In a time that the UK and, more specifically, the British Museum, are being asked to return ancient artifacts to their various homelands dotted around the world, a fair presumption would be that the focus would turn to preserving what will be staying put.
While there are many listed buildings in need of some work, the truly unique structure that is Birmingham’s Temple of Theseus surely deserves priority status on the list. Given the fascination with Greek mythology and Ancient Greece up and down the country, renovating the temple would have even greater cultural value today.
People Want More Greek Myths
The great Greek myths have obviously been well-known and well-loved for a long time, but right now, there seems to be a particularly hefty slate of top-tier entertainment products that draw from the ancient civilization. On Netflix, the hit British dark comedy series KAOS retold the story of Zeus with Jeff Goldblum in the lead role.
It was very well received and ranked highly on the platform, but ended up being axed. What did get renewed for a second season, and then a third more recently, was Blood of Zeus. The epic animated show set in the ancient days of Greece has earned praise across the board and will be allowed to conclude with its final season in 2025.
In the world of books, Stephen Fry has swiftly become the go-to author for learning about the ancient Greek myths in his distinctly British manner. Heroes, Mythos, and Troy all sold very well, and now, the final part of his acclaimed series, Odyssey, is a best-seller.
Naturally, gaming is another corner of entertainment fascinated with bringing Greek myths to life. Needing to be as appealing as possible from just a small image tile, a whole host of the most popular casino slots have found that mythical themes are particularly effective. It’s why Zeus Lightning Reels Power Combo is one of the top 20 games.
Making Use of the Temple of Theseus
Source: ‘Ekotemplet Söderfors’ by Rosa Sinensis – WikiMedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
With so much interest in every corner of popular culture for ancient Greek and its myths, the Temple of Theseus in Birmingham offers the perfect opportunity to enrich the minds of the British public. Designed by James Stewart in 1758, the temple is currently listed as being in a poor condition without a solution agreed to solve its slow decay.
Standing about 800 meters north of Hagley Hall in a Hagley Park, the grade I listed building would reportedly cost upwards of £1 million to renovate and make into a viable point of interest for tourists. It’d likely need a new welcome centre for visitors, informative plaques put up, and maybe even enhanced access.
This is because it’s been separated from Hagley Hall since the A456 Birmingham Road was laid down, and currently, Hagley Park is closed to the public. Were it to be renovated, those fascinated with Ancient Greece could venture to Birmingham to see a smaller replica of the Hephaisteion in Athens.
Of course, to experience a bit of Ancient Greece, anyone in Birmingham can see the displays at museums or even go to the underground Bacchus Bar, but it would seem more enriching to commit to bringing back the Temple of Theseus.
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