Acropolis Athens 1955 the monument as you will never see it again!

Giant cranes to relay Acropolis marbles to new museumATHENS (AFP) - Sculptures considered masterpieces of Greek Classical art -- such as the Parthenon friezes and the Erechtheion's renowned Caryatids -- are to be lifted by a relay of three cranes from their current location, a small museum dug into the Acropolis rock in the late 19th century.

"This is a historic undertaking, never before attempted in the world," Culture Minister George Voulgarakis told a news conference.

The cranes will deposit the fifth century BC pieces -- some of whom weigh over two tonnes -- onto the roof of the new museum, a distance of 300 metres (yards) downhill.

The operation is expected to cost around eight million euros (10.7 million dollars) and last between three and four months.

"Our criterion was the safety of the fragmnets and the protection of the site, not the cost," Voulgarakis said.

Before leaving the Acropolis rock for the first time in their history, the pieces will be carefully packaged in 17 iron containers of various types and sizes, Voulgarakis said...