Parthenon West Facade to Be Crane-Free as Restoration Progresses

The Parthenon in Athens is set to regain its iconic view as the crane obstructing its west facade is removed. Restoration work on that section, which began in 2011 and was expected to finish in 2015, is now complete, according to project supervisor Vassiliki Eleftheriou. The crane will be moved inside the temple to continue work on the north wall. Final tasks on the west facade include reinforcing the pediment pillars and removing rusted iron supports from the 20th century that caused further damage. The pediment, like much of the temple, was severely damaged during a Venetian siege in 1687. Despite Greece's economic crisis since 2009, Acropolis restoration has continued uninterrupted thanks to European Union funding. The west facade is the side from which the Elgin Marbles were removed, now housed in the British Museum in London.