Acropolis Museum Welcomes New Fragments from the Parthenon

Acropolis Museum General Director Nikos Stampolidis (right). Photo source: Acropolis Museum / Paris Tavitian

The Acropolis Museum on Monday received ten fragments of the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon, which were granted by the National Archaeological Museum.

Kept until now in the storerooms of the National Archaeological Museum, the fragments have a maximum height of 32 centimeters, and were located, identified and documented by the late archaeologist and researcher of ancient Greek sculpture, Giorgos Despinis.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Acropolis Museum General Director Nikos Stampolidis. Photo source: @PrimeministerGR

The fragments, which come from the frieze, the metopes and the pediments of the Parthenon, were delivered to the Acropolis Museum, following a request made by General Director Prof. Nikos Stampolidis.

Two head fragments already found their place in the frieze. The first one, the upper part of a youth’s head, comes from the east frieze (see below).

Photo source: Greek Culture Ministry

It connects to the second from the left figure of a parade marshal of the Panathenaic procession, who is depicted on block VII.

Photo source: Acropolis Museum / Paris Tavitian

This fragment is the only authentic fragment of the block VII of the east frieze, as the rest of the block is kept in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Photo source: Acropolis Museum / Paris Tavitian

The second head is attributed to the first from the left figure of a thallophoros (branch-bearer) of the Panathenaic procession, who is depicted on block IX of the north frieze (see below).

Photo source: Acropolis Museum / Paris Tavitian

Photo source: Greek Culture Ministry

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Acropolis Museum General Director Nikos Stampolidis. Photo source: Greek Culture Ministry

The remaining eight fragments were temporarily placed in a special showcase in the Parthenon Gallery.

Photo source: Acropolis Museum / Paris Tavitian

The eight fragments will be withdrawn at some point, to be studied in relation to other parts of the sculptural decoration of the great temple, whether these are displayed in the exhibition space, or kept in the Acropolis Museum’s storerooms.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Acropolis Museum General Director Nikos Stampolidis. Photo source: Acropolis Museum / Paris Tavitian

The delivery of the ten fragments took place during an official ceremony in the emblematic Parthenon Gallery in the presence of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis; the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni; the President of the Board of Directors of the Acropolis Museum, Prof. Dimitris Pandermalis; the Director of the National Archaeological Museum, Anna Karapanagiotou; and the General Director of the Acropolis Museum, Prof. Nikos Stampolidis.