19 th century: A British ambassador removes some of the finest sculptures from the Acropolis of Athens. These marble sculptures are shipped to Britain, ending up in the hands of the British Museum in London. 20 th century: UNESCO designates the Acropolis of Athens as a world heritage site. It recognises the Acropolis of Athens as the symbol of world heritage itself. 21 st century: The international community recognises and strongly supports the necessity for the return of the seized marbles to Athens. The New Acropolis Museum is ready to house the complete set of the sculptures in Athens, under the best possible display conditions: 1. in direct view of the original monument 2. in the correct exhibition layout reproducing the actual peripheral dimension and proportions of the Parthenon frieze and pediments 3. as an integral part of a unified archaeological park in the centre of the city they originate from Now is the moment for the sculptures of the Acropolis to be reunited in the ultimate Acropolis exhibition hall in Athens. Today you can contribute to give a fair end to the story of these classical masterpieces

Fighting against instincts, separation and possession

while Trying to tell a sacred story 60% of the Parthenon sculptures is still in London

Revealing the way to approach Knowledge

The sculptures of the Acropolis of Athens need to be reunited

ΛΟΓΟΣ There are many reasons that the Parthenon sculptures must be reunited reasons

ΕΚΘΕΜΑ exhibit The Parthenon sculptures, and all pieces of the Athenian Acropolis, only make sense as a whole The buildings and sculptures of the Acropolis of Athens are a monument representing key events and concepts of Greek history and mythology The New Acropolis Museum is the optimum exhibition hall designed to house all the Parthenon sculptures together as a complete exhibit reasons

ΠΡΟΣΤΑΣΙΑ protection Since 1975, a unique program has been running in Athens Using state-of-the-art conservation technologies employing safe, sensitive cleaning methods that use laser technology, With the cost of 46 million euros, only since 2000 the Acropolis Restoration Project pollution deposits have been delicately removed Reuniting the Acropolis sculptures is the ultimate act of antiquity conservation awaiting action revealing undamaged the patina and amazing detail of the frieze in Athens Reuniting the Acropolis sculptures is the ultimate act of antiquity conservation awaiting action image © S. Mavrommatis

ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ history At the time of the removal of the sculptures, the Greeks were fighting for independence The Turkish sultan issued a firman allowing Elgin to study the Acropolis in Athens, not to ship it abroad If something similar happened to a country’s monument today, we would simply call it ‘theft’ BC AD Parthenon and its sculptures completed Greek territory comes under Ottoman rule 1829 first independent Greek state forms Elgin vandalises the Acropolis, cutting sculptures off its buildings The New Acropolis Museum is ready in Athens UNESCO designates the Acropolis as a World Heritage site

symbol Beyond any doubt, the Acropolis of Athens symbolises ΣΥΜΒΟΛΟ <> the unprecedented progress, cultural peak and passion for excellence in ancient Athens the ancient Greek civilisation the classical period in world history, its art, architecture, science, political reform and philosophy the foundations and beginning of Western civilisation human civilisation and World Heritage (UNESCO) How can a museum ruin the symbol of World Heritage keeping its pieces apart?

art ΤΕΧΝΗ <> The Parthenon is a masterpiece of architecture

art <> a breathing structure aunique architectural standard

art <> curves and proportions render its it a dynamic composition in space

ΡΟΗ flow World-class development projects have maximised the accessibility to a world audience of a world monument

flow The Unification of the Archaeological sites of Athens to a continuous archaeological, historical and cultural walk in the oldest capital of Europe (a major project by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning & Public Works) The new Athens International Airport the largest hub of air travel in southeastern Europe The extended metro network bringing tourists right at the doorstep of the Acropolis and other key archaeological sites and monuments the New Acropolis Museum providing the optimum physical and conceptual conditions for the exhibition of all the Acropolis sculptures next to the Acropolis

flow The Unification of the Archaeological sites of Athens to a continuous archaeological, historic and cultural walk in the oldest capital of Europe (a major project by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning & Public Works) The new Athens International Airport the largest hub of air travel in southeastern Europe The extended metro network bringing tourists right at the doorstep of the Acropolis monument and key archaeological sites the New Acropolis Museum providing the optimum physical and conceptual conditions for the exhibition of all the Acropolis sculptures next to the Acropolis! World-class projects a world audience a world monument accessibility

unity It is about understanding and bringing people together Europeans are working on an advanced model of communication within the community. Museums are needed to explicitly promote this effort, not undermine it. ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ

Phidias ΦΕΙΔΙΑΣ <> ' According to Professor J.M. Cook in his account of the Parthenon's construction, "Practically every block in it is unique so as to fit the tilts and curvatures. Such extravagance could never be afforded again." And, as he also puts it, "the Parthenon style is the classical style par excellence ". [...] The idea is balance and symmetry, summed up in the triad of the metopes, the frieze and the pediments.' (excerpt from 'The Elgin Marbles' by Christopher Hitchens) One creation, one project. Coordinated by one artist image © Artmedia Press

ethics Museums are meant to extend beyond ownership and division to serve unity and art integrity The Greek nation was never asked about the removal of its heritage treasures Greece and the UK are fellow European States, connected with bonds of friendship ΗΘΙΚΗ  Did you know? Greece has offered to lend other precious treasures to the UK in return for the reunification of the Acropolis sculptures close to the monument

+ 1 9 reasons ’

ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ t r u t h + 1 TheParthenonsculpturesarepartoftheParthenon

The monument will only be complete again when all its pieces are brought back together

The British Museum should not act as a gallery exhibiting ownership

but as an institution promoting education and unity beyond its physical borders

It is your support and awareness that will help the Acropolis sculptures return to Athens

With everyone’s understanding

they will return

should not be art fragmented

AcropolisofAthens.gr Our generations will be inspired by complete world heritage monuments

The permanent restoration of the Parthenon sculptures to a single, meaningful exhibit depends on everyone’s understanding; Read more. Visit yours too The focus is now on the New Acropolis Museum in Athens; not just because of the historical importance of the monument, but its great cultural depth and gravity in a world of civilisations. AcropolisofAthens.gr - one monument, one heritage URL: