The Parthenon temple on the Acropolis of Athens housed a colossal statue made of gold and ivory, carved by the famous sculptor Phidias in 438 BC. Its view from the entrance of the temple must have been impressive, but this was also enhanced by a carefully designed lighting system and effects that included complex openings in the roof and even strategically placed pools.

The problem of the temple’s lighting was first raised by the French architect Antoine-Chrysostome Quatremère de Quincy in the 18th century, who thought there must have been openings in the roof. Later, the British architect James Fergusson proposed in the following century that the key lay in windows open at roof level.

Now, the mystery of the Parthenon’s interior lighting system has finally been revealed by archaeologist and University of Oxford professor Juan De Lara, in a recent article published in the scientific journal The Annual of the British School at Athens.

parthenon lightning system revealed
3D reconstruction of the interior of the Parthenon. Credit: Juan de Lara

De Lara used 3D reconstructions and calculations based on physical simulations of light and its reflection on different surfaces to precisely recreate how natural and artificial lighting interacted with the various elements of the building and the interior statue.

Strategically distributed openings in the Parthenon’s roof, indoor pools of water, windows, and finely polished marble managed to create a dim atmosphere where the goddess seemed to emerge from the darkness in an absolutely dazzling way.

The Parthenon was not only an architectural feat, but also an optical one. This temple, almost like a theatrical stage, was meticulously designed to redirect light, create sacred atmospheres, and connect the visitor with the divine through special effects — though it must be emphasized that the temple was quite dark, De Lara notes.

Using cutting-edge digital tools, the archaeologist managed to recreate the structure of the temple with a margin of error of only 2 centimeters, including the statue of the goddess Athena. He then performed calculations on the position of the sun at different times of the year and day, according to values from the 5th century BC.

Thus, he concluded that the sun would appear on the horizon on the morning of the Panathenaic procession, and its light would enter through the temple’s large door, reflecting on the statue and amplifying the visual effect of the natural lighting, creating a magical and unique aura.

Imagine entering the Parthenon — your eyes, still tired from the bright outside sun, slowly adjusting to the interior darkness. When sunlight filters through the slit of the temple door, a ray strikes the goddess’s golden robes, illuminating her. This was the effect that the architects and Phidias intended to create. It must have been stunning! says De Lara. And he continues, To maximize the potential of archaeological discoveries, we must continue to embrace technology and digital tools as essential partners in exploration and research.

SOURCES

de Lara J., Illuminating the Parthenon. The Annual of the British School at Athens. Published online 2025:1-46. doi:10.1017/S0068245424000145

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