Iphigenia was to Troy as many Greek businesses are to the eurozone. The only difference is that Iphigenia bravely stepped up and took her place at the sacrificial altar, while Greek businesses are being violently dragged there, kicking and screaming. This is the story of one such business.

During the 1950s, in the aftermath of the Greek Civil War, a young boy, Alexandros, aged perhaps 10 or 11, would walk the streets of Piraeus, battling to hold the reins of a flighty horse. The unwilling horse would be pulling a cart carrying blocks of ice, sold on a daily basis to households in order to store food and other perishables. This young boy, with his small and skinny frame, was unable to lug the blocks on his shoulders, as did his adult counterparts, so he would carry the blocks on his forearms, which would eventually go numb and turn blue. Today, Alexandros is in his seventies and, as a constant reminder of those difficult childhood years, the pain in his arms robs him of any peaceful sleep at night.

This young boy grew into a young man and eventually stopped selling ice blocks. He went to a technical school and became an apprentice machinist. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he opened his own workshops in various industrial neighbourhoods in Piraeus, designing and building packaging machines, exercise equipment and other made-to-order machinery. In those days, the workshops in Piraeus were almost dungeon-like, with poor lighting and ventilation. Occupational Health and Safety had no place in Greece during the industrial boom of the time.

Alexandros worked hard. He commenced work in the early morning and, after taking a short break for lunch, would continue well into the night. He was rewarded for his toils, as there was a demand for the machines and there was money to be made from this demand. He married and brought two baby boys into the world. He considered himself quite fortunate. God had generously bestowed upon him the two things that were highly valued in Greece – male children and a steady flow of profitable work.

In 1980, Alexandros made the biggest purchase of his life. He bought a block of land in Aspropyrgos, Attiki, which, at the time, had very few factories and was essentially an agricultural area, used for the cultivation of produce and stockbreeding. However, it was destined to become one of the major industrial zones of the country. Overnight, many a down-trodden farmer and unwitting land-owner suddenly found that they were sitting on prospective gold mines. Many lucrative real estate contracts were transacted during the years that followed.

Alexandros took out a bank loan and built a factory on that block to house his ever-expanding production and a home on top of the factory to house his loving family. He was tired, stretched to his limits financially, but proud to have come this far by dint of his own labours. He had asked nothing of his country and received nothing. No favours, no grants, no handouts. His boys were growing fast and from a very early age took their place beside their father. They learnt to work heavy machinery. They learnt the value of putting one’s nose to the grindstone. They learnt that only two things in life were of any importance – work and family. They were taught to steer clear of drugs, ‘bad’ company and politics.

Nikos and George were raised in their father’s factory and it was only natural that they continue the business. Nikos became a highly skilled machinist and George, in addition to his machinist skills, went on to study mechanical engineering. They merged their talents and their personal and business partnership was envied and admired by colleagues and customers throughout the country. They had a reputation for being honest, hard-working and humble, and they were proud of their name.

In echo of their father’s path in life, the sons both married and had two children each. In 2004, they purchased a block of land in Korinthos and built their own factory there, to breathe life into the dream that had initially been envisioned 30 years ago. They continued their father’s work and they continued to steer clear of drugs, ‘bad company’ and politics. They never involved themselves with nor partook of grants, EU programs, government subsidised loans or any scheme with an acronym for a title. They endured the never-ending paper trail and inevitable banging-head-against-the-wall, which are both inherent in any dealings with the taxation, social security and town council offices.

At any given time, during the period leading up to 2009, there were up to ten workers on the factory floor. In other words, including the two families of Nikos and George, the business was thriving and providing the daily bread of twelve families. All social security contributions, taxes, expenses and other dues were paid on time. This company was a small but strong link in the enormous chain which gives motion to the wheels of any economy.

All this, of course, until the year 2009. That was the year the phone stopped ringing and a deafening silence filled the factory. Orders did not simply become fewer and fewer; they simply stopped and, in order to stay afloat, difficult decisions had to be made. One by one, employees were reluctantly ‘let go’. The business was suddenly thrust into a downward spiral that has yet to slow – it is now 2014.

News bulletin themes since then have consisted only of scandals, new taxes (charatsia), budget cuts, lay-offs, public unrest and riots. Fundamental institutions, such as health and education, have almost collapsed. Businesses across the country are locking their doors and shutting down operations. Nick and George are fighting tooth and nail to hold on, but after spending almost their entire lives working together, the time has come to part ways. Nick’s plan is to battle ahead and, with his family, attempt to avert the ‘Iphigenial sacrifice’. George is looking to relocate overseas with his family and simply start over. Things could be worse.

History and mythology both have much to say about the lot of Greek people to ever have to endure hardship and oppression. It’s in our DNA. However, if Greek businesses are to stop being sacrificed, change is imperative and many claim that change often comes in the form of a storm. If there is any truth to that statement, then I say this: There are storm clouds looming over Greece. They have been there for a long time and, to date, none of the expert economists, analysts or historians have been able to make a reliable weather forecast.

*Maria Zapantis is an English teacher and translator, born and raised in Melbourne, currently living in Korinthos, Greece.