied
immediately and the monastery suffered more damages.
In the years following 1888 the tiles were replaced with
new ones, of inferior quality, and the dome was rebuilt,
thus losing its original form.
The work of the Venetian mosaicist Fransisco Novo
(1892-1897) was problematic too, since he restored
several figures in the wrong place and changed the
inscriptions and the names of persons. What is more,
he filled in missing parts without guidance and despite
contrary directions by the Greek state. In 1893 and
1894 more arbitrary support works were done. A new
restoration committee in 1894 commissioned E. Troump,
architect of the French Archaeological School to restore
the west narthex wall. No important restoration work was
done early in the 20th century, when Daphni featured in
Lemon Forrest, a novel by Kosmas Politis (1893-1974).
During 1936-1939 I. Traulos excavated Daphni
systematically and, for the first time, according to a
proper scientific methodology. Restoration resumed in
the late 1950s with A. Orlandos and M. Xatzidakis and
then E. Stikas and C. Bouras, who continued until 1968.
Since 1990 Daphni is part of the UNESCO World Heritage
monuments, and the Ministry of Culture has organized
a long-term restoration project, as well as educational
programmes for children.
The 1999 earthquake obliged both archaeologists