OXFORD, Miss. – “Photographs of the Athenian Acropolis: The
Restoration Project,” a photographic narrative of the
restoration of the Greek Acropolis, is on display at the
University of Mississippi Museum through Nov. 18.
The original exhibit debuted in October 2002 at the Benaki
Museum in Athens, Greece. Produced by the Acropolis
Restoration Service of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture,
the exhibition has traveled to Paris, Rome, London and
Brussels, Belgium.
“The restoration itself is a formidable project,” said
Albert Sperath, museum director. “The way these photos are
presented shows the mind-boggling scope of the project.”
The museum, located at the corner of 5th Street and
University Avenue, is open to the public 9:30 a.m.-4:30
p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday. There
is no admission charge.
Restoration began on the Athenian Acropolis in 1975 and
continues today. Being repaired are damages from air
pollution, wars, earthquakes, erosion and the rusting of
iron used in previous restorations. The exhibition,
featuring the photography of Socratis Mavrommatis, details
the restoration performed by the Acropolis Restoration
Service.
The exhibition is composed of four units. Photos in section
one show the damage and wear inflicted on the monuments by
both man and nature. The second unit depicts the work-site
preparation necessary for the renovation. The third shows
the main works that were carried out by specialized
personnel. The last unit examines the monuments themselves
at various phases of the restoration project in latter
years.
“The photos capture something very beautiful about the
project,” said Aileen Ajootian, associate professor of
classics and art. “Having been to Greece every summer since
1983, and actually having seen the project, (I think) the
display gives a real sense of the buildings and of the
reconstruction going on.”
Amongst the black-and-white photographs stands a
6-by-10-foot lighted color photograph that helps viewers
get a feel for the large scope of the project. Also for
viewer appeal, the Parthenon’s cella floors have been
reproduced on the floor of the gallery.
“The reproduction of the cella floor is wonderful, because
you can’t even experience that if you were to go to the
Parthenon because you can’t go inside to see that,”
Ajootian said.
For more information or assistance related to a disability,
contact Sperath at 662-915-7073 or asperath@olemiss.edu. To
learn more about the University Museum, visit