Mr Fagan commissioned Sydney Hunter to recreate the entire balustrade while the wood carvings were executed by the Greek craftsman, Josef Vazirkianzikis.

But, in the same time the awkward technique of execution that contrasts with the perfect technique of a Greek craftsman points out to an autochthonous one.

There was a marked following of Grecian elements after the 4th century BC, when Greek craftsmen were commissioned to decorate many of the daily use articles.

Local goldsmiths evidently learnt from this, but in general Greek craftsmen and patrons seem to have been content with their own style.

According to the abbey chronicler Leo of Ostia Desiderius ensured that monks learnt the skills of the Greek craftsmen.

These mosaics stem from different periods; the earlier ones by Byzantine Greek craftsmen are the finest, the later Italian ones are less rich and vital.

During the 2nd century BC, the flow of these works, and more important, Greek craftsmen, continued, thus decisively influencing the development of Roman architecture.

It is unlikely that a Greek craftsman in this vigorous Geometric age could suppress his style and produce mechanical copies such as these.

Mosaic decoration was more usual than carved stonework and this type of ornament was still carried out predominantly by Byzantine Greek craftsmen.

By the time the Romans conquered mainland Greece in the 2nd century BC they were importing Greek craftsmen to build major public buildings.