You can now see the iconic Parthenon free of scaffolding for the first time in decades -- but not for long
FILE-A man drinks water in front of the Parthenon temple, during a heatwave in Athens, Greece on July 8, 2025. (Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Visitors to Greece can now enjoy a clear, scaffolding-free view of the Parthenon temple.
The scaffolding on the temple’s western front has been removed and now gives a clear view of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni told the Associated Press that this change marks the first time in roughly 200 years that the Parthenon’s exterior is free of any scaffolding on any side of the structure.
Conservation work will continue, and the new scaffolding will be constructed on the Parthenon’s western site in a month, the AP noted.
This refreshed maintenance work is expected to continue until the summer of 2026.
What is the Parthenon temple?
The backstory:
The Parthenon is an Ancient Greek temple in the Acropolis of Athens, dedicated to Athena Pallas or Parthenos (virgin).
According to Ancient Greece.org, the temple is considered one of the top structures of Greek architecture and has become the hallmark of the country’s civilization.
The Parthenon was constructed between the mid-5th century B.C. and the temple’s main purpose was to shelter the statue of Athena that was made by Pheidias out of gold and ivory.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press, which received comments from the culture minister about the scaffolding at the temple, and Ancient Greece.org. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.