The contribution of marble craftsmanship to the restoration of monuments
Currently on view until June, 2025 at the Center for Hellenic Studies. To arrange a visit, please contact outreach@chs.harvard.edu.
The exhibition Chisel and Memory: The contribution of marble craftsmanship to the restoration of monuments, curated by the Acropolis Restoration Service (YSMA) and presented under the auspices of the Embassy of Greece in the United States, celebrates the contributions of marble craftsmanship to the restoration of the Acropolis monuments. It features a selection of prints from the archive of the Acropolis Restoration Service, which includes over 300,000 objects.
The grouping of the photographs is organized in six themes: self-denial, labor, cooperation, zeal, pride, companionship, which highlight the role of the human factor in the restoration of monuments. It focuses on the emotions experienced by the workers in their daily life on the construction site, traces the connection between the craftsman and the object of the work and the relationships that develop between people serving a common goal.
The Center for Hellenic Studies is honored to host this exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments (Επιτροπή Συντηρήσεως Μνημείων Ακροπόλεως) and the 25th anniversary of the Acropolis Restoration Service (Υπηρεσία Συντήρησης Μνημείων Ακρόπολης).
Acknowledgements
Contributors to the exhibition (YSMA)
Scientific supervision: M. Korres – V. Eleftheriou
General Supervision: V. Eleftheriou
Idea of the project and curation: E. Petropoulou
Exhibition design: T. Souvlakis
Material selection: E. Karakitsou, E. Lempidaki, K. Mamalougas, E. Petropoulou
Translation: Α.-Μ. Hadjistefanou
Contributors to the film “Short stories of restoration”
Project supervision: V. Eleftheriou
Directed by: Konstantinos Arvanitakis
Script: E. Petropoulou, S. Poulou
Material selection: E. Petropoulou, S. Poulou
With interviews by: Y. Angelopoulos, A. Baibas, M. Bon, Y. Desipris, S. Kardamis, K. Tsirintoulakis
Additional Resources
YSMA’s digital resources page. This contains links to a digital exhibition, site catalog, GIS scans, and more.
