Acropolis Now
A modern museum of ancient Greece rises near the Parthenon
- By Richard Covington
- Smithsonian magazine, February 2008, Subscribe
Housing more than 4,000 works of art, the New Acropolis Museum in Athens will contain the world's most extensive repository of Archaic and Classical Greek sculptures. The $190 million glass-and-concrete complex, at the foot of the Acropolis and just over 300 yards from the Parthenon, has been more than seven years in the making and is expected to completely open by early 2009.
The structure echoes ancient Athenian architecture without imitating it. Simply trying to mimic the Parthenon—perhaps the most influential building in Western civilization—might be kitschy, says Bernard Tschumi, a New York- and Paris-based architect who designed the museum.
In the lower level galleries, sculptures by Phidias, Alcamenes and other ancient masters will be placed so they can be studied in the round, "like living persons," says museum director Dimitrios Pandermalis. "We're not lecturing people about the golden era of Pericles, but letting them discover for themselves the beauty of facial expressions, the movements of the horses and warriors." The ground floor is mostly glass and is raised on concrete stilts to showcase the archaeological work conducted on the site prior to construction. The dig yielded finds from prehistoric times through the 12th century.
An exhibit that will most likely be missing is the so-called Elgin Marbles, sculptural works that include 247 feet of the original Parthenon frieze. Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to Constantinople in the early 19th century, acquired the masterpieces from the Ottomans who then ruled Greece. The marbles are now at the British Museum. The New Acropolis Museum will display some of the remaining original frieze along with plaster replicas of the Elgin Marbles.
In a design masterstroke, the glass-enclosed top floor is turned at a 23-degree angle from the two lower levels to align with the Parthenon. Sculptures will be arrayed largely as they were in the original temple. "The idea," Tschumi says, "is to create a dialogue between the sculptures and the Parthenon."
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Comments (11)
Having had the opportunity in the past few years to visit both the Acropolis and the British Museum, I feel that they (England) should be willing to return the sculptures --- provided that the new museum will be able to house them in the same conditions as the BM. Yes, bad England for taking what wasn't theirs --- but you must admit that, ever since the marbles were installed at the BM, they have been faithful stewards of the treasure that they stole.
Posted by Victoria on September 25,2009 | 08:12 PM
In fact all archaelogical remains are best stored buried in dry soil! Exposing them to the polluted air of the modern world will inevitably destroy them.
Posted by Benct Philip Jonsson on August 4,2009 | 09:12 AM
Russel, I know that you probably meant what you said to be "funny," but it really wasn't at all. He "saved" these marbles by buying some from people that they didn't belong to and stealing the rest when he was found out that he was taking more than he was told to steal. Then, he further "saved" them by storing them in a coal shed to the point that they now look worse than the ones that were not "saved" "from the rubble." This alleged lord (I refuse to capitalize his title was nothing but a thief. England, RETURN WHAT YOU HAVE STOLEN! Long live The Parthenon Marbles!!!
Posted by Dean on April 28,2009 | 09:49 AM
I would like to thank Lord Elgin for saving the marbles from the rubble.
Posted by Russell Johnson on May 15,2008 | 01:59 PM
To call the Parthenon frieze pieces now in England "Elgin’s marbles" signifies that Lord Elgin had, somehow, someway, something to do with their creation -- as in, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. To call them “The Elgin marbles” signifies that they somehow, at some time belonged to him – as in, the British flag or, the British Stonehedge. Enough! These terms are neither correct nor explicit. Moreover, they undermine the real identity of the pieces, their history and the history behind their acquisition. The so-called Elgin marbles are really the PARTHENON MARBLES and in that title rests the reason for their repatriation. Please refrain from calling them anything else, even in small print, at the end of the last paragraph. They are the Parthenon Marbles. Lord Elgin paid the occupying forces in an occupied country to get them. They were stolen. Give them back. Gena Bamboukee, OKC
Posted by Gena Bamboukee on March 6,2008 | 11:21 AM
I grew up in an ancient neighborhood just under the Acropolis. I played hide and seek in the columns, and we made up stories about gods and godesses. It was magic for us then and it is still a memory spot that takes me back to an enchanted greek childhood. I hope that the Elgin marbles are returned to complete our unique heritage. Or perhaps the Brittish would agree to set up London Bridge in Athens.
Posted by sara cohen on February 22,2008 | 08:05 AM
I stood on the Acropolis in May of 2004. What a dream come true! Trip of a lifetime...I even got to visit the Temple in Didyma, Turkey - shown in the extra pictures from the article. I hope to be able to go back someday. Would absolutely love to see the new museum built there now. It is (and was) the most beautiful structure I have ever seen!
Posted by Jennifer Ratliff on February 19,2008 | 12:26 PM
I visited Athens in the late 1960s. I was able to walk around the Acropolis and stand within the Parthenon's columns - I even sat on the steps to contemplate the mystery of its creation (no scaffolding then). As an art student, I was familiar with it from images and believed that such 'perfection' must be boring. Not at all - in its ruined majesty it was the most beautiful and haunting building I have ever encountered. Now I look forward to visiting the new museum even if the Parthenon is more or less out of bounds.
Posted by Helen Martineau on February 13,2008 | 02:56 AM
In 1970 my two sons and I were able to stand inside the Parthenon and look out over the city. On that same trip, we were on the Acropolis and saw the Parthenon by the light of the full moon. All I can say is that it appeared to be floating; it was magical and one of the most beautiful things I've seen in my life. It is, in my opinion, criminal that the British will not return the Elgin marbles to the home from which they were stolen.
Posted by Sofia Rasher on February 7,2008 | 09:19 PM
In 1970 my two sons and I were able to stand inside the Parthenon and look out over the city. On that same trip, we were on the Acropolis and saw the Parthenon by the light of the full moon. All I can say is that it appeared to be floating; it was magical and one of the most beautiful things I've seen in my life. It is, in my opinion, criminal that the British will not return the Elgin marbles to the home from which they were stolen.
Posted by Sofia Rasher on February 7,2008 | 09:19 PM
Am sorry that I cannot return to Athens to see the museum. such a visit for me would be a perfect addendum to my visit to the Parthenon in later 1972!
Posted by Neil Cook on January 30,2008 | 03:51 AM