Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Acropolis museum













By the time we finished lunch, the Acropolis complex was closed. Only the museum was opened. It is a good idea to visit the museum first. It holds the friezes from the Parthenon and it shows the placement of them on the Parthenon. For a long time the friezes were outside with the Parthenon building and was being eaten away by pollution. The British asked, 'how can you expect us to give you back the Elgin marbles when the ones you still have are being destroyed by pollution.' So they built the museum to house whatever they still have, leaving a gaping hole which could be filled only by the return of the Elgin marbles. There is a sign that said, the space is because these objects were taken by the British and are in the British museum in London. The museum is built on top of ruins which are still being excavated and will one day be part of the exhibits. So right now we are walking on plexi-glass floors and can view the excavation taking place under us. There is a short documentary that demonstrates the construction of the museum and the moving into place the vast and heavy friezes from the Parthenon. It is very impressive.

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