We are not alone here. Our struggle to keep #Prosfygika alive, livable and lively is the continuation of the struggle that lasts almost a century now. This is just a handful of pictures, showing how Prosfygika started and how the community lived through decades of extremely “interesting times”. We, here and now, just carry the torch. We fight the battles that are new and old at the same time. Our colors are more black than red or white-blue, but our enemies are the same: enemies of humanity, enemies of freedom, enemies of history.In brown uniforms, in riot gear or business suits, their aim is the same. And Prosfygika always stood in their way.
Coordinated effort of dedicated people saved Prosfygika from being bulldozed during Olympic Games frenzy. Here we see painted screens intended to hide “abomination” from the eyes of illustrious quests.
Olympic Games 2004 become the starting point of gigantic financial scam, currently known as “the Greek debt crisis”.
1920s’ style modernist blocks were built in the middle of arable land. Way before the brutalist neighbours flanked the district.
This is good architecture. well designed flats, suitable for Greek climate. Whatever survives from these years (at least infrastructure-wise) shows good quality and craftsmanship. No skimping.
Very soon, thanks to the commitment of the residents, Prosfygika became a living garden.
There is a bigger gap between blocks 2 and 3, apparently designed as a local plateia. Overall distance between blocks provides enough sunlight for everyone in the winter and enough shadow in the summertime.
Life in Prosfygika. The wall (bottom-center) was probably the Averof Prison. Prosfygika dwellers used to help the inmates (especially during the era of the fascist junta governments of Greece).
Averof Prison was an infamous central prison facility in Greece. See also http://www.pollitecon.com/html/freedom_fighters/The_Six_Executed_from_Dmbeni.htm
During the German occupation and later, the Civil War, Prosfygika was actual stronghold of antifascist resistance. Whole community was involved, sheltering the fighters, building secret passages between the flats.
Bullet holes in houses’ walls later protected the neighborhood from being sacrificed at the altar of greed and soullessness.
Note US Army Jeep(?) at the bottom-left picture. This is the time of (relative) peace. Pax Americana. Peace of the Black Colonels.
Dear Friends, if you can contribute any piece of documentation, be it text, picture, movie or verbal testimony, please contact me. We are trying to bring back the spirit of Prosfygika, so it would not perish.
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