An app is giving visitors to the Acropolis a peek at what the ancient Greek site would have looked like in its prime.
The app, named Chronos after the Greek word for time and the leader of the mythological Titans, has been developed by Greek telecoms provider Cosmote and supported by the country’s Culture Ministry. It uses augmented reality to superimpose a digital image that shows how the site may have looked 2,500 years ago.
The technology provides interesting insights into the history of the Acropolis and its ancient buildings. The app works on the famous Parthenon temple, the adjacent Roman theatre and parts of the Acropolis Museum.
With the app, Parthenon’s collection of marble sculptures, removed two centuries ago and on display at London’s British Museum, reprise their places along the edifice. Greece has urged the British Museum to return the sculptures.
Chronos also manifests the sculptures with their vibrant paints that have long flaked off. The statue of the goddess Athena, meanwhile, is shown in the main chamber of the Parthenon standing over a shallow pool of water.
"That's really impressive ... the only time I've seen that kind of technology before is at the dentist," said Shriya Parsotam Chitnavis, a tourist from London.
“I didn't know much about the [Acropolis], and I had to be convinced to come up here. Seeing this has made it more interesting – seeing it in colour,” she said. “I'm more of a visual person, so this being interactive really helped me appreciate it.”
While Chronos is best experienced at the Acropolis, it also works away from the site.
“Accessibility is extending to the digital space,” Lina Mendoni, the culture minister of Greece, said at a preview launch event for the Chronos app in May. “Real visitors and virtual visitors anywhere around the world can share historical knowledge.”
Designers said they will continue building on the free app, which boasts features such as an artificial intelligence-powered virtual guide.
“As technologies and networks advance, with better bandwidth and lower latencies, mobile devices will be able to download even higher-quality content,” Panayiotis Gabrielides, a senior official at Cosmote, said.
With additional reporting from agencies
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RESULTS
Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)
Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)
Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
