30 May 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Research Uncovers the Parthenon’s Spectacular Lighting Effects for Athena in Antiquity

A four-year multidisciplinary study led by Oxford University Archaeologist Professor Juan de Lara has shed new light on a millennia-old mystery: how the iconic Parthenon temple on the Acropolis was illuminated in ancient Greece. By ingeniously combining archaeological evidence with cutting-edge 3D technology and optical physics, Professor de Lara has meticulously recreated the temple’s lighting system, revealing how it was designed to create a sense of awe and reverence.

The research, supported by UCL and The London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP), and published today in the prestigious journal The Annual of the British School at Athens, demonstrates that the Parthenon’s architects and the renowned sculptor Phidias strategically incorporated various elements to manipulate both natural and artificial light. These features included carefully positioned roof openings, interior water basins, strategically placed windows, and the reflective properties of the finely polished marble.  

Professor de Lara’s detailed 3D model even incorporated the colossal ivory and gold statue of Athena, created in 438 BCE, assigning precise material properties to its surfaces to analyze light reflection. By calculating the sun’s position during different times of the day and year in the 5th century BCE as light entered the east-facing doorway, the study revealed fascinating insights.

Enriched frontal view of the interior of the Parthenon. Credit: Juan de Lara
Enriched frontal view of the interior of the Parthenon. Credit: Juan de Lara

The findings suggest that the interior of the Parthenon was generally kept dim, fostering an atmosphere of reverence. However, during the weeks surrounding the Panathenaic Festival, a significant procession honoring the goddess Athena held every four summers, a remarkable phenomenon would have occurred. For several mornings, the rising sun would have aligned perfectly with the temple’s entrance, casting a brilliant beam of light directly onto the golden robes of Athena’s statue, creating a breathtaking, shimmering spectacle.

“Imagine entering the Parthenon—your eyes, still weary from the bright sun outside, slowly adjusting to the gradual darkness within,” describes Professor de Lara. “As sunlight filters through the temple’s doorway, it strikes the gold of the goddesses’ robes with a luminous vertical beam. This was the effect the architects and Phidias intended to create. It must have been magical!”  

Professor de Lara emphasizes the importance of technology in archaeological research, stating, “To unlock the full potential of archaeological discoveries, we must keep embracing technology and digital tools as essential partners in exploration and research.”  

The Parthenon, constructed between 447 and 432 BCE, is widely regarded as a pinnacle of classical architecture. While previous scholars, such as the French architect Antoine-Chrysostome Quatremère de Quincy and later James Fergusson, had pondered the temple’s lighting, Professor de Lara’s work provides concrete evidence of the sophisticated design and the crucial role light played in the visual and spiritual experience within.  

To further enhance public understanding and engagement, Professor de Lara is currently transforming his research into an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience. This will be offered free to museums and educational centers, allowing visitors to virtually step inside the ancient Parthenon and witness the awe-inspiring effect of light on the colossal statue of Athena firsthand.

This remarkable research, bringing together archaeology and cutting-edge technology, makes the wonders of the ancient world accessible to everyone. For a truly immersive understanding of how light shaped the visual and spiritual experience within the Parthenon, explore the full 3D reconstruction available at https://parthenon3d.com/.

University of Cambridge

de Lara, J. (2025). ILLUMINATING THE PARTHENON. The Annual of the British School at Athens, 1–46. doi:10.1017/S0068245424000145

Cover Image Credit: Juan de Lara

Related Articles

The researchers may have cracked the mystery of da Vinci’s DNA

7 July 2021

7 July 2021

A recent study of Leonardo da Vinci’s family tree indicates that the renowned Renaissance artist, inventor, and anatomist had 14...

Archaeologists Unearth Cisterns at Izmir’s Ancient “City of Mother Goddess”

2 June 2021

2 June 2021

In the ancient city of Metropolis, in western Turkey, in the province of Izmir, something that played an important role...

Hunter-Gatherers Kept an ‘Orderly Home’ in the Earliest Known British Dwelling

25 July 2024

25 July 2024

Based on archaeological evidence from a Yorkshire site, new research suggests that hunter-gatherers probably kept an organized home with designated...

Artificial Intelligence Project That Will Revolutionize Archaeology

5 April 2021

5 April 2021

Polish Scientists to opening a new era in archeology They plan to use artificial intelligence to detect prehistoric cemeteries, castles,...

Ancient city “Germanicia” lost in 73 years

8 July 2021

8 July 2021

The presence of the ancient city of Germanicia, discovered during an illegal excavation in the southeast Turkish province of Kahramanmaraş...

An important Gallo-Roman worship complex was discovered near Rennes, France

13 June 2022

13 June 2022

An essential Gallo-Roman worship complex was unearthed by Inrap  (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research) archaeologists at Chapelle-des-Fougeretz (Ille-et-Vilaine), near...

Teacher unearthed stone with ancient ogham writing from Ireland in Coventry garden

9 May 2024

9 May 2024

A geography teacher, Graham Senior, stumbled across a rock with mysterious incisions while tidying his overgrown garden in Coventry, England. ...

2000-year-old ancient Roman Road, described as the most important in Scottish history, has been discovered

3 November 2023

3 November 2023

A 2000-year-old ancient Roman road was unearthed in Old Inn Cottage’s garden near Stirling, Scotland. The site is located a...

Archaeologists reveal 4,000-year-old rock-cut tomb, artifacts in Saqqara

8 January 2024

8 January 2024

A team of Egyptian and Japanese archaeologists has unveiled a rock-cut tomb believed to be more than 4,000 years old...

A Remarkable Discovery from a Gaza Shipwreck: Olive Pits from 1100 Years Ago

10 March 2025

10 March 2025

The recent underwater excavations off the coast of Türkiye have unveiled an extraordinary find that has captivated scientists: olive pits...

40 Skeletons in Giant Jars Found in the Corsica Necropolis

16 May 2021

16 May 2021

Archaeologists working on the French island of Corsica discovered around 40 ancient graves where persons were buried inside gigantic jars...

1900 years old a rare mosaic was discovered in Durrës, Albania

6 November 2023

6 November 2023 1

In the port city of Durrës, on the Adriatic Sea in western Albania, a unique mosaic dating back 1900 years...

In western Turkey, inscriptions and 2,500-year-old sculptures were found

11 July 2021

11 July 2021

Two 2,500-year-old marble statues and an inscription have been found during excavations at the ancient city of Euromos, in Turkey’s...

Evidence of a Roman shrine dating back was discovered during dig at Leicester Cathedral

7 March 2023

7 March 2023

Excavations by the University of Leicester archaeologists for have uncovered evidence that the site of Leicester Cathedral has been used...

Rock Ship of Masuda, Japan’s mysterious monolith

17 April 2023

17 April 2023

Located in the Takaichi District of Nara Prefecture, Japan, the village of Asuka is famous for its mysterious stones. The...