The Parthenon’s Secret Climate System: How a Pool Preserved the Statue of Athena

The Parthenon’s Secret Climate System: How a Pool Preserved the Statue of Athena

Water pool before the statue of Athena in the reconstructed Parthenon. Credit: Greek Reporter archive You think you know the Parthenon, Greece’s ancient marvel, but do you know it so well as to know that it had a pool inside it? The iconic image we all have—those sun-drenched, majestic columns standing proudly over Athens—is missing an unbelievable detail from its original form: water. Yes, you read that right. Inside the temple dedicated to Ath…

How The Ancient Greeks Filled The Parthenon With Light

It was long thought the giant reflective pool in front of the statue of Athena acted as a mirror, sending light shimmering across its golden surface. The 3D model, however, showed the light barely reached her shins. – Artnet