ATHENS, Greece — Kilroy was here, and lots of his friends too.

In Athens, illicit spray-painting forays leave an often-indelible mark on the Greek capital’s public and private buildings, street signs and bus stops, while public artworks and even ancient ruins are not spared.

Some parts of central Athens are so afflicted with graffiti — largely undecipherable squiggles in bold, broad strokes — that few facades remain untouched and property owners give up on repainting.

Municipal authorities have repeatedly voiced determination to address the problem, with poor results so far. Anti-vandalism laws are rarely enforced and arresting perpetrators doesn’t sit high among police priorities.

The ubiquitous but enigmatic squiggles are a fairly recent trend in a city with an old tradition of graffiti which, when not pictorial, consisted of slogans broadly classifiable as soccer-linked, political, amorous or whimsical. They had a short wall-life, rarely surviving more than a few months before being erased.

The new onslaught came during Greece’s 2010-2018 financial crisis, which forced mass closures of shops in the city center and provided acres of uncared-for walls that could be daubed with impunity.

While Athens has acquired many striking murals by artists commissioned by public bodies or private property owners, most of the new graffiti is unsolicited, devoid of visible meaning and cacophonous — a jostling mass of individual “look at me” cries on somebody else’s wall.

And instead of being cleaned up, it usually stays in place until the next squiggle is sprayed over it.

In this Friday, July 26, 2019 photo, people stand on a graffiti-covered pedestrian bridge over railway lines beside the ancient Kerameikos cemetery in central Athens. Graffiti-sprayers are increasingly leaving their mark on Athens, encouraged by lax enforcement of anti-vandalism laws and an abundance of empty commercial properties. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Wednesday, July 3, 2019 photo, a man walks next to graffiti covered houses in Plaka district, Athens. Lying under the shadow of the ancient Acropolis Hill, Plaka’s narrow streets and neoclassical architecture have for decades attracted tourists and Athenians alike in central Athens.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Sunday, July. 7, 2019 photo, the facade of a building and an electricity pole are covered with graffiti in front the Gate of the ancient Roman agora in Plaka district of Athens. Some parts of central Athens are so afflicted with graffiti _ largely undecipherable squiggles in bold, broad strokes _ that few facades remain untouched and property owners give up on repainting. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Monday, July 22, 2019 photo, a man stands in a street next to a shop and houses covered with graffiti in Athens’ Plaka district. Some parts of central Athens are so afflicted with graffiti _ largely undecipherable squiggles in bold, broad strokes _ that few facades remain untouched and property owners give up on repainting. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Sunday, July 7, 2019 photo, the fence of a renovated building and part of the wall are defaced with graffiti in Monastiraki district, central Athens. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Thursday July 4, 2019 photo, the shutters of shops are covered with graffiti in Monastiraki district of Athens. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Monday, July 22, 2019 photo, a fence and buildings are covered with graffiti outside the ancient Roman agora in Plaka district of Athens. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Thursday, July 4, 2019 photo, two young women sit on a rock covered with graffiti as they admire the view of Athens during a sunset. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Thursday, July 25, 2019 photo, a building and its columns are covered with graffiti in Exarcheia district of Athens. The ubiquitous but enigmatic squiggles are a fairly recent trend in a city with an old tradition of graffiti which, when not pictorial, consisted of slogans broadly classifiable as soccer-linked, political, amorous and whimsical. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Thursday, July 4, 2019 photo, a shop is covered with graffiti in Psiri district , central Athens. Some parts of central Athens are so afflicted with graffiti _ largely undecipherable squiggles in bold, broad strokes _ that few facades remain untouched and property owners give up on repainting. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Saturday, July. 6, 2019, the doorbells of a building are covered with graffiti in Psiri district, central Athens. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Friday, July. 26, 2019 photo, a marble-topped wall round the 11th Century AD Panagia Kapnikarea church and a shop that has been closed for months are covered with graffiti in Athens’ Ermou main shopping street.While Athens has acquired many striking murals by artists commissioned by public bodies or private property owners, most of the new graffiti is unsolicited, devoid of visible meaning and cacophonous _ a jostling mass of individual “look at me” cries on somebody else’s wall. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

In this Monday, July 22, 2019 photo, a house is covered with graffiti in Athens’ Plaka district. Municipal authorities have repeatedly voiced determination to address the problem, with poor results so far. Anti-vandalism laws are rarely enforced and arresting perpetrators doesn’t sit high among police priorities. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)