Celebrating its 15 years of operation, the Acropolis Museum has unveiled a new exhibition space offering visitors an enhanced opportunity to understand and interpret the material remains and history of an entire neighbourhood in ancient Athens.
Dubbed “Museum under the Museum,” the exhibit displays an ancient neighbourhood discovered during excavations conducted in the area for the construction of the Acropolis Museum and the local metro station.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni attended the opening ceremony, praising the museum altogether for establishing an international presence, among the most formidable of its kind, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Ms. Mendoni also addressed the issue of reuniting the Parthenon Sculptures.
She said that with the establishment, construction, and operation of the Acropolis Museum, Greece managed to “negate” long-standing arguments put forth by the British Museum that Greece lacked suitable and worthy hosting facilities to house the marvellous sculpture it is seeking to bring back to their birthplace.
“It is now widely accepted, both nationally and internationally, that Greece supports its claim for the reunification of the sculptures with tangible evidence of its strong commitment, practical capability, and expertise in their protection, preservation, and interpretation,” she said.
For decades, Greece has exemplified a model of conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation for the entire Acropolis site, including the Parthenon.
“Over the past 15 years, it has become abundantly clear that the British Museum’s argument no longer holds,” Ms. Mendoni said. “The seamless integration of the Acropolis Museum with the rock and monuments of the Acropolis, its harmonious coexistence with both ancient and modern elements, and its role as an ideal setting for showcasing the masterpieces all contribute to its suitability for hosting the entirety of the Parthenon Sculptures.”
The new museum space – an excavation site, as envisioned by architects Bernard Tschumi and Michalis Fotiadis – is an extension of the museum—an organic continuation that bridges space and time, organizers said.