See the beautiful marble statue of the Greek god Apollo in the Vatican restored to its former glory

The Vatican is famous Apollo Belvedere– a marble statue of the Greek god of archery, music and dance – is finally back on public display after a five-year restoration.

The two-meter-high statue of Apollo was discovered in 1489 in the ruins of an ancient Roman house. It has been in the Vatican since the early 16th century Pope Julius II decided to take the sculpture to the holy city. The Vatican Museums unveiled the updated statue on October 15.

In addition to repairing the cracks, experts also cleaned the statue using laser technology and installed a carbon fiber post in the figure’s back to help anchor it.

Sabrina Zappiachairman of the Italian and international patrons of the arts in the Vatican Museums, called the artwork “one of the most celebrated and recognizable masterpieces in the world,” per a statement from the organization.

‘Of all the works of antiquity that escaped destruction, the statue of Apollo represents the highest ideal of art’ Johann Winckelmannonce the famous 18th century art historian and archaeologist said.

The piece dates from the second century AD and depicts Apollo in a draped cloak immediately after shooting an arrow; his left hand would originally have held a bow. Experts believe the artwork is a Roman replica of a lost Greek bronze statue made by the sculptor Leochares around 330 BCE The sculpted figure is prized for its natural posture, curly hair and subtle musculature.

Specialists started repairing the Apollo Belvedere in 2019 after staff noticed fractures in the figure’s legs. Guy Devreux, curator at the Vatican Museums’ stone and marble restoration workshop, explains Reuters‘ Joshua McElwee said the statue was in “incredibly dramatic” condition.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns delayed recovery efforts by about two years.

When work finally started, it was difficult “not to touch the sculpture,” Devreux says Agence France-Presse.

He adds: “We have found this new system, a dynamic structural system based on the use of carbon fiber… and which, if used correctly, can deliver extraordinary results.”

This is not the first time that the Apollo Belvedere has needed a makeover. In 1532, artist Giovanni Angelo Montorsolione of Michelangelo’s students, replaced the statue’s broken arms and added the top of the tree trunk so the new hand could rest on it.

Officials hope the new restorations will keep the beloved statue upright and in good condition for many years to come.

“This type of restoration … is the expression of what we want the Vatican Museums to be,” Barbara Jattathe director of the museums told Reuters. “A balance between tradition, linguistics and study, with an eye that looks to the future.”