Golden Age of the Acropolis
The year was 1980. I was a 20-something girl with a backpack and camera, winding my way through Europe, fending off unscrupulous characters while collecting sensational photographs that would someday prove to be of historical interest. According to the Acropolis Restoration Services website, “The conservation and restoration of the Acropolis is continuous and has never ceased, even during the most difficult periods of the new Greek state.” In 2020 the Restoration Committee invited me to submit my photographs to the Restoration project. They selected one and it currently resides at their website where it’s #21 on their Focusing on Restoration page.
While visiting Athens, Greece in 1980, I snapped quite a few photographs inside the Museum. I have not seen many photos taken inside the museum from that time. Hopefully these pictures can fill in some blanks for people who see them. The original photos were shot on Black and White Kodak film with a 35mm camera. Back then I had to be aware of every setting on the camera. Nothing was automatic. Any photographer my age has probably experienced some of the same “doh!” moments. For instance, loading the camera with daylight film and then shooting indoors, or vice versa. Or shooting and shooting until you can see that there is obviously no film actually advancing in the camera. We’re so spoiled today! Instant gratification!
I’m proud of these shots, as they have such a feeling of ancient wisdom and softness from the passing years. Enjoy!
Patty Mooney is a VP, Producer, Sound Technician and Editor at San Diego’s premiere video production company, Crystal Pyramid Productions. She has been taking photographs since she was a young girl, beginning with a Brownie Hawkeye camera, which she still has.
Figure in a Glass Box
Cherub inside Acropolis Museum Athens Greece
Angel with Wings inside Museum
