February 21, 2008
What will happen to the old Acropolis Museum?
I had often wondered (& never had a clear answer) what would happen to the existing (old) Acropolis Museum once the New Acropolis Museum opened. It appear now that it may be used jointly as an exhibition gallery & café serving drinks. The latter feature will definitely be welcomed by anyone who has visited the Acropolis during the day in the middle of summer.
From:
Kathimerini (English Edition)
Thursday February 21, 2008
Old Acropolis Museum as cafe?The old Acropolis Museum, located next to the Parthenon, may be converted into a snack bar, Culture Ministry officials heard yesterday.
Government officials and Culture Ministry representatives discussed the possibility of the renovated museum staging a photographic exhibition, outlining the history of the Acropolis, as well as a cafe of some sort. The idea of an exhibition was embraced by everyone. But reservations were expressed over the possibility of a snack bar due to fears that chairs and tables would be scattered around under the Parthenon. According to the ministry’s museums department, the old museum should only serve water and soft drinks.
Artifacts are still kept at the museum but are gradually being transferred to the New Acropolis Museum at the foot of the Acropolis hill on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street.The new museum, designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, is due to open in September, Culture Minister Michalis Liapis revealed yesterday during a visit to the ultramodern structure.
“In one month from now, we are to finish moving all the exhibits from the old museum,” Liapis said, remarking that the painstaking process of packaging and transporting precious artifacts was well under way. If all goes as scheduled, the museum will be inaugurated by September, the minister added, describing the completion of the museum as “a national challenge.”
The new museum – whose top-floor gallery is reserved for the Parthenon Marbles (currently in the British Museum) – “will be a strong argument against those who oppose the return of the Marbles,” Liapis said.
- Liapis askes for return of artefacts : September 25, 2007
- Greek Prime Minister briefed on New Acropolis Museum : November 16, 2007
- New Acropolis Museum opening date set : February 21, 2008
- Ancient oil flask returns to Athens : April 21, 2008
- The transfer of artefacts to the New Acropolis Museum : May 31, 2007
- Delays to the opening of the New Acropolis museum : September 18, 2008
- Dry run for transfer of artefacts to New Acropolis Museum next week : October 4, 2007
- US ambassador supports Elgin Marbles return : March 8, 2008
Jan Welsh said,
03.04.08 at 5:36 pm
Please tell me the hours and days that the new Acropolis Museum will be open.
Bonnie MacQuarrie said,
08.05.10 at 3:51 am
Through the course of writing my screenplay which eventually was titled ATHENS RETURN I have made some amazing discoveries and also have come to some incredible conclusions of what the true meaning of the scipt, Athena Returns to the Parthenon and would like to know if you can help me with some ideas and visions I have for the Old Acropolis Museum and how these ideas and visions came to light.
Please email me. You do an amazing job of keeping up with the Artifacts and I think you maybe intrigued with things that I have been inspired by in the course of writing Athena’s epic and historical return to her beloved Parthenon.
Are you in Athens?