The Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Marbles, are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures, inscriptions and architectural members that originally belonged to the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens. Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799-1803, had obtained a controversial permission from the Ottoman authorities to remove pieces from the Acropolis. From 1801 to 1812 Elgin's agents removed about half of the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon, as well as architectural members and sculpture from the Propylaea and Erechtheum. The Marbles were transported by sea to Britain. In Britain, Elgin was criticised for his actions, labelled by some as vandalism, and some contemporaries described him as a looter. However, following a public debate in Parliament and subsequent exoneration of Elgin's actions, the marbles were purchased by the British Government in 1816 and placed on display in the British Museum, where they stand now on view in the purpose-built Duveen Gallery. The legality of the removal has been questioned and the debate continues as to whether the Marbles should remain in the British Museum or be returned to Athens. The stolen marbles should return to Greece or stay in England?
My problem is that England can have the Parthenon marbles, probably the best Greek monument, without giving something in return.
Like 25,000 pounds sterling and the promise that the artifacts would be well taken care of, and not used for breaking down into lime for building cottages, or used as barricades, or the lead clamps melted down and used for ammunition?
It used to be a part of a private collection, but.. as you say:
The art and culture should belong to all humanity.
And it does. The British Museum does not have admission prices (exception for the special exhibitions) and is open to the public.
That's nice... Forgive me for saying so, but photos of the facilities in Greece doesn't really mean much of anything. And I can use a search engine too. Thanks.
Personally, i think they should be returned, out of good will. Obviously it was very controversial as to whether or not the Brits had the right to remove them. Removing statues from the Parthenon is pretty low, it'd be like taking the Declaration of Independence and putting it in Thailand. It just doesn't make sense that you would go to England to learn about the Parthenon. They should be in some traveling exhibit or something but ultimately they should belong to the Greek government/museum/whatever.
