The impressive illumination of the ancient temple of Aphaia, which was inaugurated the day before yesterday in the presence of Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, creates new data in the tourist attractiveness of Aegina. The ceremony was a point of reference for the island, as the project does not simply concern a technical intervention, but a substantial cultural and aesthetic enhancement of one of the most important monuments of classical antiquity.
As the president of the Aegina Hoteliers, Stavros Kalamakis, pointed out to TN, “the new illumination of the temple of Aphaia upgrades the overall image of the island, strengthens its tourist profile and makes Aegina a destination of cultural interest at all times of the year.”
The lighting was designed by the internationally recognized creator and assistant professor of Fine Arts at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Eleftheria Deko, also known for her work on the lighting of the Acropolis. New technology high color rendering LED floodlights were used to illuminate the temple. These are autonomous, adjustable lighting fixtures at all levels, which offer flexibility in creating different lighting scenarios, saving energy and optimizing the uniformity of lighting.
The study was prepared by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and the Islands, commissioned by the company Eleftheria Deko & Associates. The new lighting dramatically highlights the Doric rhythm and geometric harmony of the monument, which predates the Parthenon and dominates the northeastern part of Aegina.
At this point, it should be emphasized that the temple of Aphaia is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Greek architecture, and with the new lighting design it is now visible from a large part of the island, creating a sense of sacred presence and connecting the past with the modern aesthetic experience.
Aegina, with its eyes focused on quality and its cultural identity, seems to be entering a new period of extroversion and international visibility.
