Attica has experienced many changes and historical events over the years, some of which are of particular interest. This is also the case with the famous “Minotaur” of Metaxourgio. You may hear it for the first time, but it was a serious problem for Athens in the past few years. It was the “Minotaur” from which the whole of Athens wanted to rid, especially the area of Metaxourgio.
The “Minotaur” of Metaxourgio which was a problem for Athens
So what was the Minotaur? It was the marsh of the Prophet Daniel. A marsh that caused a lot of problems with its stench. It was the reason for the spread of many dangerous diseases in the area. It was the result of the central sewer which collected the dirty water from the pipes of Karolou and Piraeus streets. In the end, the result was to make the area of prophet Daniel the latrine of the capital. There the waters were lakes and this dangerous marsh was permanently created or else… “Minotaur”. The Minotaur which all the people around the area wanted to get rid of and not unfairly.
In fact, the spot had been turned into a kind of tank. A whole system of irrigation ditches started from it and through it, the waste was channeled to the surrounding orchards. Because of it, many diseases affected the people who consumed fruit and vegetables from those fields.
After 1870 things began to be restored to the drain as another pipeline was decided and constructed. However, there was not any solution to the Minotaur problem. It was the pipeline that started from Piraeus Street and was then joined along the way with the pipeline of Deligiannis Street that was built to drain of Cyclovoros. Finally, in 1880, the stream of Cyclovoros was covered and a large main drain was created. It was more than 3 meters wide and 2.45 meters high. It was the pipeline that actually fed and nurtured the Minotaur.
The definitive solution to the problem of sanitation
It took several years for the problem of Minotaur to be solved. In the four years 1925-29 and while Spyros Patsis was mayor, the large sewer was built about eight kilometers long. He was the one who finally solved the problem of the marsh and removed the stinking water. The “Minotaur” dried up and today reminds nothing of the past…
With information from Neighbourhoods of old Athens – Metaxourgio, by Costas Hatziotis, publications Athenian Library
External photography source: metaxourgeio.wordpress.com
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Archapolis: The enigmatic Greek city and the legend of its disappearance
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Frequently Asked Questions
The 'Minotaur' of Metaxourgio was a famous marsh located in the Prophet Daniel area of Athens that caused serious problems for the city. It was created by the central sewer system that collected dirty water from Karolou and Piraeus streets, turning the area into a stinking swamp that spread dangerous diseases throughout the neighborhood.
The marsh was metaphorically called the 'Minotaur' because it was a dangerous problem that the people of Athens wanted to get rid of, similar to the mythological monster. The foul-smelling marsh posed a serious threat to public health and was considered a major issue for the capital city.
The marsh caused significant health problems for residents of Metaxourgio. The stench was overwhelming, and the contaminated water was used to irrigate surrounding orchards, causing many diseases among people who consumed fruits and vegetables grown in those fields.
The 'Minotaur' problem was definitively solved between 1925-1929 under Mayor Spyros Patsis, when a large eight-kilometer sewer system was constructed. This major drainage project finally dried up the marsh and removed the stinking water that had plagued the area for decades.
After 1870, several drainage improvements were made including a new pipeline from Piraeus Street that connected with Deligiannis Street to drain Cyclovoros. In 1880, the Cyclovoros stream was covered and a large main drain over 3 meters wide and 2.45 meters high was created to address the persistent marsh problem.
