The Ministry of Culture is proceeding to strengthen the protection of the archaeological site of Delphi against lightning strikes and their consequences, as part of its policy for the maximum shielding of archaeological sites and monuments from the extreme phenomena of the climate crisis.

As the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated, “The archaeological site of Delphi is one of the most prominent and major archaeological sites of high cultural and developmental importance for the wider region. The Ministry of Culture, by the end of 2025, is completing the Climate Crisis Adaptation Plan, which is the roadmap for the projects and actions to protect Delphi from natural hazards and ensure their long-term sustainability. The protection of our cultural heritage requires the safety of visitors and employees by applying modern, scientifically and technologically based solutions for the prevention and management of natural hazards. The subject of a special study, carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Delphi, was the need for lightning protection of the archaeological site, based on the high incidence of lightning phenomena. The proposed interventions contribute to the protection of the archaeological site against lightning strikes and to its upgrading in terms of technological and supporting infrastructure. The interventions are mild and compatible with the site, with the aim of not being visible to visitors from points of high archaeological interest, such as the Temple of Apollo or the Theatre.”

The intervention is part of the integrated plan for the shielding of Delphi, with a major project to protect it from rockfalls, with a budget of around 7,500,000 euros from the resources of the Recovery Fund, with absolute respect for the character, the particularities of the site and the harmonious integration of the infrastructure in the natural and historical environment. The project aims to manage the risk of lightning strikes, proposing measures that include early warning by means of storm detectors of upcoming bad weather systems, as well as the improvement of existing infrastructure in specific parts of the site regarding the risk of lightning strikes.

The placement of the mast and public shelter in case of extreme weather events is located at a key point along the route of the archaeological site. Its reinforcement, against step tensions, takes into account its particularities and the avoidance, as far as possible, of visual disturbance of the monuments.

The study includes additional measures to strengthen lightning protection in four existing outposts, at the Stadium, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Theatre and the Temple of Athena Pronaea, as well as at the ticket office of the archaeological site. At the same time, it is proposed to create a safe perimeter near the outposts from the strong step tendencies that may develop after a lightning strike. The lightning shelter to shelter the public in case of extraordinary weather events is placed in the area of the route north of the theatre, in the intermediate part of the accessible route. A special architectural study will be carried out for its construction. The placement of a net at this point, together with the construction of a shelter on the same part of the route, will form a single cover system. With regard to weather forecasting, the installation of a thunderstorm and lightning detection device is planned, in order to provide timely notification of staff and visitors in case of danger from extraordinary weather phenomena.