The restoration of the Parthenon’s west pediment has reached a major milestone, with the permanent removal of the external scaffolding from the monument’s western façade and the completion of one of the most demanding conservation projects undertaken on the Acropolis in recent years.

For the first time in approximately 220 years, the western façade of the Parthenon can be seen in its most complete form. With the installation of two orthostats in the vacant positions of the west pediment and the completion of the restoration of the back wall of the pediment, the architectural integrity of the structure has been reinstated.

One of the Most Complex Restoration Projects

The restoration of the pediment’s orthostats was among the most complex conservation interventions undertaken in recent years by the Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA). The project required highly specialized engineering solutions and absolute precision at every stage, from the processing of the new marble elements to their lifting and placement on the monument. The large orthostat of the west pediment was restored to its original geometry through the reassembly of surviving ancient fragments and the addition of new marble. The second orthostat was carved entirely from new marble.

To facilitate the final placement of the stones, a new scaffolding system was installed, meeting the strictest modern safety standards while while remaining visually unobtrusive and sensitive to the monument’s appearance. The restoration program for the western façade was completed as part of a project funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The works were carried out by the specialized staff of the Acropolis Restoration Service under the supervision of the Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments (ESMA), reaffirming the high level of expertise of Greece’s restoration and conservation school.

“A Truly Spectacular Sight”

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni described the result as “a truly spectacular sight,” noting that “the pediment, which generations of Greek citizens and visitors from around the world had grown accustomed to seeing incomplete, has regained its architectural unity.”

The minister’s full statement reads: “Just a few months ago, we were speaking about the first unobstructed view of the Parthenon in decades, free from the external scaffolding that had covered its western side. Today, we are speaking about the completion of an exceptionally demanding restoration intervention, thanks to which the west pediment of the Parthenon has been returned to its fullest form in approximately 220 years. The sight is truly spectacular. The pediment, which generations of Greek citizens and visitors from around the world had become accustomed to seeing incomplete, has regained its architectural unity. The two new orthostats installed in its vacant positions do more than simply fill a structural gap. They once again reveal the unique proportions and geometric perfection of the Parthenon’s western façade.

This was a project of extraordinary complexity, carried out by the scientists, engineers, craftsmen and staff of the Acropolis Restoration Service with exemplary precision and dedication. Its successful completion demonstrates once again that Greece, the Ministry of Culture and its personnel have succeeded in establishing the Greek school of restoration as a pioneer and one of the world’s leading authorities in the field. Today, we see the west pediment of the Parthenon as it has not been seen for two centuries. It is a moment of historic significance for the monument, for the Acropolis and for world culture. It is a moment that fills us with pride, but also with a sense of responsibility to continue, with the same consistency, the important work of protecting and showcasing the foremost symbol of Western civilization.”

Read here how the west pediment was completed.

Originally published in Greek at kathimerini.gr