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A “crystalline”, whitish light, created by the god of light Apollo himself, will bathe the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis from Wednesday night, highlighting its details in an elaborate way.
The work to improve the lighting in the Holy Rock will be carried out on Wednesday, September 30 at 8 p.m., in the presence of the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendonis and the President of the Odas Foundation. .
The new lighting of the Acropolis will be presented live, on live broadcast. For the first time, lighting distinguishes the monuments of the Holy Rock from the walls, but also between them. Specifically, 9 points are illuminated again: The Rock, the Walls, the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, the Theater of Dionysus, the Stoa of Eumenes, the Dionysian Sanctuary. The lighting study includes five more monuments, which are illuminated for the first time: the Thrasyllos monument, the Columns of the Sponsors, the Asclepieion and the Caves of Apollo and Aglavros / Hourglass, as well as the Sanctuary of Aphrodite.
The new study of lighting graduates the intensities and shades of white, between the exterior and interior of the monuments in order to highlight their architectural elements and perceive their relief, depth and plasticity. As part of the technical update, the phenomenon of light pollution is reduced. The replacement of electrical panels, existing lamps (HID type) with 609 (40% less than before) of new technology and high-performance color projectors, LED type, have been completed, with the aim that the installations have been operating without problems for some time more than 20 years. The new luminaires have minimal maintenance costs. They save more than 65% in energy consumption, while they are autonomously dimmable at all levels, offering considerable flexibility in creating different lighting scenarios. It should be noted that the wiring routes to the monuments and consequently the aesthetics of the space have been improved.
The study for the lighting of the Acropolis was not limited to the aesthetic part, but includes the significant improvement of the existing infrastructure with the modernization of the electrical installation and the automation and control system of the luminaires. The whole of the Sacred Rock, the Walls, the volume and the geometry of each monument stand out, from all possible points of view. The marbles, whiter than ever, reflect every aspect, every geometric shape, every natural material, emphasizing the relief of the decoration of each monument.
This is the first in a series of projects carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Sports with the aim of fully improving the infrastructure and services provided by the Acropolis with a donation and execution by the Onassis Foundation.
As stated by the Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, “the main concern of assuming our functions in the Ministry of Culture and Sports was to improve the infrastructure and services provided in the Acropolis of Athens. The image of the Acropolis, our main monument, reflects and emits the image of the country. Good luck wanted our goal to be embraced by the Onassis Foundation, who kindly offered to undertake significant sponsorship of a number of projects. The most important are the lighting of the Sacred Rock and the monuments of the Acropolis, as well as the construction and installation of the slope elevator, an innovative and extremely complex project, in order to guarantee accessibility to the archaeological site with absolute safety, no only for the disabled, but for all those who have difficulty getting close to the Acropolis and its monuments. In the midst of the pandemic, it is very important for Athens to be able to offer its inhabitants and visitors, but also the entire planet, a new and improved image of the Sacred Rock. With the new lighting, the Rock, the Walls, the Parthenon and the rest of the monuments stand out, as well as their surroundings. The third dimension is emphasized through the differentiation of intensities and tones, while the new luminaires are respectful with the environment, offering significant energy savings. I am pleased that the state’s partnership with the private sector can offer our country in a short time standard and innovative projects that contribute to improving Greece’s international image. ”
The president of the Onassis Foundation, Antonis S. Papadimitriou, points out that “for us at the Onassis Foundation it was a fulfillment of a duty to respond to the invitation of the State to collaborate in the redesign of the lighting of the Acropolis of Athens, illuminating the space immortal. The truth of democracy and the value of human rights must be symbolically illuminated. Today, more than ever, we need to see the Parthenon again as citizens of the world, brighter, more visible and more comforting than ever. In the dark times we face, in the pandemic crisis that threatens to ensnare us, light seems to be the strongest symbolism. “
Following an invitation of interest sent by the Onassis Foundation to study the project, the internationally recognized lighting designer Eleftheria Deko was selected and winner of the EMMY award. As she states: “In January 2020, the Onassis Foundation selected us from among other renowned lighting offices and assigned us the lighting of the Acropolis and monuments. She supported our idea and trusted us completely. YPPOA and KAS welcomed the proposal for the new lighting that we presented to you after intensive work, sampling and 2 months of study. After the unanimous approval by the Central Archaeological Council, we entered the implementation phase, along with the pandemic that hinders the speed of implementation. However, my colleagues and I did not stop for a single day. In the mornings the studies were carried out, in the afternoons samples were taken. Design in two-dimensional and three-dimensional models, photometry, calculations and resampling to achieve this illumination that would make the Parthenon and the other monuments of the sacred rock in the center of our city shine as they deserve. Emit the light of the culture of our country everywhere. Upon completing this project I feel like I was baptized again. It was my true baptism in the culture of our country ”.
Source: skai.gr
