October 10, 2006
Karamanlis visits new museum site
Further coverage of the visit by Kostas Karamanlis to the construction site of the New Acropolis Museum.
From:
Kathimerini (English Edition)
Tuesday October 10, 2006
Museum to help return of MarblesThe completion of the new Acropolis Museum next year will help boost Greece’s chances of reclaiming the 2,500-year-old Parthenon Marbles from Britain, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said yesterday.
On a visit to the building site at the foot of the Acropolis, Karamanlis said the construction of the 129-million-euro project is moving ahead and will be completed by the middle of 2007.
“Once the museum is completed, Greece will have a very strong argument for the return of the Parthenon sculptures,” he said.“We are taking a very important step to finally realize the dream that unites all Greeks,” he added.
Depicting gods, men and monsters, the marble sculptures were removed from the Parthenon by agents of British Ambassador Lord Elgin in 1806-11, at a time when Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire.
Greece has officially demanded their return for some 20 years, complaining that the works were illegally removed and are part of its national heritage.
From
Athens News Agency
Monday, Oct. 9, 2006
PM tours Acropolis Museum construction sitePrime Minister Costas Karamanlis visited the under-construction new Acropolis Museum on Monday morning, accompanied by Culture Minister George Voulgarakis, Organisation for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum president Dimitris Pantermalis, culture ministry officials and archaeologists. The prime minister was given a guided tour of both the old and the new section of the museum, while he also watched the Caryatids’ casts — marble figues of nymphs atop the Acropolis — being put in place.
The prime minister said that the new museum provides a very powerful argument to Greece in support of the return of the Parthenon Marbles, adding that a very important step is being made toward the realization of a vision shared by all Greeks and all of Greece’s friends around the world.
Karamanlis underlined that the new Acropolis Museum project has entered the finishing stretch, with construction slated for completion in the first half of 2007.
He said that it will be the most up-to-date archaeological museum in the world, and worthy of the Acropolis exhibits. Soon, said the prime minister, both Greek and foreign visitors will be able to admire up-close the archaeological treasures brought to light by excavations in the wider Acropolis area.
- Greek Prime Minister tours completed New Acropolis Museum site : May 18, 2009
- Greek Prime Minister tours New Acropolis Museum site : October 10, 2006
- Greece calls for return of disputed Parthenon Marbles from Britain : December 17, 2007
- Greek Prime Minister draw parallels between Agora artefact return & Parthenon Marbles : May 8, 2007
- New Acropolis Museum to start admitting visitors : December 17, 2007
- New Acropolis Museum to open in 2007 : October 11, 2006
- Greek Prime Minister briefed ahead of New Acropolis Museum opening : June 15, 2009
- What impact will Britain’s change of Prime Minister have on Elgin Marbles? : May 14, 2007