Recent Exhibit at the Acropolis Museum Turns Heads

Metope of the Annunciation
Nelly Paraskevopoulou

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Metope of the AnnunciationMetope of the Annunciation — Photo courtesy of Acropolis Museum

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An interesting story lies behind this fascinating masterpiece: around 400 A.D. during the decline of the ancient world, fanatics attempted to burn the Parthenon and destroy the sculptures. As a result, the metopes were brutally defaced on three sides.

The 32nd one on the north side was left intact, and research has attributed this to the fact that it features two female figures which were thought to be the Virgin Mary and the angel of the Annunciation.

Metope of the AnnunciationMetope of the Annunciation — Photo courtesy of Acropolis Museum

In reality they are Hebe and her mother Hera. This metope, along with the three adjacent ones, depicts the gods on Mount Olympus deciding the victory of the Greeks in the Trojan War. The metope of the Annunciation, the one next to it on the north side, and the first one on the west side were recently taken down from the Parthenon and will soon be placed in their respective positions in the Musuem.

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Nelly Paraskevopoulou

About Nelly Paraskevopoulou

Born and bred in Athens, Nelly went on the move after finishing high school and spending some years working in textiles.  For her, Italy was the next chapter. But, after 12 years, it was back to beloved Athens where she writes for magazines and her own shopping blog that illustrates her passion for discovering everything new in Athens, from fashion to food, but also searching for genuine tradition. Nelly finds that Athens is a wonderful place to live. It combines history, sunshine, a relaxed atmosphere.  When she's not writing or surfing, Nelly keeps searching for new views of old places to photograph. 

Read more about Nelly Paraskevopoulou here.