The Caryatid statues, famous beauties of ancient times, have managed to survive through the ages without losing their special charm and awe-inspiring quality.
However, after almost 2.500 years, it’s not surprising they are looking a little weather-beaten, as a Daily Mail article notes.
This is why it was decided that they should be cleansed inside the Acropolis museum in Athens, where they are currently housed.
According to Daily Mail’s article, the conservation work is taking place in situ, surrounded by a white fabric screen to protect visitors from laser beams. The laser technology used was developed especially for the Caryatids by the Foundation for Research and Technology in Crete.
In regards to the decision to clean the sculptures on the spot, Dimitris Pantermalis, the director of the museum, said that they wanted to avoid potential hazards of moving the statues.

“We also want to offer visitors a backstage peak”, Mr. Pantermalis said.

It takes approximately seven months to cleanse each one of the beautiful statues, which were carved around 420 B.C. The restoration work began in 2011 and is expected to be completed by June.

“The process removes all the pollution, the smoke and everything that has settled on the statues for more than a century, leaving intact the patina, the orange hue that the statues took on with the passage of time”, said the director of Acropolis Museum.

Note that one of the six Caryatids was removed by Lord Elgin in the 19th century and today is located in the British Museum.