religious issues
The painting, which had hung for nearly six weeks without provoking public comment, then came under attack from the Greek Orthodox Church and the main opposition conservative party. Church of Greece spokesman Epiphanios Economou called it "an insult to our morals and customs and our religion." Within 24 hours it was taken down for "insulting religious sentiment".
The following day a 37-year-old woman slashed another canvas with a knife, claiming it was obscene. Instead of celebrating a success to put Athens on the contemporary art map, the culture minister was forced to hit out at "a climate of bigotry and obscurantism."
Organizers have promised a late rally with high-profile international artists in Greece and partner events around the world including Italy and Russia.
Greece is still hoping for its own cultural victory to round off the Olympiad this year with the return of the disputed Parthenon Marbles, removed from the Acropolis in the 19th century by Lord Elgin and now housed in the British Museum.
But a new Acropolis museum which was due to be ready this year has not progressed beyond the foundations and intense diplomatic efforts by Athens have yet to yield results.
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