The Athens Public Prosecutor’s Office has ordered an urgent preliminary investigation into the drone show above the Acropolis for advertising purposes.

Specifically, the head of the Athens Public Prosecutor’s Office, Aristidis Koreas, instructed the investigation to be carried out following a complaint filed by the Ministry of Culture.

The investigation will be conducted by the Acropolis Security Department. The purpose of the investigation is to determine whether various violations of heritage laws and other criminal acts have been committed.

From Zappeion, a permit costing 380 euros was obtained for the drone takeoff
The administration of Zappeion Hall is the entity that granted the permit to a well-known sports equipment company to conduct the drone show last night in the Attic sky, with the Acropolis as a backdrop, which triggered numerous reactions.

According to the relevant decision published recently on Diavgeia, the company submitted its request on April 30, and the administrative council of the competent Olympian Endowments Committee, supervised by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, unanimously decided to approve the allocation of 200 square meters of outdoor space adjacent to Zappeion Hall on May 15, 2025, for the drone show on behalf of Essence Mediacom company, related to the promotion of Adidas Hellas products, for a rental fee of just 380 euros.

Government intervention regarding the drone show with the Acropolis as a backdrop

The image of a giant athletic shoe over the Parthenon, alternating with the Adidas logo and the slogan “feel fast,” circulated late last night on social media, sparking reactions about whether and where permission was granted for such an advertisement on the Acropolis, a monument of global cultural heritage, and that any use of its image must be decided based on specific, strict criteria.

The incident was also strongly linked to the recent refusal by the Central Archaeological Council (KAS) to allow the acclaimed director Yorgos Lanthimos to shoot a few hours at the Parthenon for his upcoming film.

Sources from the Ministry of Culture assured protothema.gr in the morning that there was no relevant information and that the ministry intended to investigate the matter, planning to promptly file lawsuits against anyone responsible for violating archaeological laws. These reports were confirmed a few hours later with an official announcement.