We begin our first discussion with the King of contested ownership, THE PARTHENON MARBLES. You’ve definitely heard of these and perhaps even gazed upon them in the British Museum.
A collection of Greek sculptures that originated from the Parthenon Temple in Ancient Athens and were built by a guy called Phidias in 447–432 BC.
You may be thinking, ‘how did a load of Ancient Greek Carvings that are thousands of years old, and very heavy! End up in the hands of the British’.
Here’s the back story
THE GREAT STEAL
In 1799 a British aristocrat named Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin arrived in Athens as ambassador.
At this point in time, Greece is part of the Ottoman Empire and was ruled by the Turkish.
Before he left, Elgin was asked to use his position to get drawings of Greece’s great monuments (he may have taken this to the extreme). In order to gain access to the Parthenon and its treasures Elgin asked for a firman (a document of approval from the Sultan ). According to sources the Sultan said, “When they wish to take away some pieces of stone with old inscriptions, no opposition be made”.
The Parthenon had already suffered a lot of deterioration. So, for 'preservation' and 'protective' reasons, Lord Elgin used his firman permission to assume he could carve out whatever he wanted. He took half the Marbles and scurried them off to London by 1803.
QUICK THOMAS BACK TO LONDON
From the moment the Marbles arrived in London they caused controversy, what right did Elgin have to take them? In 1832 they were displayed in their own room within the British Museum. Greece had won its independence from the Ottomans and for the past 188 years they have been asking for the return of the Marbles.
With no budge from the British, let’s take a look into the debate!
FOR GREECE!
Cultural treasures from Ancient Civilisations belong in the place they came from. Is it not that simple? Lord Elgin should not have taken the Marbles in the first place, it is my belief that the British Government should return the collection to Greece.
The New Acropolis Museum in Athens has the rest of the sculptures!! they've even built a specially designed display to show where the rest of the Marbles should go and how they would have looked in the Temple.
The British Museum is a hotbed of colonial antiquities, and they haven’t exactly looked after the Marbles well. Past cleaning methods have caused irreparable damage to the sculptures. Most importantly, the ‘firman’ that granted Elgin permission, doesn’t technically exist. The only version available is the 1801 English translation which has been denounced as a fake!
For Britain?
If the British Museum gave the Marbles back, what would this mean for the rest of its artefacts? What would this mean for museums all over the world? Is it an issue that shouldn’t be explored?
Even if the sculptures were returned, there are still parts lost, so the collection would never truly be complete. Perhaps it should be said that the British have protected the Marbles, when they could have been destroyed during the Greek wars of Independence.
Would they have survived till now if they had remained in Athens?
What are your thoughts on the sculptures? Comment below ! Will you join the campaign to have them returned to their country of birth? Recent Brexit negotiations may see that happen!
Go and see the Marbles, if you haven't! Regardless of the debates, the sculptures are beautiful. They represent a perfect window into the lives of the Ancient Greeks and they're artistic brilliance.
If you're wondering where I get all my info from head over to the sources page to check out my references!!!
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