The new museum of the Athenian Acropolis opens its gates
Athens - The new Acropolis Museum, a glass building located at the foot of the world-renowned ancient site in the historic center of Athens, will officially open its doors on Saturday during a ceremonial event, after years of delays and disputes, reported the AFP agency.
"After many twists, obstacles, and criticisms, the new Acropolis Museum is ready: it is a symbol of modern Greece, paying tribute to our ancestors, it is the nation’s repayment of its debt to its historical heritage," declared Culture Minister Antonis Samaras on Wednesday evening during the first presentation of the museum to the media.
The ultramodern building, designed by French-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, stands on stilts amidst archaeological landmarks and captivates with its geometry.
The building, situated 300 meters from the ancient site and illuminated by natural light, offers a panoramic view of the Parthenon, one of the most visited monuments in the world and an architectural gem from the classical period of the 5th century BC.
In the three-level museum, which is 23 meters high and covers an area of 15,000 square meters, over 350 fragments and sculptures from the Acropolis are displayed, which had previously been housed in a small museum on the sacred rock. Their relocation required an extensive operation lasting several months, which concluded last spring.
The roofing covering part of the excavations discovered during earthworks dominates one of the two entrances to the museum, located on the promenade bordering the southern slope of the rock.
On the first level, a variety of objects, including ceramics, bas-reliefs, and ancient sculptures from cult sites that lay on the slopes of the Acropolis in ancient times adorn both sides of the hall.
Five Caryatids from the Erechtheion dominate the upper part of the glass ramp leading to the second level, where a hall with thirty columns is located, showcasing sculptures from the archaic period (800 to 500 BC) from the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the monumental entrance to the Propylaea.
The highlight of the structure is a hall called the Parthenon, situated on the third level, where natural lighting plays a significant role, revealing the colors and three-dimensional shapes of the friezes, metopes, and pediments of the temple, emphasizes museum director Dimitris Pantermalis.
After numerous discussions, Greek archaeologists decided on the reconstruction of the Parthenon frieze by incorporating several fragments preserved in Athens and copies of the plaques, most of which are located in London and are characterized by their whiteness.
This beautiful hall can be seen as a kind of challenge for the return of the Parthenon frieze known as the Elgin Marbles, named after the British diplomat who removed them from the greatest monument of Greek civilization. They are housed in the British Museum, and Greece has been fighting for their return for thirty years in vain.
"Visitors will see the entire complex of friezes for the first time and thus become aware of the problem of the dispute between London and Athens," explained Pantermalis.
Four hundred visitors can sit in this hall and admire the panoramic view of this monument and the city of Athens.
"The museum is meant to contribute to the return of the removed and stolen friezes," emphasized Culture Minister Samaras.
Since 1974, Greek governments have attempted to realize the idea of this museum, but it was only during the fourth international competition in 2001 that Bernard Tschumi presented his design. Numerous disputes, primarily regarding the location chosen for the museum, delayed its realization.
The construction cost 130 million euros (3.5 billion CZK). The museum can accommodate 10,000 visitors daily.
> www.theacropolismuseum.gr
"After many twists, obstacles, and criticisms, the new Acropolis Museum is ready: it is a symbol of modern Greece, paying tribute to our ancestors, it is the nation’s repayment of its debt to its historical heritage," declared Culture Minister Antonis Samaras on Wednesday evening during the first presentation of the museum to the media.
The ultramodern building, designed by French-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, stands on stilts amidst archaeological landmarks and captivates with its geometry.
The building, situated 300 meters from the ancient site and illuminated by natural light, offers a panoramic view of the Parthenon, one of the most visited monuments in the world and an architectural gem from the classical period of the 5th century BC.
In the three-level museum, which is 23 meters high and covers an area of 15,000 square meters, over 350 fragments and sculptures from the Acropolis are displayed, which had previously been housed in a small museum on the sacred rock. Their relocation required an extensive operation lasting several months, which concluded last spring.
The roofing covering part of the excavations discovered during earthworks dominates one of the two entrances to the museum, located on the promenade bordering the southern slope of the rock.
On the first level, a variety of objects, including ceramics, bas-reliefs, and ancient sculptures from cult sites that lay on the slopes of the Acropolis in ancient times adorn both sides of the hall.
Five Caryatids from the Erechtheion dominate the upper part of the glass ramp leading to the second level, where a hall with thirty columns is located, showcasing sculptures from the archaic period (800 to 500 BC) from the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the monumental entrance to the Propylaea.
The highlight of the structure is a hall called the Parthenon, situated on the third level, where natural lighting plays a significant role, revealing the colors and three-dimensional shapes of the friezes, metopes, and pediments of the temple, emphasizes museum director Dimitris Pantermalis.
After numerous discussions, Greek archaeologists decided on the reconstruction of the Parthenon frieze by incorporating several fragments preserved in Athens and copies of the plaques, most of which are located in London and are characterized by their whiteness.
This beautiful hall can be seen as a kind of challenge for the return of the Parthenon frieze known as the Elgin Marbles, named after the British diplomat who removed them from the greatest monument of Greek civilization. They are housed in the British Museum, and Greece has been fighting for their return for thirty years in vain.
"Visitors will see the entire complex of friezes for the first time and thus become aware of the problem of the dispute between London and Athens," explained Pantermalis.
Four hundred visitors can sit in this hall and admire the panoramic view of this monument and the city of Athens.
"The museum is meant to contribute to the return of the removed and stolen friezes," emphasized Culture Minister Samaras.
Since 1974, Greek governments have attempted to realize the idea of this museum, but it was only during the fourth international competition in 2001 that Bernard Tschumi presented his design. Numerous disputes, primarily regarding the location chosen for the museum, delayed its realization.
The construction cost 130 million euros (3.5 billion CZK). The museum can accommodate 10,000 visitors daily.
> www.theacropolismuseum.gr
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