What Was the Ancient Name of the Minoans?
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This captivating black and white photograph, thought to have been taken in the early 1960s in Athens, stems from a frozen-in-time scene from typical daily life, providing a rich tapestry of details about transport, commerce, and social norms of the time.
The early 1960s in Athens marked a period of significant transition and growth, largely as Greece was rebounding from the devastating effects of World War II and the subsequent Civil War.
At the core of the image taken at Praxitelous Street in the heart of the Greek capital is a rather special vehicle – that motorcycle with a very big sidecar. This combination, a urbane alternative for lugging groceries or extra passengers, harks back to an era before universal car ownership ruled city streets.
In post-WWII Europe, car ownership was still a luxury for many. Sidecars offered a much more affordable way for families or small businesses to transport more than just one person or a small amount of goods. They were seen as the “poor man’s car.”
The man operating the motorcycle, dressed in a striped shirt, appears to be focused on his journey, while a second man sits behind him, possibly a passenger or a colleague.
A woman sitting in the sidecar gazes at the photographer with a friendly smile. Her presence in the sidecar, alongside what appears to be a handbag, suggests its use for personal errands or perhaps even as a family vehicle. The wooden construction of the sidecar, robust and utilitarian, is a testament to the craftsmanship of the period.
The backdrop of the scene is equally telling. The buildings lining the street showcase typical Athenian architecture of the time, with shopfronts visible on the right. One shop clearly displays signs with Greek text, indicating its commercial nature. The items hanging outside suggest it might be a textile or clothing store, or perhaps selling other household goods.
The presence of a parked van or small truck further emphasizes the mix of vehicles on the narrow city streets.
Beyond the vehicles and shops, the overall atmosphere of the photo exudes a sense of authenticity. The lighting and composition capture the bustling yet unhurried pace of life in Athens during this period.
In the early 1960s, the Greek economy, which began to recover in the 1950s, continued this upward trend into the early 1960s.
This led to a significant increase in internal migration from rural areas to Athens, causing rapid urbanization and a population boom. The city expanded, and the characteristic “polykatoikía” (multi-story apartment building) became a prominent feature of the urban landscape, often built under the “antiparochì” system, where landowners exchanged their plot for several apartments in the new building.
