Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did the Parthenon restoration project use marble from the ancient quarry?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Parthenon
Night view of the Parthenon, Athens.
The restoration project for the Parthenon utilized new marble sourced from the same ancient quarry used by the original builders to ensure material consistency and structural integrity during the multi-decade restoration that began in 1975.1
This stone, known as Pentelic marble, was extracted from Mount Pentelicus, located approximately 10 miles from Athens. By using the same source material, restorers could match the physical and aesthetic properties of the original blocks, which were essential for maintaining the temple's precise architectural refinements and the structural stability of the building, which was constructed without mortar.231