DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4593#0180
158 THE ISLES AND SHRINES OF GREECE
the unromantic convenience of street cars nor the
brilliant glare and deep shadows of the electric
light; and it is not likely that sanitary regulations
were as well attended to. In the old, narrow districts
of the city cleanliness is not cultivated so much as
godliness.
When it comes to public buildings, the new Athens
is naturally dwarfed by the glory of the old. No one
comes here to see its modern structures. The royal
palace, built by a German architect, has all the dimen-
sions of length, breadth and thickness, but not beauty.
The cathedral has none of the charm of the little old
Byzantine church by its side. The finest building
is the Academy, a gift of Baron Sina of Vienna,
and designed by a Vienna architect. It is built
of Pcntelic marble, in a style which is historically
and artistically Greek and whose classic grace and
beauty have been nurtured on this soil. It was de-
signed to be the home of an Hellenic Academy on the
plan of the French Academy; but, though the build-
ing is there, the organization is yet lacking. It would
be hard, I imagine, for the Greeks to agree as to the
men who should fill those vacant chairs, but there are
some who would grace them worthily. The Univer-
sity building is not great, but the Greek spirit is
shown in throngs of students. Elegant and impos-
ing is the new library building, also consistently
Greek in structure. The National Museum shelters
treasures of Greek art, and for this is admirably
adapted in many respects. Its collections are most
of them the result of the modern enterprise and
achievements of archaeological science. Then there
is a large building used for the Greek National Expo-
the unromantic convenience of street cars nor the
brilliant glare and deep shadows of the electric
light; and it is not likely that sanitary regulations
were as well attended to. In the old, narrow districts
of the city cleanliness is not cultivated so much as
godliness.
When it comes to public buildings, the new Athens
is naturally dwarfed by the glory of the old. No one
comes here to see its modern structures. The royal
palace, built by a German architect, has all the dimen-
sions of length, breadth and thickness, but not beauty.
The cathedral has none of the charm of the little old
Byzantine church by its side. The finest building
is the Academy, a gift of Baron Sina of Vienna,
and designed by a Vienna architect. It is built
of Pcntelic marble, in a style which is historically
and artistically Greek and whose classic grace and
beauty have been nurtured on this soil. It was de-
signed to be the home of an Hellenic Academy on the
plan of the French Academy; but, though the build-
ing is there, the organization is yet lacking. It would
be hard, I imagine, for the Greeks to agree as to the
men who should fill those vacant chairs, but there are
some who would grace them worthily. The Univer-
sity building is not great, but the Greek spirit is
shown in throngs of students. Elegant and impos-
ing is the new library building, also consistently
Greek in structure. The National Museum shelters
treasures of Greek art, and for this is admirably
adapted in many respects. Its collections are most
of them the result of the modern enterprise and
achievements of archaeological science. Then there
is a large building used for the Greek National Expo-