It’s a dispute that’s been brewing for almost two centuries – and it’s getting more heated.
We’re talking about the Elgin Marbles – sculptures and friezes removed from the Greek Parthenon by Britain’s Lord Elgin in 1811.
The British Museum says it obtained the Elgin Marbles legally and doesn’t intend to give them up.
The Greeks say they were stolen and want them back.
The opening of a new Acropolis Museum in Athens on Saturday has re-ignited the debate.(BBC)
We’re looking at what people are saying about this classic controversy.
Der Spiegel Online interviews architect Bernard Tschumi who designed the Acropolis Museum.
He said the new museum should end Great Britain’s claim that Athens doesn’t have a good enough facility to house the Marbles.
“So far the reason for not returning them has been that Athens had no suitable space to preserve the Marbles. This argument no longer exists.” (Der Spiegel)
But the British have a quote “strong case” for keeping the Marbles, writes Cathleen McGuigan in Newsweek:
“Unlike the recent instances of American museums returning ancient Roman artifacts to Italy…here there is no legal basis, many experts say, given that Elgin's actions were approved by the rulers in power and that 200 years have passed.” (Newsweek)
How about if the British Museum were to loan the Marbles to Greece?
No way! Writes Helena Smith in The Observer.
Smith covers the “bitter row” between the two countries when a British Museum spokeswoman apparently:
“…told an Athens radio station that it would consider a loan request from Greece provided that it acknowledged, as is customary with all borrowing institutions, that London owned the pieces…
“Antonis Samaras, Athens's culture minister, rejected the proposal, saying that acceptance would be tantamount to legitimising ‘Elgin's deeds.’” (The Observer)
Why are we focusing on Lord Elgin and the Marbles writes Sean Williams, a blogger on Heritage Key?
The British Museum is filled with treasures from other countries.
“…the Parthenon is far from the only place raided by a zealous Brit in a bid to bring the ancient world to the smoggy streets of London.
“.. one of the fabled city's most fearsome objects - the giant Lion of Knidos - is the crux of a repatriation battle between the Republic of Turkey and the United Kingdom.” (Heritage Key)
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