Old Acropolis Museum, Archaeological museum at Acropolis hill, Athens, Greece
The Old Acropolis Museum was an archaeological museum nestled into a niche on the eastern side of the Acropolis hilltop, with its structure mostly hidden below ground level. The facility displayed an extensive collection of works from the hilltop's major temples and offered visitors direct access to original pieces from classical antiquity.
The building was constructed between 1865 and 1874 under architect Panagis Kalkos and served as the city's main archaeological museum for over a century. Major renovations occurred in the 1950s to expand the facility for growing visitor numbers and collections.
The building once housed a major collection of sculptures, bronzes, and pottery from the hilltop's classical temples. Visitors could experience firsthand the artistic creations of ancient Athens that shaped Western culture across millennia.
The museum closed in 2007 and its entire collection was transferred to a modern facility located elsewhere in the city. Visitors seeking classical art and artifacts will find the same collection displayed more comprehensively at the newer location.
The building's drainage system caused unexpected damage to the Acropolis rock itself, which ultimately became the deciding factor to relocate the museum to a new location. This technical problem led to the construction of a purpose-built modern facility designed to protect the archaeological site.
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