The revolution
will abolish ownership
the profit
every form of power
alienation of man
the verses writing lyrics
above all the latter
Desperately they will hit their wings
and, as a result, will be lost to the west
and then we’ll see how
the revolution has no beginning and no end
is born and dies every moment
the revolution is chasing the chimera
is a poem with a gun
a semen filled with sperm
a love for the harmony of becoming
and yet it is
bread for the children of the world
the revolution looks at infinity
Tolis Nikiforou
H επανάσταση
θα καταργήσει την ιδιοκτησία
το κέρδος
κάθε μορφής εξουσία
την αλλοτρίωση του ανθρώπου
τους κίναιδους που γράφουν στίχους
προ πάντων τους τελευταίους
απελπισμένα θα χτυπήσουν τα φτερά τους
και, κρά – κρά, θα χαθούν προς τη δύση
και τότε θα ξαναπούμε πως
η επανάσταση δεν έχει αρχή και τέλος
γεννιέται και πεθαίνει κάθε στιγμή
η επανάσταση κυνηγάει τη χίμαιρα
είναι ένα ποίημα με όπλο
μια μήτρα γεμάτη σπέρμα
ένας έρωτας της αρμονίας τού γίγνεσθαι
κι ακόμα είναι
ψωμί για τα παιδιά του κόσμου
η επανάσταση αγναντεύει το άπειρο
ΤΟΛΗΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ, «Τα αναρχικά» 1979
Lavrio is definitely not a tourist town and somehow this makes it attractive! In the recent past it used to be an industrial center, in fact it started to be built in the middle of the 19th century because of the mining activities that restarted at that time after 22 centuries of pause. The mining in this area began in 3000 B.C. and lasted till 2th c B.C. The Athens Golden Age was made achievable mainly by the mines of Laurium (the Athenians used the silver found there to made their coins).
The modern mines were closed in 1992 but the environmental pollution caused by them is irreversible. In any case, Lavrio seems to be an ideal base if you want to visit the temple of Poseidon early in the morning. Furthermore the town is renowned for its fish taverns and ouzeri.
In the morning we decided to go for the ancient mines first and afterwards to the Temple. We took the road to Agios Konstantinos village up in the mountain where we found this wonderful pick-nick area. During the heat of the summer it would be the perfect place for an overnight stay, although it is a bit isolated.
We continue further on and we arrive at a church (Agia Triada) with another ‘recreation area’ and some demolished buildings, most probable an abandoned miners village . We are inside the National Park of Sounio and very close to the ancient mining area.
Τα ξημερώματα της 8ης Απριλίου 1896 ξεσπά η μεγάλη απεργία των μεταλλωρύχων του Λαυρίου.
1.800 εργάτες ανέβηκαν από το μεταλλευτικό φρέαρ – βάθους 182 μέτρων όπου δούλευαν, έκλεισαν όλες τις εισόδους, περικύκλωσαν τον χώρο και κήρυξαν απεργία, διεκδικώντας από τον διαβόητο Σερπιέρι στοιχειώδη και αυτονόητα για το σήμερα πράγματα:
Ιατροφαρμακευτική περίθαλψη, δημιουργία νοσοκομείου ή φαρμακείου στην Καμάριζα, έγκαιρη μεταφορά τους στο νοσοκομείο του Θορικού όταν τραυματίζονταν για να μην… πεθαίνουν στο δρόμο, αύξηση μισθού σε 3,5 δραχμές (από 2,5) και κατάργηση των λεγόμενων εργολάβων (μεσάζοντες που έπαιρναν το έργο μιας στοάς από τη διεύθυνση της εταιρείας και φρόντιζαν να βάζουν τους εργάτες να δουλεύουν για λογαριασμό τους).
Εκτός απ’ τα παραπάνω, οι εργάτες ζητούσαν απ’ την εταιρεία να μένουν σε σπίτια, διότι μέχρι τότε κατοικούσαν σε σπήλαια (!) ή σε αυτοσχέδιες καλύβες.
Η εταιρεία τους έδινε και το μεροκάματο των εργατών, αλλά εκείνοι έδιναν ψίχουλα στους μεταλλωρύχους.
Τούτα τα ερειπωμένα σπίτια απέμειναν να μας θυμίζουν το μόχθο τους και την αδικία!
https://www.alfavita.gr/koinonia/285490_san-simera-i-megali-apergia-ton-metalloryhon-sto-layrio
*Photos Efi – May 2019
Interesting! 🙂
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Thank you so much !!
Lavrion’s history has been tightly bound to the history of Greece since prehistoric times. There is evidence that mining activities took place as early as the 3d millennium BCE with small scale mining which continued on and off until the classical period.
In 483 BCE the discovery of rich vein of silver in the vicinity of modern Ag. Konstantinos, otherwise known as Maronia, prompted large scale extraction and processing of the mineral by the Athenians.
The mines belonged to the city of Athens, and they were rented out to various individuals for a fixed percentage of the production.
The most difficult work, including the extracting underground ore was done by slaves, many of whom lost their lives in the harsh process.
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Beautiful pictures, Efi!! And look at you striking a pose!! My beautiful friend!
It’s amazing how, even though there is damage, so much history has remained and there’s a beauty still present in the area. What a beautiful way to spend a day – looking at history and enjoying the beauty of nature that surrounds it.
Thank you for sharing a piece of your journey with us, my friend! Hope you have a beautiful day!!!! Kisses!!!!
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Good morning from Athens my sweet friend!!
Miners – Wilfred Owen
There was a whispering in my hearth,
A sigh of the coal.
Grown wistful of a former earth
It might recall.
I listened for a tale of leaves
And smothered ferns,
Frond-forests; and the low, sly lives
Before the fawns.
My fire might show steam-phantoms simmer
From Time’s old cauldron,
Before the birds made nests in summer,
Or men had children.
But the coals were murmuring of their mine,
And moans down there
Of boys that slept wry sleep, and men
Writhing for air.
And I saw white bones in the cinder-shard,
Bones without number.
For many hearts with coal are charred,
And few remember.
I thought of all that worked dark pits
Of war, and died
Digging the rock where Death reputes
Peace lies indeed.
Comforted years will sit soft-chaired
In rooms of amber;
The years will stretch their hands, well-cheered
By our lifes’ ember.
The centuries will burn rich loads
With which we groaned,
Whose warmth shall lull their dreaming lids,
While songs are crooned.
But they will not dream of us poor lads
Left in the ground.
Wish you good night and send you an angel to keep your dreams safe!!!!
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Good morning to you, my dear Efi!!! What a beautiful poem you shared with me about those who sacrificed their lives for the future generations to have better luxuries. Very powerful words, my friend.
Thank you so much for the good night wishes! It was a late night for me and I’m about to hit the bed now… at 3:11 AM!!! hahah!!! Goodnight, my sweet friend!
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Sweet dreams !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Food for much musing
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This truly gives me an uplift. Thank you Derrick.
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Desolate beauty!
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In ruins all that remains is the Shadows of the people that had lived inside ….
Thank you Sadje have a nice week !!!
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Thanks 🙏 you too.
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great place
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With great history!!
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Wonderful site…
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Thank you Michael!!!
“When the great place, right moment, favorable light and sharp eye find each other — the photo is born.”
Mike Reyfman
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Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks 🙏 for reading!!!
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