Posted on 12/28/2006 9:35:39 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Seven sculptures on the Parthenon will be removed to protect them from the ravages of pollution and replaced by facsimiles, a Greek restoration expert said.
The metopes, carved into the Doric friezes which extend in a band below the roof and above the structure's columns, are among the temple's few remaining original sculptures.
Once removed, the metopes will be exhibited in the new Acropolis Museum, said Maria Ioannidou, director of the Acropolis restoration services.
Greek archeologists decided to remove the sculptures to "save the metopes, threatened by acid rain caused by atmospheric pollution and natural erosion," she said.
The operation should be completed in 2008, she said.
Many of the temple's better known sculptures such as the caryatids -- support columns carved in the shape of maidens -- have long since been removed and replaced by replicas.
Given the cost and technical complexity of the operation, not all of the remaining metopes are to be taken down.
Besides suffering depredations caused by weather and pollution, the sculptures were also defaced by Christians during the period when the Parthenon was converted into a church.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
Gods, Graves, Glyphs PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
About time they did this, PING.
PS
Please add me to the GGG list, thank you for all that you bring to FR.
aristotleman
Thanks, you're welcome, and welcome to the list. :')
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
