Greek depression further delays Parthenon completion

The deep financial depression in Greece has seen the date of completion of the Parthenon in Athens put back even further.

Construction of the temple to the goddess Athena was started in 447BC, but today it's still half-built and there is little evidence of recent construction activity on the site. Chief architect Kallikrates told News Arse about the difficulties facing the Greek construction industry. "Our contractors went bust approximately 2470 years ago and many more have gone to the wall since. Inflation is all over the place, so contractors can't price jobs with any accuracy, so we find it difficult to get a commitment to a long term project like this as the price a year - a month - from today could be wildly different. I mean, a couple of frescos when we started this project was a few hundred talents - now, many millions of euros".

"With prices rising and wages under pressure to stay down" Kallikrates continued, "it's also hard to find labour and retain it. Skilled labour the sort of which we need to finish the marbles that will be pinched for some other country's museums is also hard to find given the cost pressures that are on the job".

Despite all the issues facing the Parthenon project, it's still expected to be cheaper and less late than the rebuilt Wembley stadium in London.