Lina Mendoni: The western pediment of the Parthenon is being completed after 220 years

Lina Mendoni announced the completion of the restoration of the west pediment of the Parthenon and the removal of the scaffolding.

The completion of one of the most significant restoration projects of recent decades at the Parthenon was announced by the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, on the occasion of the restoration of the monument’s west pediment and the permanent removal of the external scaffolding from its west facade. For the first time in approximately 220 years, the west side of the Parthenon has been restored to its fullest possible form.

Lina Mendoni: The sight is truly breathtaking

Lina Mendoni described the completion of the project as a moment of historic significance for the monument, the Acropolis, and global culture. As she noted, the western pediment, which for generations of Greek and foreign visitors had appeared incomplete, has now regained its architectural unity.

The Minister of Culture noted that the two new pillars, which were installed in the empty spaces of the pediment, do not merely fill a morphological void, but also highlight the unique proportions and geometric perfection of the west facade of the Parthenon. At the same time, he praised the contribution of the scientists, engineers, craftsmen, and workers of the Acropolis Monuments Conservation Service (YSM), referring to a project that demonstrates the international leadership of the Greek school of restoration.

A project of high technical difficulty

According to the Ministry of Culture, the restoration of the upright columns of the tympanum was one of the most complex interventions in recent years. The large upright was restored by welding together surviving ancient fragments and filling in the gaps with new marble, while the second one was constructed entirely from new marble.

To complete the work, a new scaffolding system was installed, which meets modern safety standards and is aesthetically adapted to the monument. After the restoration work was completed, the exterior scaffolding was permanently removed from the west facade.

The restoration project was implemented with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, while the work was carried out by specialized staff from YSMA under the supervision of the Acropolis Monuments Conservation Committee (ESMA).