Capitalising on the ancestral bond between the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and their ancient equivalent, the Athens-Delphi-Olympia archaeological triangle, is readying to welcome visitors in a way that no other Olympic city can.

The archaeological treasures of Olympia and Delphi, following in the footsteps of the nation's capital, are undergoing major reassessment and restoration. Culture ministry Secretary General Lina Mendoni assures that, "the new archaeological museum of the Olympic Games will be ready at the end of 2003." She is referring to the refurbishment of Olympia's old museum, which was built around 1888-9, remained open to the public through to 1954 and is now scheduled to host a special multimedia exhibition on the history of the Olympic Games in 2004.

The current museum is also undergoing massive renovation, which will include, among other things, extra exhibition space, air-conditioning and the addition of a specially designed wall to cover up the ugly iron bars currently supporting the sculptures that once adorned the Temple of Zeus.

From landscape to sanctuaries
"With a focus on making the visiting experience both informative and comfortable, work is underway to reorganise and enhance the exhibits so as to provide information in new and more accessible ways," explains 7th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Director, Xeni Arapoyanni to GreeceNow. A larger refreshment area will also be provided.

The asphalt that presently divides the archaeological site from the museum building will disappear so that the latter links directly onto the luscious space of the sanctuary of Olympia, which spreads over Kronion Hill where the rivers of Alpheios and Cladeos meet. A ramp entrance to the archaeological site will provide access for special needs and ample open space for visitors to enjoy a casual stroll through the idyllic surroundings, which will also be specially landscaped. Moreover, a 500-seat open-air theatre will be built behind Kronion Hill to host events in 2004 alongside the site's ancient stadium.

The German Archaeological Institute has undertaken the restoration of a 13m-tall column south of the 472 BC Temple of Zeus, aiming to give the presently missing dimension of height to the largest Doric temple in Peloponnesos. Urgent reparative work is also in store for the wall protecting the Treasuries, which has begun to tilt. According to the Central Archaeological Council, the problem was uncovered when trees in the area were cut only to find that roots were entwined in the wall causing it to tilt in a precarious way.

Restoring the oracle
Meanwhile, in Delphi the 10th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and the Department of Ancient Monuments Reconstruction and Restoration, with funding provided by the European Commission, are already working at fever pace on a major revamping project of the site and museum.

According to archaeologist Dr Elena Partida, the immediate priority for 2004 is the rearrangement and enrichment of the Delphi museum's exhibits, showcasing recent finds currently kept in storage. The project of installing multimedia facilities is already underway making the 2004 deadline a feasible one.

"The concept of the re-exhibition," explains Partida, "is a better presentation of the ancient material, so that it properly serves educational purposes. More space will be available; the artefacts will be arranged in chronological order with thematic sub-units. Our goal is to help visitors gain a better understanding of the ancient civilization, as well as to facilitate their circulation inside the museum."

As for Delphi's stadium, which has nearly collapsed, it will undergo a major reconstruction by a group of archaeologists, architects, conservators and stonecutters. "Seating sections have been displaced," says Partida, "and several joints have opened up, as a result of the natural ground inclination and water erosion. This situation necessitates drainage."

The restoration of monuments in the archaeological site is a longer-term project. The Treasury, for example, reconstructed in 1903-1906 by the French Archaeological School, will now be enriched with as much of its original building material as possible while modern techniques of restoration and conservation (e.g. iron cramps to be replaced by titanium ones) will be applied so as to ensure long life for the monument.