Discussion begins between the Acropolis Museum and the British Museum

"Stray" fragments of the Parthenon, from its sculptural decoration mainly, which are in the British Museum may return to Greece _if not in their entirety, but at least some of them _ as long as cooperation is achieved, which he proposed at the last UNESCO session last June, the Acropolis Museum.

The issue was raised for the first time and is of course independent of Greece's constant and ongoing request for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. In this particular case, the president of the Acropolis Museum, professor Mr. Dimitris Pandermalis proposed the special request for a first reunification of "stray" fragments, which are in the British Museum with the sculptures exhibited in Athens.

In the intentions of the Acropolis Museum like this, is the invitation in the autumn of representatives of the British Museum, in order to see the exhibition of the Parthenon Sculptures together in order to form their own opinion about the possibility of re-positioning fragments found in the British Museum in the places from which they are missing. The main argument of the Greek side is, that the recovery of the overall image of a sculpture, even with the addition of a small broken marble is a matter, first of all, scientific ethics.

But what kind of fragments are these?; For example the back part of the upper torso of Poseidon from the west pediment of the Parthenon (the front part is exhibited in the Acropolis Museum).

 Part of the leg of a Lapithidos being seized by a Centaur from the 12th south pediment of the temple (the composition is preserved almost entirely in the Acropolis Museum).

Part of the chest of a warrior depicted on the frieze, as well as other stray fragments of sculptured heads, hands or feet. Of course, there are also some very small fragments.
Of course, many discussions will need to be held in order to have a positive outcome, but the beginning was made and indeed with a positive sign.

In any case, the willingness of the British side to cooperate on such a delicate issue is highly welcomed. It is also noted that according to the standard practice applicable to the Intergovernmental Commission of UNESCO, the two sides negotiated on the sidelines of the Meeting a relevant "Recommendation" draft (Recommendation), which was unanimously adopted by the Commission.

In addition to this, the representative of the British Ministry of Culture Mrs. Bower positively assessed the Greek proposal for a 3D digital scan of the Parthenon frieze in terms of its parts that are in the British Museum. The digital scanning of the stones found in the Acropolis Museum is already being completed in the autumn - it started about a year ago - and at the end the digital composition of the entire frieze will be done in order to obtain "more accurate scientific knowledge", as Mrs. Bauer mentioned.

The same, however, in Greece's constant request for the return of the Sculptors, which was presented at the meeting by the general director of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Education and Culture Mrs. Maria Andreadaki – Vlazakis and professor Mr. Pandermali repeated the familiar arguments of the British side, that this matter falls under the exclusive supervision and management of the Board of Governors of the British Museum.

As for the fragments of the Acropolis, however, it should be noted that they have already started to be returned to Greece. We recall the marble part of the corner capital, which was in the possession of a Dutch privateer, who had taken it as a souvenir on a visit in his decade’ 50. Another large fragment from the north frieze of the Parthenon depicting a man's head and part of a boat supported by him, which was returned by the Vatican (it was in the Etruscan Museum of the Vatican).

One foot man, fragment of the north frieze returned by the University of Heidelberg. And even on loan from the Salina Museum of Palermo, Italy, found for a few months in the Acropolis Museum a fragment of the relief decoration of the Parthenon in which the extreme right leg and the fringes of the garment of the goddess Artemis are depicted. Fragments of the Parthenon frieze can be found in many European cities: Paris, Vienna, Copenhagen, Munich and Würzburg.

Very often, however, the political leadership of the Ministry of Culture had expressed the country's willingness to provide "in return" in the event of a donation or long-term loan, even of fragments of the Parthenon sculptures, and to cooperate in the organization of exhibitions in foreign museums by lending antiquities..

A problem that has not been solved yet is the embargo of the Greek Ministry of Culture (current Secretariat) to the British Museum. A tactic, which was adopted in the 80s by Melina Merkouri, perfectly understandable and useful for that time, when the request for the return of the Sculptures was first raised, but not necessarily today.

Times have changed, people too, even the means of claim, so that now the embargo creates problems instead of acting as a bargaining chip. The impossibility of official cooperation with the British Museum "forbids" even direct discussion between the two parties, makes communication difficult, exchange of views and communication, let alone the organization of joint exhibitions or other cultural activities. Something that does not apply to private Greek museums, which do not follow this line.

However, the development of relations is now imperative and this is of course not related to the request for the return of the Sculptors, which will always remain in the forefront until satisfied.

His fame has spread worldwide, its prestige is internationally enforced

Three years today for the Acropolis Museum with its visitors touching the 5 millions, his fame to have spread throughout the world and his prestige to be enforced internationally.

An anniversary that is justifiably celebrated with pride in this particularly critical period for the country, let alone the museum, even in this last year it operated with its own revenue without burdening the state budget. "Some people think that culture and museums are unnecessary luxuries in difficult times. We experienced other things", said the president of the Acropolis Museum at noon, professor Mr. Dimitris Pandermalis. "We saw ordinary people being moved by their walk through the halls of the museum and taking a deep breath escaping from the gray everyday life. Visitors watching next to the burnt statues of the Persian disaster, the masterpieces born soon after, they automatically draw the parallel with the possibilities of the day after today's financial crisis", he added.

With the halls glowing with Attic light and the luster of marble statues, especially for today and to the sounds of live classical music, the museum welcomes the public _ already increased from the previous month _ with changes, improvements, welding of fragments to the sculptures that thus take on a more complete form but also with the exposure of the two metopes that were taken down from the Parthenon to save them from decay.

"The Acropolis Museum has played a leading role these years in an international dialogue with the other museums of the world and abolished stereotypes", said the acting Minister of Culture Mrs. Tatiana Karapanagiotis on the occasion of the anniversary. And as for the Parthenon Sculptures that are in the British Museum: "I wish they would come! But even if they don't come back, we already have a miracle here. An amazing museum, magical and mostly ours!», he added. Εχοντας παρακολουθήσει άλλωστε τη γέννησή του από την περίοδο των ανασκαφών ακόμη, after recording with her lens the whole process step by step and from the beginning to the end Mrs. Karapanagioti could feel it like her home.

Regarding her tenure at the Ministry of Culture, the minister had an interesting experience to report: "I understood that the public works, at least what I got to know at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs", he said. "When you are outside you can criticize easily, but from the inside you realize the difficulty of things. So I will be more lenient from now on". The promotion of NSRF projects and the opening hours of museums and archaeological sites were her priorities, which were served flawlessly despite the shortness of her presence in the ministry. In the context of her responsibilities, she also referred the issue of the old Acropolis museum (on the rock) to the joint body of KAS and KSNM with the question of its preservation or demolition.

However, a "funny" incident prevented her and the general secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (until that moment) Mrs. Lina Mendoni, το όνομα της οποίας αναφέρεται στην επόμενη κυβέρνηση να φθάσουν στην ώρα τους καθώς ο φύλακας από την είσοδο της οδού Μακρυγιάννη δεν τις αναγνώρισε και δεν επέτρεψε να περάσουν!

Νέες δράσεις ανήγγειλε εξάλλου ο κ. Παντερμαλής με πρώτη την επέκταση του καφενείου του ισογείου, όπου ήμασταν καθισμένοι, στον εξωτερικό χώρο πάνω από την ανασκαφή. Μουσείο της ανασκαφής πρόκειται να δημιουργηθεί από κάτω ακριβώς, όπου θα εκτεθούν περί τα 1500 ευρήματα, που βρίσκονται τώρα στις αποθήκες. As for the highlighting of the excavation itself, which is about 3 acres… beware of the Bank of Greece that "cut" the museum's reserve. Specifically, as said by Mr. Pandermal from the 3,7 million. only euros remained 900.000, so the sponsor is now being sought to help carry out the project, for which one year is required anyway.

The action on the theme of light in antiquity is interesting, which will start on 27 June. Triggered by the golden lamp that lit the eternal light at the springs in Erechtheion, iconic exhibits of the museum, such as the bronze trireme – lamp, which was also found in Erechtheion will be marked in their showcases while a special brochure will be distributed at the entrance.

Τον Ιούλιο θα παρουσιασθεί εξάλλου η μικρή έκθεση για το χρώμα που διατηρείται ακόμη στα αρχαϊκά γλυπτά του μουσείου βάσει έρευνας, η οποία βρίσκεται σε εξέλιξη. Η Πεπλοφόρος Κόρη, a mold of which is colored with the colors resulting from this study, will be the proposal of the scientists of the Acropolis Museum on the subject. "So far the coloring of the Daughter has changed three times", characteristically said Mr. Pandermalis also assuring that the final result will have significant deviations from the painted archaic sculptures, presented by German scientists a few years ago.

Source : tovima.gr

Who goes to the museum?; Especially young people from 18 as 24 years is the answer, at least as the research done specifically for it shows Acropolis Museum. An extremely positive fact in terms of young people's response to cultural heritage, but something that also entails requirements: Because two-thirds of the museum's visitors, as young as they are, they demand more information and even more technology.
 

These elements, and many more the Acropolis Museum is now called upon to take into account, as its president, professor Mr., said at noon in a press conference. Dimitris Pandermalis. And the bet is, according to his own labeling, the balance between technology and art to maintain the authenticity of its unique content.

At the same time, and on the occasion of the celebration of the three years of operation of the Museum, the presentation of a small exhibition on the theme of the color of the ancient statues is announced. For this purpose, a copy of a daughter with her original colors is already ready, which will impress visitors with their power and variety, overturning the image of the whiteness of marble statues.

After all, the request for new exhibitions is one of the main requests of visitors, as well as the possibility of visiting the outdoor excavation. However, something quite difficult, as said by Mr. Pandermal for financial reasons. Thus, efforts are directed towards highlighting already existing exhibits with a new approach.
However, in response to the request for more technology, a hologram of the chryselephantine statue of Athena crafted by Pheidias is being prepared, which will be presented in the Parthenon hall.
Three replicas of the Museum's exhibits that will be sold from its sales office were presented today (Wednesday).

This is the head of the "blonde teenager" who represents the ideals of Athens during the period of the Persian Wars, the head of the chryselephantine statue of Athena Parthenos in a small size and the relief with the representation of the Municipality of Athens from the end of the 5th century. X. century. All are made of resins _ the best material for replicas_ and will cost accordingly 140, 30 and 160 euro.

Additional, his first commemorative medal with the representation of the head of Athena on its main face is minted by the Acropolis Museum for International Museum Day in collaboration with the National Mint. The coin derived from the coins found in the archaic Kora statue pit northwest of the Erechtheum will be honored 7 euro. Finally, photography is now allowed on all floors except the ramp of the aisles and the archaic statues for reasons of avoiding overcrowding.

The Museum counts four million visitors to date and in the survey carried out at the beginning of its summer 2011 _lasting seven weeks_ in the framework of the Museum's collaboration with the University of Toronto under the scientific supervision of the associate professor of the University of Toronto and. Kosti Dalla and the lecturer Mrs. Barbara Soren it was found that almost one in four to 3 times or more. also: The American human virus (word of mouth), as said by Mr. Pandermalis acted decisively for the visit to the Museum. For the 80% of visitors the evaluation was from positive to very positive. Accessibility was rated as excellent (65%) as good (34%). For reception and security staff, the public found it particularly helpful (against 48%) and good (against 51%) while only the 1% had a different view.

However, as far as the return of the Parthenon Sculptures is concerned, it is a wish, which only the 1/3 of visitors did, leaving the Museum. Two events anyway, a debate on 11 June with the participation of Mrs Annas Diamantopoulou and a conference on 19 and 20 are planned in London.

Source : tovima.gr