An ancient marble male portrait is displayed in the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, June 17, 2008, as the ancient Parthenon temple is seen in the background.
Two 2,300-year-old terracotta sculptures of the ancient goddess of victory, Nike, are displayed in the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, June 17, 2008. Greece's Orthodox Church on Wednesday formally blessed the new museum, which is scheduled to open this weekend. Greek officials hope one day to display the British Museum's Elgin Marbles from the Acropolis in the glass and concrete museum despite repeated refusals from London
Photos of the 5th century B.C. Caryatid statues are projected onto the walls of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, June 18, 2008, as the ancient Parthenon temple is seen in the background during a rehearsal for the museum opening ceremony on Saturday
Photos of the so-called Kritios Boy statue are projected onto the walls of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, June 18, 2008, as the ancient Parthenon temple is seen in the background during a rehearsal for the museum opening ceremony on Saturday. Greek officials hope one day to display the British Museum's Elgin Marbles from the Acropolis in the glass and concrete museum _ despite repeated refusals from London
Photos of 6th century B.C. "Kore" statues of young women are projected onto the walls of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, June 18, 2008, as the ancient Parthenon temple is seen in the background during a rehearsal for the museum opening ceremony on Saturday. Greek officials hope one day to display the British Museum's Elgin Marbles from the Acropolis in the glass and concrete museum _ despite repeated refusals from London.
Photos of 6th century B.C. "Kore" statues of young women are projected onto the walls of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, June 18, 2008, as the ancient Parthenon temple is seen in the background during a rehearsal for the museum opening ceremony on Saturday. Greek officials hope one day to display the British Museum's Elgin Marbles from the Acropolis in the glass and concrete museum _ despite repeated refusals from London. The Kore statues originally stood on the Acropolis, dedicated by the ancient Athenians to their patron goddess, Athena
A photo of a 5th century B.C. horseman's statue is projected onto the wall of a house near the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, June 18, 2008, as the ancient Parthenon temple is seen in the background during a rehearsal for Saturday's museum opening ceremony. Greek officials hope one day to display the British Museum's Elgin Marbles from the Acropolis in the glass and concrete museum _ despite repeated refusals from London. The relief sculpture of the rider is part of an 160-meter (yard) frieze that originally ran round the upper part of the Parthenon. About half the surviving frieze is in the British Museum.
Photos of the so-called Kritios Boy statue are projected onto the walls of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, early Thursday, June 18, 2008, as the ancient Parthenon temple is seen in the background during a rehearsal for the museum opening ceremony on Saturday. Greek officials hope one day to display the British Museum's Elgin Marbles from the Acropolis in the glass and concrete museum _ despite repeated refusals from London. The 5th century Kritios Boy was one of the statues the ancient Athenians dedicated to their patron goddess, Athena, on the Acropolis.
Journalists walk amongst statues during a tour of the new Acropolis museum in Athens on Friday, June 19, 2009. Greece opens its long-anticipated new Acropolis Museum Saturday, boosting its decades-old campaign for the return of 2,500-year-old sculptures removed from the ancient citadel by a 19th century British diplomat.
Journalists walk amongst statues during a tour of the new Acropolis museum in Athens on Friday, June 19, 2009. Greece opens its long-anticipated new Acropolis Museum Saturday, boosting its decades-old campaign for the return of 2,500-year-old sculptures removed from the ancient citadel by a 19th century British diplomat.
Greek Culture Minister Antonis Samaras prepares to fit a small marble head of the goddess Iris into position on the 2,500-year-old Parthenon frieze, during the lavish opening ceremony on Saturday, June 20, 2009, for the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, where Greece hopes one day to display the Elgin, or Parthenon sculptures now in the British Museum. The tiny marble head was until recently among the collections of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Greek Culture Minister Antonis Samaras fits a small marble head of the goddess Iris into position on the 2,500-year-old Parthenon frieze, during the lavish opening ceremony on Saturday, June 20, 2009, for the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, where Greece hopes one day to display the Elgin, or Parthenon sculptures now in the British Museum. The tiny marble head was until recently among the collections of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Greek President Karolos Papoulias, center, and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, right, stand in front of the Caryatids during the official opening ceremony of the new Acropolis museum in Athens on Saturday, June 20, 2009. The 130 million euros ($180 million) museum provides an airy setting for some of the best surviving works of classical sculpture that once adorned the Acropolis
A visitor views the sculpture of the three head demons during the official opening ceremony of the New Acropolis Museum in Athens on Saturday, June 20, 2009. The 130 million euros ($180 million) museum provides an airy setting for some of the best surviving works of classical sculpture that once adorned the Acropolis
Visitors pass the Caryatids during the official opening ceremony of the New Acropolis Museum in Athens on Saturday, June 20, 2009. The 130 million euros ($180 million) museum provides an airy setting for some of the best surviving works of classical sculpture that once adorned the Acropolis
French-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi stands at centre, with behind seen the 6th century B.C. statue of a youth carrying a calf known as the Moschophoros, at the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, on Saturday June 20, 2009. The 130 million euros ($180 million) museum opened Saturday, which was designed by Tschumi, provides an airy setting for some of the best surviving works of classical sculpture that once adorned the Acropolis
Visitors admire the sculptures at the new Acropolis museum in Athens on Sunday, June 21, 2009. The Acropolis Museum opened its gates today to the first visitors who came to see the more than 4,000 exhibits on display, including those parts of Parthenon's marble frieze not held by the British Museum in London
Visitors admire the sculptures at the new Acropolis museum in Athens on Sunday, June 21, 2009. The Acropolis Museum opened its gates today to the first visitors who came to see the more than 4,000 exhibits on display, including those parts of Parthenon's marble frieze not held by the British Museum in London
Visitors admire a sculpture at the new Acropolis museum in Athens on Sunday, June 21, 2009. The Acropolis Museum opened its gates today to the first visitors who came to see the more than 4,000 exhibits on display, including those parts of Parthenon's marble frieze not held by the British Museum in London
A visitor to the new Acropolis museum stands behind the Caryatids, female figures used instead of pillars, in Athens on Sunday, June 21, 2009. The empty space in front of the visitor denotes the absence of a Caryatid now on display at the British Museum in London. The Acropolis Museum opened its gates today to the first visitors who came to see the more than 4,000 exhibits on display, including those parts of Parthenon's marble frieze not held by the British Museum.
