BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Thanos G. Papathanasopoulos, Architect, Honorary Head of Department of Studies of the Monuments of the Prehistoric Period at the Department for the Restoration of Ancient Monuments of the Greek Ministry of Culture, Deputy Head of the Directorate for the Restoration of Ancient Monuments, was awarded the degree in Architecture by École Spéciale d’ Arcitecture in Paris, and his professional license (1977) from the National Technical University of Athens. He is also a PhD of the University of Crete (2000).

From 1975 to 1977, as a student he took part in the study of the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, work that he continued as an architect from 1977. From 1980 to 1983, he worked for the Acropolis Monument Conservation Committee, the subject of which was to study and survey a section of the northern wall of the Acropolis. From 1982 to 1985, he served as a regular member of the Temple of Apollo Epicurius Conservation Committee, where his subject was to organize and conduct infrastructure projects, as well as to carry out a study for the organization of the monument enhancement and protection program. From 1982 to 1983, he worked on the study of the fortress of the Neokastro at Pylos, as part of the restoration program, as well as the use of its spaces. He worked at the restauration protection and enhancement of the building Known as “Maison’s barracs.” His study was approved by the Central Archeological Council, was implemented, and the building has been operating since 1986. Today it houses the Archeological Museum of Pylos.

From 1984 to 1996, he worked at the 1st Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities at the Ministry of Culture, his main responsibility being the monuments of the Southern Slope of the Acropolis. From 1984 to 1990, as a member of the Conservation Committee for the Theater of Dionysus and the monuments of the Southern Slope of the Acropolis, he was head of the Working Group for ongoing protection and conservation projects, as well as of infrastructure projects at the archeological site. From 1986 to 1988, since the vast majority of ancient seats (edolia), as the steps of the cavea (koilon) had been lost, he conducted a study for the restoration of the geometrical form of the (koilon), which was implemented with extensive “deforestation” and restoration of the backfill of the koilon, as well as of the steps, using reversible methods. He drew up a study plan of all of the monuments on the Southern Slope of the Acropolis, for the implementation of upgrade and improvement projects for the archeological site at the Southern Slope, with the construction of, among others, a new, more suitable, railing, extensive “deforestation” and the creation of a protective shelter installed in the area for the statues, marble bases and epigraphs. This program was approved by the Committee and was then included in the Mediterranean Integrated Programs, by which it was also funded.

In the context of his research on ancient theaters and, more generally, on the spread of Hellenism to the East, he collaborated in the scientific documentation of the award-winning film series, “Lycia,” directed by Mary Papaliou, as well as in the series on Ancient Greek theaters by Memis Spyratos. From 1996 to 2013, he worked in the Directorate for the Restoration of Ancient Monuments of the Greek Ministry of Culture in the Department of Studies of Monuments of the Prehistoric Period, of which he later became Head, as well as Deputy Head of the Directorate. In 1998 he was appointed member of the Committee for the Restoration of the Monuments of Arcadia, responsible for conducting a project to promote the Temple of Athena Alea at Tegea.

He published monographs and articles, the most significant of which are:

• -The Church of the Three Hierarchs at Stemnitsa, National Technical University of Athens publication, Churches in Greece after the Fall of Constantinople, Vol. I, Athens 1979.
• -“Theater of Dionysus: The form of the koilon,” Restoration and Conservation of Monuments and Collections, Greek Ministry of Culture Publication, Vol. II, 1988.
• -“The Temple of Apollon Epicurius at Bassae: man as a major factor in the destruction of the monument,” Archeology 1988.
• -“The sense of waste” (Thoughts and proposals for the new Acropolis Museum), Archeology 1995.
• -“Ein Hauch von Verschendung. Uberlegungen zu Standorf, Konzerpt und Bauplan des neuen Akropolis Museum in Athen”, Antike Welt, 1996.
• -Messinian Chronicles, Vol. III, Athens 2003-2007, pgs. 117-147.
• -The Theater of Dionysus and the monuments of the Southern Slope of the Acropolis, Kardamitsa, Athens 1996.
• -Pylos-Pylia. Travels in Space and Time. Athens, Archeological Resources Fund Publication 2000.
• -The Trophy, Hermes, Athens 2003.
• -The slopes of the Acropolis, Overlapping stories, ed. Κaktos, Athens 2011.
• -“Protecting and Showcasing Vaulted Tombs in the Territory of the Kingdom of Nestor,” Annals of the 4th Local Conference on Messinian Studies (Kalamata, October 8-11, 2010), pgs. 13-48.
• -“The restoration of the Temple of Athena Alea at Tegea” Annals of the Conference on Peloponnesian Studies, Tripoli, October 1-5, 2013.
• -Sounion and Lavreiotiki (2018).
• -Once upon a Time in Mystras, ed. Archeion Athens 2021.