Greece has filed a lawsuit against Adidas over what appeared to be a drone light show advertising the sports brand over the Acropolis.
Images and video shared on social media show illuminated drones forming a shoe, with the ancient Athens citadel in the background.
Adidas’s three stripe logo, along with the words Feel Fast, were also displayed using the lights.
Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said on Friday that the show used the Acropolis for commercial purposes against a national law and took place without approval from the Culture Ministry.
‘It’s like the Adidas shoe kicking the Acropolis,’ Ms Mendoni told local Skai radio. ‘A lawsuit has been already filed against anyone responsible.’
Adidas said in a statement that ‘all required permits were received and adhered to’.
‘No image of the Acropolis monument was used by Adidas for advertising or other purposes.’
The light show was put on by Essence Mediacom as part of a campaign for an Adidas product.
Some reports suggest Essence Mediacom applied on April 30 for permission to hold the show and was granted approval for the fee of ‘just 380 euros ($423)’.
The drones were launched from the Zappeion, a neo-classical palatial building managed by a state-appointed commission, which is overseen by the national economy ministry.
Ms Mendoni said: ‘The Zappeion administration should have sought approval from the Culture Ministry before granting such authorisation.
‘There has been a violation of the law on archaeological heritage.’
Laws regulating the use of Greek archaeological sites – many dating back more than 2,500 years – are particularly strict.
The Acropolis, which sits on a hill in Athens, was built in 432BC to honour the goddess of Athena and is one of the most visited sites in the world.
The opposition Pasok party accused the government of negligence, saying: ‘The Acropolis, a global symbol of culture and democracy, cannot be treated as a backdrop for commercial use.
‘Serious questions arise about the role and responsibility of the Culture Ministry.’
The incident comes after the Culture Ministry rejection an application from Greek Oscar-winning director Yorgos Lanthimos to film at the Acropolis.
The ministry argued the scenes do not reflect the historic site’s image.
People have criticised the decision, with one person writing online this week: ‘No to Yorgos Lanthimos. Yes to Adidas. No to art, yes to money.’
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