Ancient City Threatened

[Primus Pilus]

The discovery of a Greek temple in Albania has underlined the threat to the ancient city of Apollonia from development. A new road to the nearby coast, intended to open up the unexploited Adriatic coastline, would cut across former suburbs and divide the temple site from the city.

 

Jack Davis, of the University of Cincinnati, said:

[Guest Scanderbeg]

Yes,

I went to Apollonia last year. Interestingly enough, then I wished there actually was a good road there, now...

[Primus Pilus]

Isnt that the irony of it... good roads would bring tourism and the money to help restore... while at the same time advancing the decay of the attractions.

[Guest Scanderbeg]

Good roads would do much more then that. There are many areas in Albania that can take as long as 8 hours to reach...by car... In the states i got to Virginia from in around 5 hours. Many of these areas almost acompletely cut off from civilization. Others, such as a popular town called Himara, are heavily influenced by its neighbors(Greece) who have quick access to those cites due to Corfu. Meaning they get heavily influenced by hellenization. As modernization goes on all these towns will need to become modernized too. Some of them still retain a tribal culture which they have relied upon for over 500 years to avoid Ottoman taxation. I hope they can reach a win-win situation. But if not, Ill go with the risk of damage. Those isolated villages need easier access to the world. In this day and age they cannot continue living the way they do. Another problem is that Europe is constantly pushing Albania to moderize and build road systems but they also want Albania to save Apolonia. The only other option is to cut through a mountain... We dont have the money for that and were not getting the aid needed.