Original Story Here

Posted Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:13pm AEST

A senior Greek archaeologist has warned that the last original sculptures still adorning the Parthenon, Athens’ iconic ancient temple, face a major pollution threat and must be removed to a museum.

“There are still 17 original metopes [sculpted plaques] which must be protected because they can no longer endure atmospheric conditions,” Acropolis site supervisor Alexandros Mantis said on Friday.

Read more

Helena Smith in Athens
The Guardian, Monday October 15 2007

acropolisreuters372ready.jpg

4,500 antiquities from the Acropolis will be moved by cranes to the new museum. Photograph: Yannis Behrakis/Reuters

A collective gasp filled the air early yesterday as a blue crate containing a 2.5-tonne slab of marble universally viewed as one of the most important works of antiquity, was hoisted by a giant crane from the Acropolis. For those who had come to watch, this was history in the making, the first sculpture to officially leave the ancient citadel since Phidias carved the artworks, 2,500 years ago.

Read more

ATHENS, GREECE - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton waves to tourists in front of Parthenon temple during a visit to the Acropolis hill on October 6, 2007 in Athens, Greece. Clinton is in Greece on a personal visit as part of his European tour. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Next Page →


  • Admin