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Athens (Attica) | Attica | Athens City

The Acropolis of Athens Old Museum

Introduction

The Museum existing until lately on the Acropolis rock was considered among the most important ones in the world and definitely the most important one as far as the History of European Art is concerned. It was built on the Acropolis Hill in 1874, in such a way that it would not aesthetically interfere with the Temples, nor be visible from anywhere within the city of Athens.

The excavations that followed, toward the end of the 19th century, unearthed a wealth of finds which were impossible to exhibit in the limited space of the Museum. Thus, the inscriptions, bronzes, clay objects, and a variety of other items were kept in the National Archaeological Museum, where they were originally taken for conservation. The situation was aggravated after all the marble pieces were removed from the Parthenon Friezes (that is, what was left over after Elgin's plunder) and were put in the museum, together with the Caryatids (the marble statues of the women supporting the roof of the south porch of the Erechtheion), all of which were removed to be kept in an air-tight window containing nitrogen, so as to stop air pollution from deteriorating the marble surfaces.

The collections of the museum included:

Sculptural offerings of the Archaic period
Pediments of temples dated to the Archaic period
Archaic Horsemen
Sculptures of the "Severe" style
Pediments and metopes from the Parthenon
The Parthenon frieze
The Erechtheion frieze
Parapets of the Athena Nike temple
Frieze of the Athena Nike temple
The Caryatids
Clay figurines and vases from the sanctuary of the Nymphs.

Everyone was eagerly anticipating the completion of the new Acropolis Museum, for the total wealth of finds related to the Acropolis and the Parthenon to finally be exhibited in the best possible way (combining location, lighting, space, air filtering and thematic consistency), and thus deprive the descendants of Lord Elgin of all plausible excuses to insist that the Parthenon Marbles continue to be kept separated from the rest of their like and the Parthenon remain in its mutilated state.

During 2008, the exhibits of this Museun were transferred to the New Museum, the erection of which was completed. Three huge cranes were used to carry all the heavy marble statues and exhibits, a total of some 4,500 artifacts from the old, cramped Acropolis museum, a task that was the biggest airlift of antiquities in Greek history. It was the first time the artifacts — some of which are considered among the most important works of antiquity — were moved from the very Acropolis Rock. This transfer was completed in the end of spring but putting up the exhibits in their right place would take a lot longer.

We thought that the present Album would become useless after the New Museum's inauguration. Nevertheless, the decision of the museum authorities to prohibit taking photographs of the exhibits in their new surrounding created more problems than the ones it was supposed to solve. We admit that the decision was well meant, but, with all due respect, we would like to point out that times have changed; we are afraid that whatever is not shown online cannot achieve the level of promotion that it may be worthy of. We managed, though, to get a number of photos of the exhibits, as the decision was taken a couple of weeks after the museum's inauguration. We are working on them and will do our best to put them up as soon as possible. But, in our effort to best present the exhibits, we are sorry to have to use some of the photos taken at the Old Acropolis Museum. Until the New Acropolis Museum album is online, please enjoy the marvellous artifacts at their old "home".

(Photos: Michael Tziotis)

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Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

Gallery IX

Caryatids from the south porch of the Erechtheion (420 BC) and the relief with an Athenian triereme.


The Karyatides

The Karyatides
The Karyatides

The Karyatides
The Karyatides

The Karyatides
The Karyatides

The Karyatides
ΝΑΓ 89-4957 Votive relief representing a snake

ΝΑΓ 89-4957 Votive relief representing a snake


Dedicated to Zeus Meilichios, according to the inscription. Found in the excavation south of the Acropolis in 1957.
The Karyatides

The Karyatides
The Karyatides

The Karyatides
The Karyatides (Detail)

The Karyatides (Detail)
Akr 1339.  The Lenormant Relief

Akr 1339. The Lenormant Relief


Fragment of a relief plaque depicting an Athenian warship (trireme) with nine oarsmen. Two more fragments are kept in the Acropolis store-room and the one in the National Archaeological Museum. According to the restoration by L. Beschi (please see next photo), the initial composition depicted a large trierem with 25 oarsmen.
Akr 1339. The Lenormant Relief Restoration

Akr 1339. The Lenormant Relief Restoration
Akr 6461. Pentelic marble colossal mask of Dionysus.

Akr 6461. Pentelic marble colossal mask of Dionysus.


It was probably set high up, as the specific workmanship on the forehead shows. From vase-paintings we learn that such masks, made of marble or perishable material, used to be set up on wooden or stone columns at the god’s sanctuaries, and certain rituals were taking place around them. 1st century B.C.

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