ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Walking along the broad pedestrian street that runs along the base of Athens’ famed Acropolis Hill, visitors can now enjoy something not seen in decades: an unobstructed, scaffolding-free view of the Parthenon temple.
The scaffolding set up along the 5th century B.C. temple’s western façade for conservation work about 20 years ago has been removed, allowing an uncluttered view of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
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The 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple, right stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Tourist rest at Pnyx as the 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The western side of the Parthenon affords the best street-level view, so the removal from that side, which was completed in late September, has been the most noticeable for visitors. But Culture Minister Lina Mendoni noted it also marks the first time in about 200 years that the Parthenon’s exterior is completely free of any kind of scaffolding on any side.
For visitors, “it is like they are seeing a different, a completely different monument,” Mendoni said during an interview on Skai radio Friday.
However, conservation work must continue, and the respite will be temporary. New scaffolding is to be erected along the Parthenon’s western side in about one month’s time, but it will be “lighter and aesthetically much closer to the logic of the monument,” Mendoni said.
The renewed conservation work is expected to last until early summer in 2026. Then, the minister said, “the Parthenon will be completely freed of this scaffolding too, and people will be able to see it truly free.”
The Acropolis is by far Greece’s most popular tourist site, with 4.5 million people visiting in 2024, according to the country’s statistical authority. The marble temple was built in the mid 5th century B.C. to honor the city’s patron goddess, Athena.
The 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple, right stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Tourist rest at Pnyx as the 5th century B.C. Parthenon temple stands free of scaffolding on the Acropolis hill in Athens, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, after the removal of restoration structures that had covered parts of the ancient monument for decades.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Nathan Lyon took two wickets in his first over to move past Glenn McGrath for second place on Australia’s all-time bowling list as England teetered on 132-5 at tea on Day 2 of the third Ashes cricket test.
Australia resumed Thursday at 326-8 and was all out for 371 as Jofra Archer dismissed Mitchell Starc for a well-made 54 and No. 11 Lyon to complete a five-wicket haul.
England was coasting at 37 without loss in reply until returning Australia skipper Pat Cummins took his first wicket of the series to dismiss Zak Crawley (9), triggering a slide of three wickets in 15 deliveries.
Offspinner Lyon was introduced for the 10th over and had immediate success with two wickets in four balls to remove Ollie Pope (3) and Ben Duckett (29) as England slumped to 42-3.
He got Pope to play forward to a ball that turned, pushing a catch to a diving Josh Inglis at midwicket, to equal retired paceman McGrath's career haul of 563 test wickets.
Lyon struck again on the last ball of that over, enticing Duckett to play the wrong line to a drifting delivery that took out the England's openers off stump. TV coverage showed McGrath in a stadium commentary booth pretending to throw a chair around in mock annoyance.
Only the great Shane Warne — with 708 wickets in 145 tests from 1992-2007 — is above Lyon on the Australia's list of test wicket-takers. It was a huge return for Lyon, who was omitted from the lineup that won the second test in Brisbane for a 2-0 series lead.
England needs victory in Adelaide to have any chance of reclaiming the Ashes, and will need a big innings from skipper Ben Stokes to achieve it.
He was unbeaten on 19 at the end of the middle session, recovering after being hit on the side of the helmet as he tried to turn his head away from a short-pitch ball from Mitchell Starc that was traveling at 145 kph (90 mph).
Cummins dismissed Joe Root (19), bringing Stokes to the crease with the total at 71-4 after the lunch interval. Cameron Green struck on his third delivery, getting the edge of Harry Brook’s bat with a ball that moved away from the right-hander, ending a 56-run stand for the fifth wicket just before the tea interval.
Brook scored 45 from 63 before he was out in the 37th over, adding just one run after getting a reprieve when he was given out caught behind off Lyon's bowling but successfully reviewed the decision with the TV umpire.
Archer picked up the first wicket of the third test, two more in the first over after lunch later Wednesday and the last two on Day 2.
Starc, who was unbeaten on 33 overnight, quickly raced to his half-century, plundering four boundaries in the first 10 deliveries of the morning: two slashing cuts in the first over from Archer and two more to wayward deliveries from Brydon Carse.
Starc reached 50 with a single, hit the first ball of Archer's next over to the boundary but then the England paceman bowled him with a delivery that angled in from around the stumps.
The last-wicket pair added 23 runs before Archer trapped Lyon (9) lbw, leaving Boland unbeaten on 14 from 21 deliveries.
Archer returned 5-53 from 20.2 overs for his fourth five-wicket haul in test cricket, and third in the Ashes.
England needed to bat all day to revive its chances in this five-test series. The hot conditions should have been a help to England's cause, particularly with the Australians in the field and the temperature hitting 40C (104F).
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Australia's Nathan Lyon, left, celebrates with teammate Mitchell Starc after dismissing England's Ben Duckett during play on day two of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
Australia's Nathan Lyon, left, celebrates with teammate Mitchell Starc after dismissing England's Ben Duckett during play on day two of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
Australia's Mitchell Starc bats during play on day two of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
England's Jofra Archer, centre, is congratulated by teammates after taking five wickets during play on day two of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
England's Jofra Archer bowls a delivery during play on day one of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
England's Jofra Archer reacts after taking five wickets during play on day two of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
