Restoration work gets under way on Parthenon pediment

Restoration work on the western pediment of the Parthenon temple began Thursday as part of the ongoing project to restore and reconstruct monuments on the hill of the Acropolis.

The project, which was recently incorporated in the European Union-backed Partnership Agreement for 2014-20 known as ESPA, has a budget of 5 million euros.

Work on the pediment is expected to last for two years.

The western pediment was damaged, as was the rest of the temple, by cannon fire during a siege by the Venetians in 1687.

The pediment depicted a contest between Poseidon, god of the sea, and Athena, goddess of wisdom, for the patronage of Athens.

The temple suffered further damaged when sculptural remnants were hacked away in the early 19th century on behalf of British ambassador Lord Elgin, who, in turn, sold them to the British government.