A Historic Cleaning Effort Unveils the Panathenaic Stadium’s Original Glory

The Panathenaic Stadium, a majestic U-shaped structure made entirely of white marble, is undergoing its first systematic cleaning in more than a century. This iconic stadium in Athens, Greece, has a rich history dating back to the 1896 revival, where it staged the first modern Olympic Games. The site has since hosted numerous events, including fashion shows, rock concerts, boxing matches, and national celebrations, as well as lavish patriotic ceremonies ordered by a military dictatorship in the 1960s.

The cleaning process is a delicate task, as the marble used in the stadium’s construction is the same as the one found on the Acropolis. To ensure the preservation of the monument, cleaners in white and blue overalls move across the stadium’s 47 steep tiers with thin spray lances, using clean water at carefully controlled, low pressure. Machines vacuum up the runoff as they go, minimizing the risk of damage to the marble.

According to Dimitris Selemis, a senior conservator at the site, the goal of the cleaning is not to make everything white but to remove the dirt and the first layers of organic material that are deposited on the surface. ‘The idea is to clean all the material that contains dirt from the surface, so we have a better understanding of the monument,’ he explained. Selemis noted that there is more weed growth and dirt in areas that receive less direct sunlight, highlighting the importance of a thorough cleaning process.

One of the biggest challenges in the cleaning process is removing blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time. To tackle this issue, crews are using steam to gently remove the gum, restoring the stadium’s original gleam. Stadium officials have identified chewing gum, high heels, and soft-drink stains as the main culprits that stain the marble.

As the cleaning process progresses, the original gleaming look of the venue is slowly being revealed, earning it the widely used Greek nickname ‘Kallimarmaro,’ or beautiful marble. Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, expressed pride in the stadium’s construction, stating, ‘We call it Kallimarmaro because it is made of the finest marble, the best that was ever produced. We are very proud of it.’

The Kallimarmaro is not only a symbol of Greek heritage but also a testament to the country’s commitment to preserving its cultural and historical treasures. The stadium’s reconstruction and cleaning are being privately funded by a shipping company, with the Hellenic Olympic Committee overseeing the project and working closely with Culture Ministry experts.

The work is expected to continue through 2026, with the current focus on the stadium’s curved end, also known as the ‘sling.’ This area will be cleaned in time for the next torch-passing ceremony on September 10, which will be attended by IOC President Kirsty Coventry. The ceremony will mark the beginning of the Dakar Youth Olympics, scheduled to take place in Senegal from October 31 to November 13, 2024.

As the cleaning process reaches its midpoint, the Panathenaic Stadium is slowly revealing its original beauty, a testament to the power of preservation and the importance of protecting cultural heritage.