From the Greek Ministry of Culture - http://www.acropolisofathens.gr/
The question is not 'if' but 'when'
In the words of a former Leader of the House of Commons: 'The government who take the
final step of restoring the Parthenon marbles to where they belong will be acclaimed for
their magnanimity.' (Hitchens, 1997)
There is a plethora of reasons that the Parthenon sculptures will be returned to Athens.
They all stem from one truth, that the Parthenon sculptures are part of the Parthenon. The
reunification of the Parthenon sculptures, and of other pieces of the buildings and temples
of the Athenian Acropolis, in one, complete exhibit is a request by the international
community. Athens is where these treasures originate from, the city where the actual
Acropolis complex was built 2,500 years ago and the place where it continues to stand
today.
Keeping the Parthenon sculptures and other parts of the Athenian Acropolis thousands of
miles apart is simply wrong. Bringing these magnificent pieces of art together in a
meaningful set is the obvious step to settle a cultural issue that has been between two
nations for years, undermining the idea of unity in World Heritage.
In these pages you will find a breakdown of the reasons that the Parthenon Sculptures will
be returned to Athens to be displayed in the Acropolis Museum. Please use the navigation
buttons at the top right to browse the pages of this section.
Integrity of the Parthenon and the Acropolis
Integrity is an issue for all art exhibits. Worldwide
efforts aim to preserve archaeologies to the best
possible extent in order to rescue their meaning
as part of World Heritage. Should this
fundamental principle not be applied to the
Parthenon as well?
The Parthenon sculptures, and all pieces of the
Athenian Acropolis, only make sense as a whole.
They are components of a unique creation of
mankind, and they are only complete together,
in the context of the site where they belong - the
Acropolis of Athens.
The Parthenon
facade)
- click to enlarge
(northeastern
Meaning of the Acropolis complex as a
whole
The buildings of the Acropolis of Athens reached
their perfection in the 5th century BC, at a time
when the three major disciplines of human
activity - science, art and philosophy - were at
their peak. The Parthenon, in particular,
represents a unique exhibit; not only because of
its tremendous architectural value and unique
Proximity of the Acropolis
Museum to the Parthenon (digital
artistic definition, but because it is also a symbol
of one of the most influential civilisations, the
Greek civilization. The sculptures of the buildings
on the Acropolis of Athens represent key events
and concepts of Greek history and mythology,
being an integral part of the definitive
monument of ancient Greek culture.
representation).
Faithful display of the sculptures
The new, state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum in Athens ensures the most faithful display of
the Parthenon sculptures. Featuring a dedicated Parthenon gallery, it is the ultimate
environment for the display of sculptures from the Parthenon, as well as from other temples
of the Athenian Acropolis. Having the exact dimensions, orientation and proportions as the
periphery of the Parthenon, the Parthenon gallery is the best possible exhibition hall for the
all the Parthenon sculptures. The exhibition layout of the frieze is informative and correct,
allowing the visitor to walk around the frieze and look at the sculptures in the exact order
and arrangement that they were originally designed for. Most important, in close view of
the Acropolis itself, the Parthenon gallery provides a direct link between the exhibits and
the monument they belong to.
The Acropolis Restoration Project
The Acropolis Restoration Project is a long antiquity restoration programme that aims to
preserve and prolong the life of the sculptures, components and buildings of the Acropolis
of Athens. This programme is supported by the Greek government and the EU, employing
the latest advances and technologies in antiquity conservation. The conservation methods
followed, acclaimed by experts in the field, ensure that the Acropolis and the Parthenon will
be preserved in the best possible way for future generations.
Conditions in the Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum will offer the ultimate conceptual and physical conditions for the
keeping and display of the Parthenon sculptures. Culturally, the sculptures will be united in
a single set, completing the picture that is currently fragmented amongst several museums
in the world. Reuniting the sculptures in one exhibition hall will promote cultural integrity
and relieve the sculptures from the international arguments that have been shadowing
them for decades.
Physically, the Acropolis Museum will offer the best environment for the preservation of the
Parthenon sculptures. In addition to climatic control that optimises temperature and
humidity levels for the keeping of such antiquities, specific measures ensure the protection
of the sculptures from excess heat and light, whilst not compromising natural lighting for
their optimal visual exposure to visitors.
Historical and political facts
Beyond claims of ownership, there is one truth: the Parthenon Sculptures are part of the
Parthenon. They belong to the Acropolis in Athens, as the place of their original
geographical, historical and archaeological context. The Parthenon Sculptures, and other
sculptures of the Athenian Acropolis, like one of the six Caryatids from the Erectheion, were
removed in 1801 by Elgin without explicit permission from the British government or the
Turkish sultan (Korka, 2010). This is what we would call seizure today.
It is also a fact that the Sculptures were taken from the Acropolis without the consent of any
representative of the Greek nation, as Athens was under Ottoman occupation at the time of
their removal.
The Parthenon was designed, created and defended by the Greeks in the ancient world.
Who would imagine that 2,500 years later the Greeks would have their beautiful sculptures
taken away by fellow Europeans?
Facts:
delegate had a simple letter from a Turkish official, which he managed to get
through bribery and pressure. This letter was informal, it did not have the Sultan's signature,
neither did it have the form or syntax of a firman. Thus, Elgin's delegate did not have
permission by any formal document, as there was a particular document type requirement
according to Ottoman bureaucracy. The letter simply asked the Turkish provosts in Athens
to allow Elgin's men to enter the Acropolis, draw and make casts, and, in case they found a
small fragment of sculpture or inscription in the ruins around the monument, they could
remove it (Hellenic Ministry of Culture, 2007; Korka, 2010). Thus, Elgin did not have
permission or instruction to dismember buildings or temples of the Acropolis, or to
detach, cut or remove any parts of them.
easy way out of his financial trouble.
ho literally cut the Sculptures off the
Parthenon and shipped them to Britain. Today, Elgin's deed is approved and continued by
the British Museum and some members of the English parliament, who refuse to return the
Parthenon Sculptures to the site of the monument they are part of.
A nation shedding their blood
In the early 19th century, when Elgin came to
Athens, the Greeks were under Ottoman rule,
well into a 400-year Ottoman occupation. It is
therefore obvious that the Athenians were not in
a position to express their objection or stop the
removal of sculptures from the Acropolis. Elgin
bribed the guards of the Acropolis, in order to
get his men in and cut the sculptures off the
ancient buildings.
Elgin's deeds were deeply unpopular in Athens.
Suggested reading: Tomkinson, J. M. (2006).
Travellers' Greece: Memories of an enchanted
land (Second Edi.). Athens: Anagnosis.
Read more historical facts
To date, the legitimacy of the removal of the
In the early 19th century the
Greeks were fighting for their
freedom.
Read
more
about
the Greek Fight for Independence
Sculptures is subject to debate, as the original
document, which is claimed to have authorised
the removal of sculptures, is actually missing.
Elgin did not obtained or seek Greek consent to
remove sculptures from the Acropolis. He was
simply an ambassador from another European
country who walked into foreign land to take the
cultural treasures of a nation covered in blood.
Greece and the UK are fellow European States
Maintaining issues of division within Europe is wrong. In Europe, countries have fought,
hated, and killed the people of one another. Today, the continent has reached a supreme
level of understanding, collaboration, and respectful co-existence.
Greece and the UK two fellow European nations. The persistence of the British Museum on
the ownership of the Greek sculptures is a provocative claim not only against Greece, but,
culturally, against the international community. Having such sensitive issues pending is
ethically unacceptable. In a gesture of unity, provided that the Acropolis sculptures are
reunited in Athens, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture has previously offered to lend other
Greek treasures to the UK. This is a unique opportunity for the two countries to shake hands
and seal their long friendship with a gesture of good will and shared vision.
From the British Museum
http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/news_and_press/statements/parthenon_sculp
tures.aspx
The Parthenon Sculptures
The question of where the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon should now be displayed
has long been a subject of public discussion. This page provides key information for
understanding the complex history of the Parthenon and its sculpture. The main arguments
of the debate are also presented here. For another view, see the website of the Hellenic
Ministry of Culture: www.culture.gr
What is the Parthenon and how did the sculptures come to London?
The Parthenon in Athens has a long and complex history. Built nearly 2,500 years ago as a
temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, it was for a thousand years the church of
the Virgin Mary of the Athenians, then a mosque, and finally an archaeological ruin. The
building was altered and the sculptures much damaged over the course of the centuries.
The first major loss occurred around AD 500 when the Parthenon was converted into a
church. When the city was under siege by the Venetians in 1687, the Parthenon itself was
used as a gunpowder store. A huge explosion blew the roof off and destroyed a large
portion of the remaining sculptures. The building has been a ruin ever since. Archaeologists
worldwide are agreed that the surviving sculptures could never be re-attached to the
structure.
By 1800 only about half of the original sculptural decoration remained. Between 1801 and
1805 Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, of which Athens had been a
part for some 350 years, acting with the full knowledge and permission of the Ottoman
authorities, removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the fallen ruins and from
the building itself. Lord Elgin was passionate about ancient Greek art and transported the
sculptures back to Britain. The arrival of the sculptures in London had a profound effect on
the European public, regenerating interest in ancient Greek culture and influencing
contemporary artistic trends. These sculptures were acquired from Lord Elgin by the British
Museum in 1816 following a Parliamentary Select Committee enquiry which fully
investigated and approved the legality of Lord Elgin’s actions. Since then the sculptures have
all been on display to the public in the British Museum, free of entry charge.
Figure of Iris from the west pediment of the Parthenon
Where can the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon be seen?
Sculptures surviving from the Parthenon are located in museums across Europe. The
majority of the sculptures are roughly equally divided between Athens and London, while
important pieces are also held by other major European museums, including the Louvre and
the Vatican.
1. Parthenon Sculptures in Athens
Recently the Greek authorities have been removing the sculptures from the Parthenon,
work that was begun over 200 years ago by Elgin. Nearly all of the sculptures have now been
removed from the building. They are displayed in the New Acropolis Museum.
2. Parthenon Sculptures in London
The sculptures in London, sometimes known as the ‘Elgin Marbles’, have been on
permanent public display in the British Museum since 1817, free of charge. Here they are
seen by a world audience and are actively studied and researched to promote worldwide
understanding of ancient Greek culture. The Museum has published the results of its
research extensively. Recently, for example, new discoveries of ancient applied colour on
the sculptures have been made with the application of special imaging technology.
Watch a video about preliminary results
3. Parthenon Sculptures in other museums
The following institutions also hold sculpture from the Parthenon:
Musée du Louvre, Paris
Vatican Museums
National Museum, Copenhagen
Kunsthistorisches Museum,Vienna
University Museum, Würzburg
Glyptothek, Munich
What has the Greek Government asked for?
Since the early 1980s Greek governments have argued for the permanent removal to Athens
of all the Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum. The Greek government has also
disputed the British Museum Trustees’ legal title to the sculptures. For more information on
the Greek Government’s official position, see the website of the Hellenic Ministry of
Culture: www.culture.gr
What is the British Museum’s position?
The British Museum tells the story of cultural achievement throughout the world, from the
dawn of human history over two million years ago until the present day. The Parthenon
Sculptures are a significant part of that story. The Museum is a unique resource for the
world: the breadth and depth of its collection allows a world-wide public to re-examine
cultural identities and explore the complex network of interconnected human cultures. The
Trustees lend extensively all over the world and over two million objects from the collection
are available to study online. The Parthenon Sculptures are a vital element in this
interconnected world collection. They are a part of the world’s shared heritage and
transcend political boundaries.
The Acropolis Museum allows the Parthenon sculptures that are in Athens (approximately
half of what survive from antiquity) to be appreciated against the backdrop of ancient Greek
and Athenian history. The Parthenon sculptures in London are an important representation
of ancient Athenian civilisation in the context of world history. Each year millions of visitors,
free of charge, admire the artistry of the sculptures and gain insight into how ancient
Greece influenced – and was influenced by – the other civilisations that it encountered.
The Trustees are convinced that the current division allows different and complementary
stories to be told about the surviving sculptures, highlighting their significance within world
culture and affirming the place of Ancient Greece among the great cultures of the world.