Greek … Mount Rasmor with Parthenon sculptures

In… Greek Mount Rasmor aspires to turn Penteli the Institute of Digital Archeology (IDA) in Oxford. As the « NEWS » today reveal, the British organization will propose to the Greek government to sculpt giant copies of the Parthenon sculptures on the second highest mountain of Attica! In fact, the role of the sculptor will take on a… pioneering robot.

« The beginning can be done with the horse’s head from the chariot driven by the Moon, which we will carve to Pentelic Mountain using authentic Pentelic marble, » Roger Michael, director of the renowned Institute and Partner of Trinity, tells « NEWS ».

A source of inspiration for this – at least imaginative – idea was the National Monument of Mount Rasmor, located in the southern Dakota, USA, on the granite slope of which are dominated by the busts of four iconic American presidents: George Washington, Toma Washington. « Rasmor is one of the most famous and favorite monuments of the United States.

But it is more than a monument. It broadcasts the message that the values ​​represented by the four presidents are intertwined with the country’s landscape. So I thought about creating a Greek term Rasmor and send a similar powerful message, « explains Michael.

What will be the message of Made-in-Greece version of the monument? « That sculptures are the quintessence of Greece; that the beauty, grace and values ​​they embody are an integral part of the country’s cultural identity and the country’s natural environment. Nothing could represent Greek values ​​more fully than one (or more) than the Parthenon sculptures, « the IDA director argues, referring to » a great opportunity to say, not only around the world, but – because the monument will be visible to us –

In November 2022, the Institute, which is staffed by scientists at the University of Oxford, Harvard and the Museum of the Future in Dubai, had presented a marble « clone » of the famous horse’s head of the horse from the Tithripos. Responsible for the high loyalty copy was again the robot – sculptor housed in a workshop in Karara, Tuscany. In April next year, IDA built a tiny – almost invisible naked eye – brother of the same sculpture, by the method of bisochonic lithography. He then secretly placed the length of 19 micrometers in the… nostril of the original horse, in the Duvin hall of the British Museum, in order to « trolle » the London Foundation. « We created the smallest copy in the world. Let’s make the biggest now! ”Says Michael, who has previously served as a public prosecutor in the state of Massachusetts and lecturer at the Law School of the University of Boston.

How will this giant marble copy of the Parthenon sculpture be carved in the Penteli massif? I ask him. « We are talking about a Pentelic marble sculpture of about 17 meters high, which ensures that it will be visible from space. Our original thought was to carve most of it in a lab and then assembled on the slope of the mountain. However, we intend to do autopsy in the area to decide how to move on. It is possible – and it may prove to be more practical – to raise on the spot. That is, to set up a temporary installation in the Pentelic term. « 

I ask him to make it more specific. « Recently, we have made a portable version of the robot -sculptor, which has exactly the same abilities as the robotic device in our workshop in Karara: it can sculpt large -scale sculptures anywhere in the world. So when the mountain does not go to the robot, the robot goes to the mountain! ”Notes Michael laughing. « We will raise the robot to Penteli to carve the horse. This will allow us to make the necessary modifications on the spot without having to send pieces of sculpture to Karara.  » Thus, he continues, « We have three options: to do all the mountain work, to do everything in the lab or to do part in the lab and then put the final touches to Penteli. In any case, the sculpture will be exactly the same as the original. And, of course, the economic benefit of the tourists who visit it will be important. « 

Why did you choose Penteli? I ask. « But there is no more appropriate place! As there is nothing compared to Pentelic marble. You can’t imagine how excited our craftsmen were in Karara when they first worked with marble from Penteli. We are talking about the best in the world, the team that works with Jeff Kouns, Damian Hirst and Barry Bol. The Pentelic Mountain has many wonderful spots where we could sculpt shapes from the Parthenon’s decoration. « 

Two sculptors and 400 workers were required for the construction of the Monument to Rasmor. In Penteli, the job will come out almost exclusively by a robot. And if it took 14 years in the American term to complete the project, the mountain rising northeast of Athens arrives and … a year and a half. « We estimate that we will take 18 months or less: about six months for initial design and three months for sculpture.

The rest of the time will depend on where the carcass will take place and what equipment we will move to the mountain, « Michael points out, announcing that » we will soon ask for the Greek government’s permission to undertake this bold venture. I am optimistic that they will trust us to implement it.  » How much will this mountaineering sculpture cost – and who will pay for … marble (literally)? « I calculate the total cost of about one million euros. We are very pleased to cover the whole amount, ”the Director of the Institute assures. And he adds: « Of course, we will be happy to accept any donations, if there are people who want to contribute. »

Roger Michael is convinced that the envisioned monument will enhance the reunification campaign. « Millions of people will rush to see it, enhancing the perception that marbles are an integral part of Greece. Will be the best ambassador of their repatriation. It will make Britain ashamed to keep them still.  » He argues that the return of Pheidia’s masterpieces is near. « They are just waiting for the right time. I strongly believe, based on what all those involved tell me, that the announcement will coincide with the closure of the British Museum’s closures for its renovation. «