IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 122 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Parthenon Marbles should 
be returned to Greece. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 7, 2009 
Mr. PAYNE (for himself and Mr. BILIRAKIS) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Parthenon 
Marbles should be returned to Greece. 
Whereas the Parthenon was built on the hill of the Acropolis 
in Athens, Greece, in the mid-fifth century B.C. under 
the direction of the Athenian statesman Pericles and the 
design of the sculptor Phidias; 
Whereas the Parthenon is the ultimate expression of the ar-
tistic genius of Greece, the preeminent symbol of the 
Greek cultural heritage, including its art, architecture, 
and democracy, and of the contributions that modern 
Greeks and their forefathers have made to civilization; 
Whereas the Parthenon has served as a place of worship for 
ancient Greeks, Christians, and Muslims; 
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•HCON 122 IH 
Whereas the Parthenon has been adopted by imitation by the 
United States in many preeminent public buildings, in-
cluding the Lincoln Memorial; 
Whereas over 100 pieces of the Parthenon’s sculptures, now 
known as the Parthenon Marbles, were removed from the 
Parthenon under questionable circumstances between 
1801 and 1816 by British nobleman Thomas Bruce, sev-
enth Earl of Elgin, while Greece was still under Ottoman 
rule; 
Whereas the removal of the Parthenon Marbles, including 
their perilous voyage to Great Britain and their careless 
storage there for many years, greatly endangered the 
Marbles; 
Whereas the Parthenon Marbles were removed to grace the 
private home of Lord Elgin, who transferred the Marbles 
to the British Museum only after severe personal eco-
nomic misfortunes; 
Whereas the sculptures of the Parthenon were designed as an 
integral part of the structure of the Parthenon temple; 
the carvings of the friezes, pediments, and metopes are 
not merely statuary, movable decorative art, but are inte-
gral arts of the Parthenon, which can best be appreciated 
if all the Parthenon Marbles are reunified; 
Whereas the Parthenon is a universal symbol of culture, de-
mocracy, and freedom, making the Parthenon Marbles of 
concern not only to Greece but to all the world; 
Whereas, since obtaining independence in 1830, Greece has 
sought the return of the Parthenon Marbles; 
Whereas the return of the Parthenon Marbles would be a 
profound demonstration by the United Kingdom of its 
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•HCON 122 IH 
appreciation and respect for the Parthenon and classical 
art; 
Whereas returning the Parthenon Marbles to Greece would be 
a gesture of good will on the part of the British Par-
liament, and would set no legal precedent, nor in any 
other way affect the ownership or disposition of other ob-
jects in museums in the United States or around the 
world; 
Whereas the United Kingdom should return the Parthenon 
Marbles in recognition that the Parthenon is part of the 
cultural heritage of the entire world and, as such, should 
be made whole; 
Whereas Greece would provide care for the Parthenon Mar-
bles equal or superior to the care provided by the British 
Museum, especially considering the irreparable harm 
caused by attempts by the museum to remove the original 
color and patina of the Marbles with abrasive cleaners; 
Whereas Greece is constructing a new, permanent museum in 
full view of the Acropolis to house all the Marbles, pro-
tected from the elements in a safe, climate-controlled en-
vironment; 
Whereas Greece has pledged to work with the British govern-
ment to negotiate mutually agreeable conditions for the 
return of the Parthenon Marbles; 
Whereas the people of Greece have a greater, ancient bond 
to the Parthenon Marbles, which were in Greece for over 
2,200 years of the over 2,430-year history of the Par-
thenon; 
Whereas a resolution signed by a majority of members of the 
European Parliament urged the British government to 
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•HCON 122 IH 
return the Parthenon Marbles to their natural setting in 
Greece; and 
Whereas the British House of Commons Select Committee on 
Culture, Media and Sport is to be commended for exam-
ining the issue of the disposition of the Parthenon Mar-
bles in hearings held in 2000: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the 
Government of the United Kingdom should enter into ne-
gotiations with the Government of Greece to facilitate the 
return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. 
Æ 
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