Restoration of the west pediment of the Parthenon: The monument complete for the first time in 220 years
Something astonishing happened on the Acropolis these days — something that had not happened since the beginning of the 19th century. The restoration of the west pediment of the Parthenon was officially completed, and for the first time in about 220 years, visitors can admire the monument complete, without scaffolding and without gaps.
The restoration of the west pediment of the Parthenon in numbers
The Ministry of Culture placed two orthostates in the empty positions of the west pediment and completed the restoration of the counter-wall, thus restoring the architectural unity of the pediment. One orthostate was restored to its original geometry through the joining of surviving ancient fragments supplemented with new marble, while the second was constructed entirely of new marble.
The result speaks for itself: for the first time in two whole centuries, the west pediment is presented without visual obstacles, complete and in the greatest possible integrity.
Today, we are speaking of the completion of an extremely demanding restoration intervention, thanks to which the west pediment of the Parthenon is returned to its fullest form after about 220 years. The spectacle is truly astonishing.Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture
A project that demanded absolute precision
Behind this historic moment lies one of the most demanding restoration interventions of recent years. The project was carried out by the specialised personnel of the Acropolis Monuments Conservation Service (YSMA), under the supervision of the ESMA, with funding from the Recovery Fund.
Each stage of the process required specialised technical solutions and absolute precision — from the working of the new marbles to their lifting and their final placement on the monument. At the same time, a modern scaffolding system with strict safety specifications was used, designed to harmonise aesthetically with the enclosure of the monument.
The people who made history
The restoration project would not have been possible without the contribution of a team of scientists specialising in restoration. The architect V. Manidaki undertook the architectural study and the supervision of the orthostates of the tympanum, K. Skaris supervised the restoration of the counter-wall, and the civil engineer A. Vrouva was responsible for the structural study and supervision. Together with them, dozens of technicians and workers of the YSMA gave their very best so that the Parthenon might return to its glory.
