Greece's Parthenon gets a facelift, revealing a look not seen for 220 years

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

Updated 8:19 PM CDT, June 18, 2026

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Visitors to the Acropolis can now see the Parthenon’s western side looking whole for the first time in about 220 years.

Officially unveiled Thursday, restorers have slotted two new marble blocks into long-empty gaps high on the temple’s western end — the view visitors see when they first enter the ancient monument in Athens.

The 25-century-old monument overlooking the Greek capital attracted about 4.6 million visitors last year. Long-term restoration projects address damage caused by war, weather and looting, including the broken outline of the western side.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described the sight after the latest restoration as “truly stunning.”



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/greece-acropolis-restoration-parthenon-tourism-da06640fcd747498613d31b64dac369a

[Bayard]

1. What a treasure,

For the whole world.

[LudwigPastorius]

2. Ah...I thought maybe they put some fresh coats of paint on it.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Early memories of school trips to the Parthenon in Nashville

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Thanks for the thread Omaha Steve

[Pompoy]

5. Beautiful

Even though it's concrete and not marble.

[Uncle Joe]

6. It was originally plaster, wood and brick

when they built it in 1897.

[BadgerMom]

4. Britain should return the Elgin marbles.

Much more might be restored if they did.

My husband’s father and both maternal grandparents immigrated from Greece. My husband was recently granted Greek citizenship. Amazement at Britain’s obstinacy in the matter is real, along with frustration and anger.

[J_William_Ryan]

7. "damage caused by war, weather and looting"

Primarily war.

The Parthenon was destroyed in 1687 during the Venetian-Ottoman war; it was used as an ammo dump by the Ottomans when it was hit by a rocket.

Before that the Parthenon was essentially an intact, serviceable structure.