Work has begun to renovate the original Acropolis Museum (first opened in 1876) on top of the ancient citadel and transform it into an exhibition space and laboratory, it was announced last week. The 3.5-million-euro project is expected to be completed in two years, funded through the Attica Regional Development Plan 2014-2020.

The small building, located in a natural hollow in the southeast corner of the Acropolis, sits below the level of the hilltop and is largely hidden from view.

Despite its limited size, it housed many of the ancient artifacts found in and around the Sacred Rock since official excavations began in 1834 by the newly-established Greek state, including five of the original six Caryatids from the Erechtheum (one had already been removed by Lord Elgin and is currently housed in the British Museum).

Designed by Greek architect Panagis Kalkos and constructed between 1865 and 1874, the museum underwent an expansion in the 1950s.

Amid rising pollution levels in Athens in the later 20th century and increasing numbers of visitors to the archaeological site of the Acropolis, the Greek government decided in the late 1980s to establish a much-needed new museum, better equipped to curate and display the thousands of artifacts for the general public.

The old museum was eventually closed in June 2007 so that its collection could be moved to the new Acropolis Museum, designed by Swiss-born architect Bernard Tschumi, which opened its doors in June 2009.

According to a recent statement from the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, the old museum will be restored to house new exhibition spaces, a well-equipped open-view maintenance laboratory for ongoing works on the Acropolis, and function as a museum warehouse.

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni commented, “Today is a special day for both the Ministry of Culture and the Attica Region. A museum space is being restored and will reopen after 13 years … the Old Museum comes alive again.”