During a lovely dinner in February 2023, Steve, Philippe and I decided to visit Athens during the – Catholic – Easter Holiday. As I was lucky to have the full Easter weekend – Saturday, Sunday and Monday – off, I booked flights and a room. Steve and Philippe arrived in the capital of Greece two days earlier. It wasn’t Orthodox Easter, so for the Athenians, it was a normal, low-season, weekend.

The Acropolis Museum is dedicated to the display and preservation of artifacts from the Acropolis archaeological site. It is situated at the southeastern slope of the Acropolis Hill, near the Parthenon temple, one of the most famous landmarks in the world.

The Acropolis Museum was opened to the public in 2009 and is considered one of the most important archaeological museums in Greece. Its collection primarily focuses on the findings from the Acropolis site, including sculptures, statues, friezes, and other architectural elements that once adorned the Parthenon and other ancient structures on the Acropolis.

The museum’s exhibits are displayed in a modern and spacious facility, designed to provide a contextual understanding of the history and significance of the Acropolis and its monuments. 

The museum features a range of artifacts, including marble sculptures from the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and other structures on the Acropolis, as well as objects from other ancient Greek sites. 

The museum also houses a wealth of archaeological finds, such as pottery, jewelry, and everyday objects that provide insights into the daily life of the people who lived in ancient Athens.

Replacing…

The first Acropolis Museum was on the Acropolis itself. I was completed in 1874 and underwent a moderate expansion in the 1950s. However, successive excavations on the Acropolis uncovered many new artifacts which significantly exceeded its original capacity.

An additional motivation for the construction of a new museum was that in the past, when Greece made requests for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, perhaps more famously known as the Elgin Marbles, from the United Kingdom, which acquired the items in a controversial manner, it was suggested by some British officials that Greece had no suitable location where they could be displayed.

Creation of a gallery for the display of the Parthenon Marbles has been key to all recent proposals for the design of a new museum.

The Marbles are now displayed in the British Museum.

Referring to the Marbles

The Acropolis Museum cannot help itself referring to the lost artifacts. In video presentations, the word “stolen” or “robbed” is used. How legal was the acquisition by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th Earl of Kincardine, is a matter if deep discussions. Even in 1816, the British Government wasn’t sure. 

On the top floor, a greenhouse-like rooftop structure matches the size and alignment of the Parthenon. Remaining artifacts of the Parthenon friezes, metopes and pediments and facsimile casts showcase how the classical temple was. 

The rancour is very palpable throughout the museum. 

Yes / no photos

In some areas you can take photos, in others you’re not allowed to. And it’s not clear when you can or can’t. Or why.

Rooftop café

The museum has a rooftop cafeteria. Inside is the ‘full restaurant’, outside is for coffee, snacks, drinks and cakes. A great spot for a pitstop.

So?

The Acropolis is a great way to know more about the Acropolis. Also, you don’t need that much time. Two to three hours, tops. 

Athens 2023

1. REVIEW | Antwerp city centre to Brussels Airport (Zaventem) Airport Express shuttle bus service.
2. REVIEW | Brussels to Athens with Brussels Airlines Airbus A319, in business class, early morning.
3. ATHENS | Monastiraki – Plaka – Syntagma – National Garden – Zappeion – Hadrian’s Gate – Temple of Olympian Zeus – Panathenaic Stadium.
4. Ancient Agora of Athens.
5. REVIEW | Restaurant Kuzina in Athens.
6. REVIEW | Single room at Fresh Hotel Athens.
7. The Acropolis of Athens.