Friday Photo: Memorial Corona



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There is something quite sobering about the number of memorials along Greek highways and roads that mark the passing of speeding motorists or other road users. Whether on isolated Greek islands, quiet suburban streets or along major traffic corridors, the memorials tend to be large, elaborate, and permanent.

The memorials often contain images of the deceased, several personal mementos, an eternal flame, and either plastic, fresh, or dried flowers.

I have never encountered anyone tending these memorials but the small, oil fed candle these replica church memorials invariably contain, rarely, if ever go out.

My attention was immediately drawn to this roadside memorial in Athens when I noticed the bottle of Corona placed on the structures roof. Was it put there by a family member? A friend of the deceased, perhaps?

I can only hope that alcohol did not play a part in the accident that caused the death of the person being remembered here. However, given the Greek tendency to laugh in the face of Haros (the ferryman who transports the souls of the dead across the river Styx), it wouldn’t surprise me if an excess of drink was the cause of the loss being marked here.