On June 15, an important for the world of cultural heritage accomplishment was revealed on the sacred rock of the Acropolis, after the permanent removal of the scaffolding from the western side of the Parthenon. The pediment, incomplete since the founding of the Greek State, was revealed complete, after the setting of two blocks of the western tympanon and the completion of the restoration of its backing wall.
The restoration of these two blocks of the tympanon was one of the greatest challenges of recent years for the Acropolis Restoration Service. Due to the large dimensions and the weight of the marbles, the project required “surgical” precision and innovative technical solutions, both for the transport of the new marble from the Dionyssos quarry to the Acropolis, and for their carving by hand as well as for the lifting of the restored architectural members and their setting in the monument. The 6th (from the north) block of the tympanum was restored to its original geometry, by mending two ancient fragments with new marble supplements, while the 7th block was made entirely of new marble. The two architectural members were placed in the monument on 3 and 5 March 2026, respectively.
The completion of the restoration program of the west facade was achieved within the framework of the Project run with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, while all the work was carried out by the specialized staff of the Acropolis Restoration Service, under the supervision of the Committee for the Conservation of Acropolis Monuments.
After the attachment of the tympanon block to the backing wall and the removal of the scaffolding from the outer side of the west facade, the west pediment of the Parthenon was given back to the public completed in a way that highlights its perfect proportions. After two centuries, the architectural unity of the leading monument of the classical world was restored, turning a new page in its history.
Funding: Recovery & Resilience Fund 2022-2025
Main contributors
Scientific supervision: Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments (ESMA)
Head of the Parthenon Restoration Project: 2022 -February 2025, R. Christodoulopoulou, April 2025- to date, V. Manidaki
Architectural Study & Supervision of the tympanon restoration: V. Manidaki, Architect Engineer
Architectural Study & Supervision of the backing wall restoration: K. Skaris, Architect Engineer
Structural Study & Supervision: A. Vrouva, Civil Engineer
Study of transportations: V. Manidaki, Architect Engineer, Sp. Kardamis, Marble Technician
Mechanical support: G. Kechagias, Mechanical Engineer
Worksite supervisors: G. Angelopoulos and Sp. Kardamis, Marble Technicians
Head of marble design team: G. Desypris, Marble Technician
