The Great Pyramids, the Parthenon, and the Taj Mahal have a few things in common. Aside from being ancient wonders of the world, they are some of the most notable triumphs of stonemasonry in human history. For many, the fact that they still remain standing is a testament to the stalwartness of stonemasonry as a construction craft.

The declining art form is being preserved and revived by a group of people in Greece.

“Building with our own hands, with natural materials, is something which is powerful,” co-founder of the group, Panos Kostoulas tells SCENES.

They call themselves Boulouki, a name inspired by a group of travelling stonemasons from the 16th century. These stonemasons of the past were renowned for constructing elaborate structures throughout Greece and the Mediterranean.

In the 1960s, modern building materials like cement and bricks forced traditional stonemasons to put their chisels aside. One of them was Pavlos Vichas’ grandfather.

“Cement became the new craftsman. He said that he could not compete with it,” Pavlos, a stonemason and Boulouki member, recalls.

Despite their dwindling numbers, some traditional stonemasons are still active in Greece. Panos’ organisation’s mission is to find and collaborate with them, hoping to harness their expertise.

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