The Greek army on Thursday sent three mobile cooking units to earthquake-stricken neighbouring Albania, following at the instructions of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Greece has been quick to assist its neighbour having already sent two Special Disaster Unit (EMAK) rescue teams, namely twenty-five members of the 1st EMAK with a sniffer dog and another 15 members of the 5th EMAK with vehicles and special equipment.
The deadly 6.4 Richter scale tremor that shook Albania on Tuesday has so far claimed the lives of 45 people and injured at least 900 people.
Greece’s Central Archaeological Council has announced its major decision to reconstruct the northern wall of the cella (or chamber) of the Parthenon in Athens, completing restoration works that have lasted for over three decades.
KAS said on Wednesday that the completion of the world landmark’s restoration was of “prime importance”, adding that researchers were considering the re-use of hundreds of marble fragments found on the Acropolis premises, as well as marble pieces from Mt Pendeli (Dionysos quarry) for the reconstruction of the temple’s northern chamber wall.
The cella of the Parthenon – the inner chamber – housed the 12-meter-high gold-and-ivory statue of the goddess Athena Parthenos, which was sculpted by Phidias in 447 BC and dedicated in 438 BC.
“Today’s meeting is of great importance because, through the application of research findings on the restoration of the cella, we will have reconstructed the facades, a very important factor with regard to the later history of the Parthenon,” said the Directorate for the Restoration of Ancient Monuments.
Once completed, the works will have restored to a great degree the geometry of the ancient Greek building, offering insight into the identity and history of the monument, while visitors will have a clearer understanding of its architecture.
