From November, the Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung will be dedicating a comprehensive exhibition to the pediment sculptures of the Parthenon, presenting for the first time an archaeologically sound proposal for the complete reconstruction of the sculptures on the east pediment. Based on spectacular new research findings, the exhibition offers a new perspective on what is widely considered to be the most significant monument of ancient Greece.

Built in the fifth century BCE, the Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena and was also a powerful symbol of Athens’ wealth, influence and cultural prestige. Its east pediment depicted the birth of Athena from the head of Zeus—a primordial cosmological event handed down through ancient written sources.

At the heart of the exhibition are the results of many years of research by the team led by Vinzenz Brinkmann, Head of the liebieghaus.infopartment of Antiquities. Using innovative methods, numerous fragments have been reattributed to individual figures and brought together for the first time to form a well-founded overall picture. The reconstruction makes it possible to experience the monumental sculptural group once again in its original composition.

A particular highlight of the exhibition is an impressive, scenographic presentation that guides visitors step by step through the process of reconstruction. High-calibre loans from renowned international collections and an overview of the approximately two-hundred-year history of Parthenon research complement the presentation. The exhibition concludes with a specially developed animation in which the figures on the east pediment come to life, allowing visitors to experience the reconstruction in a striking way.

Curator: Prof Dr Vinzenz Brinkmann (Head of the Department of Antiquities and Asia, Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung)
Project Manager: Jakob Salzmann (Curatorial Assistant, Department of Antiquities and Asia, Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung)

Sponsored by: Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain gGmbH