In December 2023, one of the columns of the temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens will be completed, specifically the one that faces very serious problems, such that if no immediate intervention was made, the risk of significant damage was visible.

The column has been in a construction armature for days, as the other nine, who face fewer problems but also need immediate intervention. The restoration of these, along with the capitals and their entablatures of course should have proceeded by the same date, which marks the end of this programming period, as the project had been included in the Regional Operational Program since 2018.

However, the disembarkation of the entablatures and the clearer diagnosis of their condition will judge the course of the restoration work in the next programming period, as Greek Minister of Culture said, who carried out an autopsy on the monument.

"This is one of the largest architecture monuments, whose history goes back to the time of Peisistratos in the 6th century BC. to reach the years of Hadrian, the Roman emperor of the 2nd century AD. It is one of the largest monuments in the Mediterranean area, which presents serious problems", says Mrs. Mendoni. It should also be noted that these are important large-scale maintenance projects, carried out for the first time at the monument, which has been diagnosed with chronic problems of structural stability and deterioration of the wear of its material.

The project includes structural restoration work, maintenance work, limited excavation cleansings and earthworks, geotechnical study, seismic behavior study, monitoring study, recording of scattered architectural members, as well as control of mechanical strengths and analyzation of building materials. As part of the same program, archaeological research is being carried out in the area in front of the western precinct of the ancient sanctuary.

The financing cost of the project from the Operational Program "Attiki" 2014-2020 reaches the amount of 3.5 million euros. and as the governor of Attica George Patoulis, who was present at the autopsy, said, the Regional Administration will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Culture in the future.

Temple of Olympian Zeus is of Corinthian style, made of Pentelic marble and was one of the largest temples in the ancient world. It had two rows of 20 columns on the long sides and three rows of 8 columns on the narrow ones, 17 m high. It was constructed in the middle of a large rectangular enclosure with a propylon to the north. The nave housed two oversized ivory statues of Zeus and the emperor Hadrian that were worshiped there sharing the altar, while a number of statues and votive offerings adorned the courtyard.

Graphic Reconstruction of the Temple dedicated to Olympian Zeus.