# The Parthenon, unscaffolded **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240 "2006-09-02T21:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/1 "2006-09-02T21:14:00Z")
Every time I visit a European city, there’s at least one major building that I can’t see because it’s being restored. Obviously this is important, but I wish I could schedule my visits to immediately \*\*after \*\*the restoration is completed. I’m planning on my next destination to be Greece. I know there’s been some major restoration happening on Athens’ Acropolis in recent years, especially concerning the Parthenon. I have no idea whether the restoration is still going on, or whether it’s been completed, and Google hasn’t been any help. So does anyone know whether the Parthenon is still shrouded in scaffolding, or will at least be completed by next summer? (Of course, it looked to be complete at the time of the Olympics, but for all I know they resumed the restoration right after the closing ceremony.) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/2 "2006-09-02T21:53:59Z")
AH PHOOEY! 😛 If y’all wanna see a complete & intact Parthenon, come to Nashville. > **[Parthenon (Nashville)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon_(Nashville))** > > The Parthenon in Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee, is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. It was designed by architect William Crawford Smith and built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. > Today, the Parthenon, which functions as an art museum, stands as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, a large public park just west of downtown Nashville. Alan LeQuire's 1990 re-creation of the Athena Parthenos statue in the naos (the east room of the main hall) is... > **[The Parthenon](https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/parthenon)** > > Official website of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. [http://nashville.about.com/cs/historynsites/a/parthenon.htm](http://nashville.about.com/cs/historynsites/a/parthenon.htm) An Image Gallery > **[stoa.org](http://www.stoa.org#gallery)** > > Archive: Stoa Consortium for Electronic Publication in the Humanities ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/3 "2006-09-02T22:06:41Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] AH PHOOEY! 😛 If y’all wanna see a complete & intact Parthenon, come to Nashville. > **[Parthenon (Nashville)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon_(Nashville))** > > The Parthenon in Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee, United States, is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It was designed by architect William Crawford Smith and built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Today, the Parthenon, which functions as an art museum, stands as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, a public park just west of downtown Nashville. Alan LeQuire's 1990 re-creation of the Athena Parthenos statue in the naos (the east room of... > **[The Parthenon](https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/parthenon)** > > Official website of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. [http://nashville.about.com/cs/historynsites/a/parthenon.htm](http://nashville.about.com/cs/historynsites/a/parthenon.htm) An Image Gallery [http://www.stoa.org/gallery/nashville](http://www.stoa.org/gallery/nashville) [/QUOTE] Yeah, right. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/4 "2006-09-03T09:23:46Z")
[This](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Parthenon-Restoration-Nov-2005-a.jpg) picture shows the Parthenon on November 12th 2005 with some restoration taking place on one side, can’t find anything more current though. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/5 "2006-09-03T13:45:02Z")
Off the track, but… According to a documentary on The History Channel (or somesuch), the Turks and Venetians were warring (in Greece!), and the Turks used the Parthenon to store ammunition. The Venetians scored a direct hit which blew the Parthenon to bits. This wretched event occurred in 1687. Otherwise, Greece’s breathtakingly beautiful building might have survived, more or less intact, to this day. [http://academic.marist.edu/mainzer/notes04/avn04.htm](http://academic.marist.edu/mainzer/notes04/avn04.htm) gives the bare bones account. A better one may be found at [http://intranet.lissjunior.hants.sch.uk/greece/ancientgreece/content/html/portal/pg000095.htm](http://intranet.lissjunior.hants.sch.uk/greece/ancientgreece/content/html/portal/pg000095.htm) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/6 "2006-09-04T04:58:42Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] Off the track, but… According to a documentary on The History Channel (or somesuch), the Turks and Venetians were warring (in Greece!), and the Turks used the Parthenon to store ammunition. The Venetians scored a direct hit which blew the Parthenon to bits. This wretched event occurred in 1687. Otherwise, Greece’s breathtakingly beautiful building might have survived, more or less intact, to this day. [http://academic.marist.edu/mainzer/notes04/avn04.htm](http://academic.marist.edu/mainzer/notes04/avn04.htm) gives the bare bones account. A better one may be found at [http://intranet.lissjunior.hants.sch.uk/greece/ancientgreece/content/html/portal/pg000095.htm](http://intranet.lissjunior.hants.sch.uk/greece/ancientgreece/content/html/portal/pg000095.htm) [/QUOTE] Yes, but they’re not restoring it to pre-1687. They’re merely undoing the damage done since then, mostly from pollution. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/7 "2006-09-04T09:26:49Z")
I got the impression the Greeks talk a good restoration but never seem to bring it off. Until now, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/8 "2006-09-06T17:34:47Z")
None of this answers my question. I can’t believe none of you have been to Athens lately. (An aunt of mine was in Athens for two days last year. She visited the Parthenon, but \*\*\*couldn’t remember \*\*\*whether it was covered with scaffolding. 😕 ) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/9 "2006-09-06T17:46:19Z")
I’ll be there in October and I also want to know what’s going to be all scaffolded up (usually the whole city, whenever and wherever I go.) I’m also going to Rome and Florence - any major restorations there? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/10 "2006-09-06T17:46:34Z")
I Googled on **Greece tourist information** , and got hits that included the site below, and even asked there if the Parthenon is currently scaffolded, but, of course, there was no answer for that. If it’s yes, this is not good for tourism. [http://adventuretravel.iexplore.com/dmap/Greece/Travel+and+Trips](http://adventuretravel.iexplore.com/dmap/Greece/Travel+and+Trips) You’re smart, think of a Greek agency that’ll help you. How about the embassy - in D.C. or at the UN? ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/11 "2006-09-06T18:42:19Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Yeah, right. :dubious: [/QUOTE] Seriously, the one in Nashville is impressive. It’s an exact replica, and since it’s intact and properly “gussied up,” it’s closer to what the Athenians had than what’s in Greece now. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Rosewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr.Rosewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Rosewater)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/12 "2006-09-06T18:53:14Z")
Right across the Agora from the Acropolis if the Temple of Hephistos, if you want to see a nearly intact, yet ancient, temple. Speaking of Parthenon photographs, though. My parents have a picture of me, sitting on the steps of the Parthenon, playing with little toy cars, clearly unimpressed with the surrounding beauty. This was before the endless restorations started, so no scaffolding, and before they put the fence in, so you could actually walk around inside, and not all that long ago. This would have been about 1970. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/13 "2006-09-06T19:18:20Z")
I found tweo numbers and both, apparently are for the Visa Embassy Servuce, which seems to be the central number for the Embassues in Washington. I called both and got the same voice on the samew recorded message which is, all the whatevers are busy so leave your number and one of them will call you back. 1-202-234-4908 1-866-729-3434 I searched the online White Pages. Then I went back and found this Greek Consulate Genl - Coml Div 150 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022 (212) 751-2404 and actually spoke to a Greek lady - after a lengthy automated answer in Greek, then in English and then after hitting the O button as in Operator. This woman couldn’t say if the scaffolding is down - from her tone it almost certainly is not. But there are “visiting hours” she said. She also suggested simply to go there and see for your self. If it’s down, it’s down. So… Call that place and ask to speak to someone in tourism or whatever you can think of to get past this idiot… ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/14 "2006-09-06T19:34:24Z")
I will actually be in Athens a week from today and am planning to visit the Parthenon so once I get back I’ll certainly let everyone know the status. We saw the new Imax film _Greece_ over the weekend and the scenes they filmed at the Parthenon definitely had scaffolding (and a large crane) in them. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/15 "2006-09-06T22:28:21Z")
[QUOTE=brianjedi] Seriously, the one in Nashville is impressive. It’s an exact replica, and since it’s intact and properly “gussied up,” it’s closer to what the Athenians had than what’s in Greece now. [/QUOTE] We’ve also built a close copy of the Goddess, Herself. (Exact copies are impossible. No images of Athena Parthanos exist, dating from this era.) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/16 "2006-09-06T23:16:42Z")
[QUOTE=brianjedi] Seriously, the one in Nashville is impressive. It’s an exact replica, and since it’s intact and properly “gussied up,” it’s closer to what the Athenians had than what’s in Greece now. [/QUOTE] This reminds me of my cousin’s son. He came back from his first visit to Paris, and told everyone they have an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/17 "2006-09-07T05:49:45Z")
The Parthenon in Nashville was built to scale, **panache45**. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/18 "2006-09-07T05:51:06Z")
Oops. Sorry, now I understand your comment. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Tikster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@Tikster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/19 "2006-09-07T10:31:12Z")
I went to Athens this summer, and they were still restoring it then - and I think they will be for a couple of years more (I’ve been there trice in the past 8 years and there’s ALWAYS been a scaffold on Acropolis - so even though I actually saw someone working on the restoration this summer (as a first time) I doubt they’ll be done soon. ). Yes, I am aware I have a problem with using parenthesis 🙂 That being said, it’s still well worth a visit. Also, as someone suggested the agora with the temple of Hephaistos is also close by. The temple of Zeus is not quite as well-preserved, but the coloumns still standing are amazing. Tikster ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240/20 "2006-09-07T14:45:08Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] This reminds me of my cousin’s son. He came back from his first visit to Paris, and told everyone they have an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas. [/QUOTE] Just to clarify: He thought the Eiffel Tower in Paris was a copy of the one in Vegas. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-parthenon-unscaffolded/371240.md?page=2)