Photo taken on June 18, 2009 shows the sculptures inside the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, capital of Greece. Visitors from across the world will admire the complete sculptures of the famous Parthenon Temple for the first time when the new Acropolis Museum officially opens on June 20. (Xinhua/Liang Yeqian) Photo Gallery>>>

    by Liang Yeqian

    ATHENS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Visitors from across the world will admire the complete sculptures of the famous Parthenon Temple for the first time when the new Acropolis Museum officially opens on June 20.

    Dimitros Pantermalis, director of the new museum, told Xinhua that all of the Parthenon Temple sculptures owned by Greece will be displayed on the third floor of the new museum.

    Replicas of the sculptures in the British Museum which were taken from Parthenon's frieze some 200 years ago will sit next to those left in Greece.

    "As you know, Parthenon sculptures were divided in Athens and London. After a long discussion, the museum decided not to leave the space empty, but to put on display the copies of the pieces we miss in London," Pantermalis said.

    "This is the privilege of the museum and the big sculptures are really a feast of culture," he said.

    Pantermalis said this museum houses very important findings and cultural objects of world heritage.

    "The exhibits are very important, and therefore the ceremony should be a big one," he said, referring to the grand opening ceremony which will be held in the evening of this coming Saturday.

    On the security and insurance for the museum, Pantermalis said he thinks no bank can pay for any missing exhibits since they are of incalculable value.

    "I think it is more important to have very good guards in the museum and use modern systems and cameras to check the exhibits everyday and every moment. For us it is more important to know what is going on in the museum every minute," he said.

    Pantermalis said the Acropolis Museum had held two exhibitions in Beijing during the Olympic Games in 2008.

    "It is a good idea to plan for a future exhibition in China. We hope to be able to make a bigger exhibition in China," he said.

    The new Acropolis Museum is located some 300 meters away from the Acropolis. It is a modern building with glass walls and floors. Visitors could enjoy the antiquities from the ancient temples while looking at the Acropolis through the glass.

    Compared with the old Acropolis Museum which covers an area of 1,500 sq meters, the new museum has a total area of 25,000 sq meters.

    Heads of state and government, celebrities and world media have been invited to attend the opening ceremony on Saturday.