For the First Time in 200 Years, the Acropolis’ Parthenon Stands Free of Scaffolding

Acropolis without scaffold. Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture

For the archetypal clip successful 200 years, the magnificent Parthenon connected the Acropolis is mostly escaped of exterior scaffolding, offering visitors a breathtaking, unimpeded presumption of the past masterpiece.

“At slightest 2 generations person not seen the Parthenon visually free, arsenic scaffolding connected its occidental broadside was installed 20 years ago. But to spot the Parthenon wholly free, arsenic it stands today, is thing that has not happened for astatine slightest 200 years,” Greece’s Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated.

The caller removal of the scaffolding, which has obscured astatine slightest portion of the temple for astir 5 decades, follows the completion of a large signifier of restoration work. For a abbreviated time, visitors passing done the Propylaea tin basal and admit the matchless harmony and sublime quality of the operation designed by Pericles’ architects, Iktinos and Kallikrates.

While the current, implicit vulnerability of the Parthenon is temporary—older scaffolds are being replaced by newer, safer structures—this enactment is nearing its end. The enactment connected the northbound and southbound walls, and the eastbound and westbound facades, including their celebrated triangular tops (pediments), is drafting to a close.

The last portion of this extended restoration involves the completion of the westbound pediment. Once the remaining past fragments and modern supports are cautiously enactment successful spot implicit the adjacent fewer months, each scaffolding volition beryllium permanently removed.

“This presumption volition past for astir a month, possibly a small longer, due to the fact that the scaffolding volition request to beryllium reinstalled, which is necessary. However, it volition beryllium overmuch lighter and aesthetically overmuch person to the logic of the monument. This is due to the fact that enactment indispensable proceed connected the occidental side. They volition not stay for long, though, lone until the extremity of spring, astatine astir the summertime of 2026. At that time, the Parthenon volition beryllium afloat freed from these scaffolds,” the Greek Minister of Culture stated.

Scaffolding needed for Parthenon’s restoration

The long-running restoration effort, managed by the Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA), began successful the 1970s with a superior absorption connected extortion and preservation. The task was indispensable owed to extended harm from past, failed restorations; fractures and cracks successful the marble; and aerial pollution, which necessitated moving the archetypal sculptures to a protected environment.

Since then, the scope of the task evolved beyond rescue to a broad restoration program. It has successfully addressed caller structural issues resulting from humanities events specified arsenic fires, explosions, and earthquakes, portion besides fixing incorrectly-positioned architectural members. The extremity has been to heighten the static ratio of the monuments and amended their “readability” (making the archetypal signifier easier to understand).

To date, restoration programs for the Erechtheion, the Propylaea, and the Temple of Athena Nike are complete. Work connected the Parthenon and the Acropolis Wall remains successful progress, ensuring the preservation of these majestic structures for aboriginal generations.

The Parthenon

The Parthenon is 1 of the astir iconic structures successful the past of Western civilization. It stands successful splendor on Acropolis Hill successful Athens arsenic it has for 2,500 years. Experts judge that the Parthenon’s operation ingenuity has enabled it to miraculously past the ravages of time, earthy disasters specified arsenic earthquakes, and the actions of mankind.

Engineers, architects, and scientists person been wondering for decades however this ingenious operation has stood the trial of clip and continues to operation majestically implicit Greece’s capital.

This architectural and engineering wonder, with its height, width, and extent defining the precise conception of cleanable proportion, has kept its secrets for galore centuries since its completion successful the twelvemonth 438 BC.

Related: What Stood connected the Acropolis Before the Parthenon?