Greece completes restoration of Parthenon's west facade

Greece has announced the completion of a significant restoration project on the west facade of the Parthenon in Athens, returning the ancient temple to an appearance not seen in approximately two centuries. The announcement was made by Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni.

"Today, we contemplate the west pediment of the Parthenon as we have not seen it for two centuries," stated Mendoni, describing the restored facade as "truly striking." The project involved a team of archaeologists, engineers, and artisans who meticulously used both preserved ancient fragments and new marble to fill gaps and reinforce the structure. The aim was to restore the monument as closely as possible to its state following the removal of about half its sculptures by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.

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Today, we contemplate the west pediment of the Parthenon as we have not seen it for two centuries.

The restoration effort, which focused on the temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, situated atop a hill overlooking Athens and attracting over four million visitors annually, underscores the ongoing cultural heritage preservation efforts in Greece. It also brings renewed attention to the contentious issue of the Parthenon Marbles.

Despite repeated requests from Greek authorities for the return of these significant artifacts, the British Museum maintains that the sculptures, acquired by Elgin and subsequently sold to the museum, were obtained legally. Successive British governments have deferred decisions on restitution to the museum. While the British Museum has engaged in negotiations with Greek authorities regarding potential exhibition arrangements in Athens, the core dispute over ownership and repatriation remains unresolved. Greece continues to hold some remnants of the sculptures, while fragments are also housed in other international museums.

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For the first time since about 220 years, the west side of the Parthenon is presented by the Ministry of Culture in its most complete form possible (...), the spectacle is truly striking.