The Parthenon looks just as it did 200 years ago. This is the result of many years of work

·19 June 2026

The Parthenon once again resembles the appearance familiar to 19th-century Athenians. The Greek Ministry of Culture has announced the completion of the latest phase in the long-running conservation project for the temple on the Acropolis. Thanks to the replacement of missing elements, visitors can now see the monument’s façade as it has not been seen for over 220 years.

The western façade of the Parthenon has regained its proportions

For over 220 years, the western façade of the Parthenon has been incomplete. It is from this side that most tourists first catch sight of the famous temple, which is why even minor changes have a positive impact on its appearance. In the recently completed phase of conservation work, two marble elements were installed to fill the gaps in the façade that had existed since the early 19th century. The installation of these stone blocks has restored the façade’s proportions as they were in antiquity, specifically in the 5th century BC.

The Parthenon and the consequences of disasters from centuries past

The history of the temple is marked by numerous instances of destruction. The greatest disaster occurred in 1687 during the siege of Athens by Venetian forces. The Turks had turned the Parthenon into a gunpowder store, which exploded and caused a significant part of the priceless monument to collapse. Further damage was caused by earthquakes, centuries of marble erosion and the actions of Lord Elgin. This early 19th-century British diplomat and aristocrat removed many of the original sculptures and decorations to the British Isles, significantly impoverishing the ancient Acropolis. Over time, the structural condition of the temple deteriorated, whilst some of the earlier ‘restorations’ carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries did more harm than good. Iron components were used at the time, which began to corrode, causing the marble to crack and necessitating further repairs. It was from this period onwards that the western façade of the Parthenon presented a damaged appearance, which has only now been restored to its former state.

Conservation based on anastylosis

All work was preceded by detailed analyses of the surviving ancient fragments of the structure. The missing parts were crafted from Pentelic marble, sourced from the very same quarries used by the builders of the Parthenon over 2,400 years ago. The first of the new blocks at the top of the monument was created by combining original elements with new material, whilst the second was carved from scratch. Modern technologies and titanium components were used in their installation to reinforce the delicate structure. The conservators employed the method of anastylosis, regarded as the fundamental principle of preserving ancient monuments. This involves reusing authentic fragments wherever possible, whilst new parts are added only when required for the safety of the structure or the clarity of its historical form. The fresh marble is noticeably lighter in colour than the ancient stone, but over the years it will gradually develop a natural patina.

The conservation programme has been ongoing for half a century

Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni emphasises that the work carried out allows the harmony and mathematical precision of the Parthenon’s western façade to be appreciated once again. The final stage of the work is part of a conservation programme that has been ongoing since 1975. Experts are rectifying the effects of past disasters and errors from earlier 19th- and 20th-century restorations, replacing corroded metal components with titanium ones and gradually restoring the temple’s correct geometry. The project is funded, amongst other sources, by the European Union.

Millions of visitors will see the restored Parthenon

The Parthenon is the main symbol of Greece and the most important monument on the Acropolis, which was visited by around 4.6 million people last year. The completion of the restoration means that, for the first time in over two centuries, the western façade now bears a much closer resemblance to its original form. However, this does not mark the end of the work. Conservators will continue to reinforce the temple, protect the marble from further deterioration and restore further sections, gradually reinstating its historical proportions whilst respecting the monument’s authentic substance.