Restoration Completes Western Side of Parthenon After 220 Years

The Parthenon, a renowned temple in Athens and a masterpiece of Classical architecture, has undergone significant restoration.

The western facade of this 5th century B.C. structure has been partially restored. According to the Greek Ministry of Culture, this brings it to the most complete state seen in over 220 years. Restorers filled gaps in the temple’s western pediment with marble slabs.

Restoration efforts, started in 2017, were managed by the Acropolis Restoration Service, under the culture ministry.

The Parthenon overlooks Athens from the Acropolis, attracting millions of tourists annually. It was built to honor Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare, using white marble. The temple’s design is lavish, signifying the city’s wealth and influence. The temple features two triangular pediments adorned with sculptures.

These sculptures once included figures of gods and reliefs of battles between centaurs and humans. About 220 years ago, British aristocrat Lord Elgin removed many of these pieces while serving as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, which then ruled Athens. The sculptures, known as the Elgin Marbles, were later sold to Britain’s government and are now exhibited in the British Museum.

The British Museum and the Greek government have been in discussions since 2021 about possibly returning these sculptures to Greece.

Tourism at the Acropolis has been managed more strictly since 2023, when Greece began limiting daily visitors to reduce overcrowding.