Restoration at the Temple of Athena

Thursday, March 6, 2008

ÇANAKKALE - Anatolia News Agency

  The Temple of Athena, situated within the border of the ancient Aegean city of Assos in Çanakkale's Ayvacık district, will be the subject of a three-year restoration project starting in July.

     The first excavation in the ancient city was conducted from 1881-83 by the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA).

  "The institute has an emotional tie with the temple," said Professor Nurettin Arslan, Assos excavation team leader from the Archaeology Department of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMÃœ).  He said the ancient city's most important architectural structures were unearthed during these excavations but they were damaged over time because they were not taken under protection.

  Two architectural structures were used in ancient times, he said, adding, “the synthesis of these two structures was used in the Temple of Athena, constructed between 540-530 B.C. This is why this temple is a very significant structure for world history.â€?

  The second excavations started in the ancient city 100 years later, in 1981, under the leadership of Professor Ãœmit SerdaroÄŸlu, and continued until the end of 2005, said Arslan. He has conducted excavations in the ancient city since 2006. “Some stones of the temple were given to France as a gift during the term of Mahmud II. Original stones are displayed in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Çanakkale Archaeology Museum, Louvre Museum and Boston Museum of Fine Arts at the moment. Copies of the original stones will be produced and placed on the site during the restoration,â€?he said, explaining that they aimed to protect the original structure of the temple by using the most natural materials.

  A 30-person team including archaeologists, anthropologists, epigraphists and architects from Germany, Australia, Iran and Turkey will work on the restoration, he said. The restoration will start in July with a budget of $120,000 and will be supported with the collaboration of the Culture and Tourism Ministry and the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA).