New lighting scheme completed at temple of Hephaestus and Philopappos Monument

The redesigned lighting for all the major Athenian monuments is now complete, with the new lighting for the temple of Hephaestus and the monument to Philopappos shown for the first time on Tuesday evening in the Greek capital.

The lighting for these treasured historical sites, designed by by Eleftheria Deko, signals the completion of the lighting redesign for the Acropolis and all the monuments associated with the greatest historical sites in the city.

The Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports announced the conclusion of the lighting redesign, which was made possible by the Onassis Foundation and completed under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

According to the Ministry, the two monuments are now illuminated using the same philosophy and technology that was earlier implemented on the Acropolis, so that there is a “common vocabulary” between the buildings as seen from every part of the city.

It was not only a new aesthetic that was part of the plan, however; there was also an upgrade to the monuments’ existing technical infrastructure, including a new wiring and automation system for the lights. This will ensure energy savings, keep maintenance costs at a minimum and avoid light pollution into the skies above the Greek capital.

High-color performance LED floodlights were used throughout, just as in the lighting of the Acropolis monuments, and all lights are adjustable at all levels. According to the Ministry, this offers “considerable flexibility in creating different lighting scenarios and achieving the appropriate lighting depending on the location and point of interest (dome, columns, metope, and pediment).”

The temple of Hephaestus, dedicated to the god Hephaestus and Athena Ergani and commonly referred to as “Thissio,” is located on the hill of Agoraios Kolonos, on the west side of the Ancient Agora in Athens. The monument of Philopappos, which was named after Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, is located on the Hill of the Muses, southwest of the Acropolis.