Elgin Marbles

De Elgin Marbles (/ˈɛlɡɪn/ ELG-in)Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6. be a collection of Ancient Greek sculptures wey komot de Parthenon den oda structures from de Acropolis of Athens, dem remove from Ottoman Greece wey be shipped to Britain by agents of Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, wey now dem hold insyd de British Museum insyd London. Na de majority of de sculptures be created insyd de 5th century BC under de direction of sculptor den architect Phidias.

De term Parthenon Marbles anaa Parthenon Sculptures (Greek: Γλυπτά του Παρθενώνα) dey refer to sculptures—de frieze, metopes den pediments—from de Parthenon dem hold insyd various collections, principally de British Museum den de Acropolis Museum insyd Athens.Jenkins 2016, p. 325, n. 1.

From 1801 to 1812, na Elgin ein agents remove about half de surviving Parthenon sculptures, as well as sculptures wey komot de Erechtheion, de Temple of Athena Nike den de Propylaia, sending dem to Britain in efforts make dem establish a private museum. Na Elgin state he remove de sculptures plus permission of de Ottoman officials wey exercise authority insyd Athens at de time. Na de legality of Elgin ein actions be disputed.

Dema presence insyd de British Museum be de subject of longstanding international controversy. Insyd Britain, na de acquisition of de collection be supported by sam, while odas, such as Lord Byron, likened Elgin ein actions to vandalism anaa looting. Na a British parliamentary inquiry insyd 1816 conclude dat na Elgin acquire de marbles legally. Na Elgin sell dem to de British government insyd dat year, after wich dem pass into de trusteeship of de British Museum. Insyd 1983, na de Greek government formally ask de British government make dem return dem to Greece, wey na dem list de dispute plus UNESCO. Na de British government den de British Museum decline UNESCO ein offer of mediation. Insyd 2021, UNESCO call upon de British government make dem resolve de issue at de intergovernmental level.

De Greek government den supporters of de marbles dema return to Greece argue say na dem be obtained illegally anaa unethically, dat dem be of exceptional cultural importance to Greece, den dat dema cultural value go be best appreciated insyd a unified public display plus de oda major Parthenon antiquities insyd de Acropolis Museum. Na de British government den de British Museum argue dat na dem be obtained legally, dat dema return go set a precedent wich fi undermine de collections of de major museums of world culture, den dat de British Museum ein collection dey allow dem to be better viewed insyd de context of oda major ancient cultures den thus dey complements de perspective wey be provided by de Acropolis Museum. Discussions between British den Greek officials dey go on.

Name
De Elgin Marbles be named after de 7th Earl of Elgin, wey, na between 1801 den 1812, oversee dema removal from de Parthenon, de Erechtheion, de Temple of Athena Nike den de Propylaia den dema shipment to England. By an act of parliament, de British Museum Act 1816, na de collection be transferred to de British Museum on de condition say e be kept togeda den named "the Elgin Marbles".Jenkins (2016). pp 109–110 De term "Parthenon Marbles" anaa "Parthenon Sculptures" dey refer to de sculptures den architectural features dem remove specifically from de Parthenon. Dese currently be held insyd seven museums around de world, principally de Acropolis Museum den de British Museum.Beard (2002, pp. 11–12) counts nine museums, but this was before the restitutions made by Heidelberg University and the Vatican Museums. De term "Parthenon Sculptures" be used insyd dis sense by both de British Museum den de Greek government.

Mario Trabucco wey dey for Torretta talk say, even though dem call am 'Elgin Marbles' legally, people wey want am back, dem go prefer say na 'Parthenon Sculptures'.

 Background 
Dem build Parthenon for Acropolis of Athens from 447 BCE as temple for goddess Athena. E fit be say na Phidias dey handle di sculptural design. As di years pass, dem turn di building to church and mosque, so di sculptures get plenty damage, but di building still dey intact. During di Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War (1684–1699), di defending Turks make di Acropolis strong and use di Parthenon as gunpowder store. For 26 September 1687, one Venetian artillery round burst di gunpowder, e make big explosion wey blow away di middle part of di Parthenon. Di cella walls sef scatter join rubble. Three walls dey almost fall down, plus about three-fifths of di sculptures from di frieze don drop. About 300 people die for di explosion, as marble fragments dey sprinkle over a significant area. For next one and half century, dem dey use wetin remain for di structure as building material plus many valuable things sef dem carry go.

 Acquisition 
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:East_pediment_O_Parthenon_BM_n2.jpg|thumb|Parthenon Selene Horse
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Parthenon_sculptures,_British_Museum_(14063376069)_(2)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|Metope from de Elgin Marbles depicting a Centaur plus a Lapith fighting
For November 1798, di Earl of Elgin dey appointed as 'Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Britannic Majesty to di Sublime Porte of Selim III, Sultan of Turkey' (Greece dey part of Ottoman Empire then). Before e waka go take di post, e don ask di British government officials if dem go want to employ artists to do cast and drawing of di Parthenon sculpture. According to Elgin, 'di answer wey di Government give na negative entirely."

Elgin decide say he go do di work himself, and him bring some artists make dem take casts and drawings under di eye of di Neapolitan court painter, Giovanni Lusieri. Even though him just wan document di sculptures at first, for 1801 Elgin start dey carry material come out from di Parthenon and di structures wey dey surround am, all dis under Lusieri supervision. One local Turkish guy talk say di marble sculptures wey fall, dem dey burnt am to make lime for building, and when dem check di drawings wey dem don publish before, e show how di remains dey decay fast fast. Dem also carry pieces come out from di Erechtheion, di Propylaia, plus di Temple of Athena Nike, all insyde di Acropolis.

Dem carry dem from Greece go Malta, wey e be British protectorate, and dem stay there for many years before dem carry dem go Britain. Di digging and removal complete for 1812, wey e cost Elgin £74,240Encyclopædia Britannica Online (wey be like £5,670,000 for 2023 pounds). Elgin wan use di marbles to boost art for Britain,Jenkins (2016). pp. 96, 102 plus him big dream be make government buy am.

To make case for public spending, Elgin buy house for London, set up sculptures dey like private museum, make artists fit see am, and later, public too.St.Clair (1998), pp. 162–172 Elgin start talk for sell di collection go British Museum for 1811, but di matter jam when government offer just £30,000; na less than half wetin e spend for dem.St Clair (1967). pp. 184–186 Di next few years, plenty people show interest for classical Greece, and Elgin also get testimonials from Ennio Quirino Visconti wey be director for Louvre, plus Antonio Canova from Vatican Museum, wey confirm say di marbles get high artistic value.St Clair (1967). pp. 220–228 For 1816, House of Commons Select Committee wey Lord Elgin request, talk say dem get high artistic value and dem recommend make government buy am for £35,000 to boost fine arts for Britain.St Clair (1967). pp. 250–260Jenkins (2016). p. 107 For June 1816, after more debate, parliament give the green light for dem to buy the marbles with vote wey be 82–30. Dem carry de marbles go British Museum for 8 August.Jenkins (2016). pp. 109–110

 Description 
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parthenon_section_annotated.svg|thumb|Annotated sectional view of the Parthenon with parts in the British Museum shaded
Di marbles wey Elgin get include 21 figures from di statues wey dey east and west pediments, 15 out of 92 metope panels wey show battles between Lapiths den di centaurs, plus 75 metres of di Parthenon frieze wey dey on top di architrave for di temple. E mean say, dem be more than half of wetin dey remain for di sculptural decoration of di Parthenon.

Elgin dey collect plenty things wey come from other buildings for Athenian Acropolis – like caryatid wey come from Erechtheion; four slabs wey dey from the parapet frieze of Temple of Athena Nike; plus many other architectural pieces from Parthenon, Propylaia, Erechtheion, plus Temple of Athena Nike – plus the Treasury of Atreus for Mycenae too.

British Museum dey gather some extra pieces from Acropolis, wey dem get from different collections no related to Elgin, like Léon-Jean-Joseph Dubois, William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, plus de Society of Dilettanti.

 Legality of removal from Athens 
For February 1816, one committee for House of Commons gather people talk whether Elgin take the marbles legit or no, and if government go fit buy am. When dem ask Elgin for the committee, e talk say the work wey im agents do for Acropolis, and how dem carry the marbles go, na by firman (that one be term wey Western people dey use for any official Ottoman order) wey Ottoman government give dem for July 1801, and dem carry out with approval of voivode (the civil governor for Athens) and dizdar (military commander for Acropolis citadel). For March 1810, another firman land, wey give green light for second shipment of marbles from Athens to Britain.Williams (2009). p. 23 Elgin tell the committee, "the thing dey happen in front of everybody... plus all de local leaders dey involved, plus de Turkish government too."

Di committee clear Elgin from all di wahala say he take di marbles by bad means or misuse him power as ambassador. But wetin Elgin talk still dey cause palaver. No official record of di July 1801 firman show for Turkish archives. One Italian translation of di supposed firman dey for British Museum, plus one English version wey dem carry go 1816 Select Committee.St Clair, William: Lord Elgin and the Marbles. Oxford University Press, US, 3rd ed., (1998) Di document talk small for dis part,Williams (2009). pp. 6–7

Vassilis Demetriades wey dey from University of Crete talk say dis document no be firman (decree from Sultan), nor be buyuruldi (order from Grand Vizier), na wetin dem dey call mektub (official letter) from de Sultan acting Grand Vizier wey no get force of law. Dyfri Williams yan say even though e no be firman for technical matter, dem dey use di term well for diplomatic and court area to mean different kinds of official Ottoman documents. E talk say di document fit be buyuruldi, but "[w]hatever di correct form of di document be, e get so you go follow am, plus people follow am."Williams (2009). pp. 8–12 Historian Edhem Eldem too dey argue say di document fit be real and e call am firman for di broad meaning of di word.
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parthenon_pediment_statues.jpg|thumb|Statuary from the east pediment
Dem dey argue whether di document gree Elgin people make dem remove di sculptures wey dey attach to di Parthenon and other buildings. Demetriades, David Rudenstine and some folks talk say di document only gree Elgin crew make dem carry artefacts wey dem recover for di excavations wey dem fit do, no be di ones wey still dey on top di buildings. Williams talk say the document be dey “rather open ended” and di civil governor gree with how clergyman Philip Hunt—wey dey follow dem as Elgin's chaplain—interpret am, wey fit allow dem remove sculptures wey dem fix for buildings.Williams (2009). p. 20 Beard come conclude say, “No matter how you go dey check di text, e no go fit give you di answer. Just like with documents wey dey come from head office, how dem go interpret am go depend on di men wey dey carry di orders on de spot.Beard (2002). p. 91

Legal guy John Henry Merryman dey argue say di document just get small authority to remove di fixed sculptures, but e be say legally, wetin Elgin do don get approval from di Ottoman officials. For 1802, di Ottoman officials for Constantinople release documents give di civil governor and military boss for Athens wey approve wetin dem do, and for March 1810, dem give command make Elgin fit carry shipment of marbles from Greece go Britain.

Legal scholar Catharine Titi talk say Sir Robert Adair report say di Ottomans for 1811 "no gree" say Elgin get any property insyde di sculptures. Legal scholar Alexander Herman and historian Edhem Eldem talk say di papers wey dey for di Turkish archives show say dis "no gree" na just strategy to delay matter for diplomatic reason, and di Porte later allow di marbles make dem carry go Britain for late 1811.BOA, HAT 1277/49548, AH 1225 (AD 1810), quoted in Eldem (2011), p. 292

Plenty people wey see dem carry marbles from Acropolis, even pipo from Elgin’s crew, talk say expensive bribes and gifts to local big men dey necessary make dem work go smooth. Dem say dem pay small money give disdar, just to make am fit continue di work. No money really dey mentioned to start di work, na because of official permission.Williams (2019). pp. 13, 19 Merryman talk say bribery no go make taking di marbles illegal for di kind time wey dem dey.Merryman (1985). p. 1901–1902

Rudenstine talk say dem go need check am well to see if, for that time, bribery fit matter for dis kind official transactions under Ottoman or British law.Rudenstine (1999) p. 370 Herman dey argue say bribing officials no dey legal for British and Ottoman law back then, but the Porte no do anything to their officials for Athens, so dem just allow wetin dem dey do slide.

For May 2024, one spokesperson wey dey represent Turkey, wey be like the continue state of de Ottoman Empire, talk say dem no sabi the firman and dem support make dem return the marbles. Di spokesman come talk say na UK colonialists remove di marbles, him add say: "I no think say we fit talk about di legality, even during dat time plus under di law wey dey then." For response, archaeologist Mario Trabucco della Torretta talk say scholars dey believe say di British copy of di firman be true plus e fit be say did grant Elgin permission to carry di sculptures comot.

 Contemporary reaction 
When Elgin yarn for 1807, he show first shipment of marbles for London,Jenkins (2016). p. 102 e be ‘instant hit’ for plenty people wey admire di sculptures and dey support their come. Di sculptor John Flaxman talk say dem better pass ‘di treasures of Italy’,Jenkins (2016). pp. 102–104 plus Benjamin West call dem ‘sublime specimens of di purest sculpture’.William St Clair (1967). p. 167 Henry Fuseli dey enthusiastic, and im friend Benjamin Haydon become tireless fan for their importance. But di classicist Richard Payne Knight talk say dem be Roman additions or work of inferior craftsmen, while painter Ozias Humphrey call dem ‘a mass of ruins’.

Lord Byron, some years later, dey vex well well for dem wey wan carry di marbles go from Greece, he call Elgin vandal.Encyclopædia Britannica, The Acropolis, p. 6/20, 2008, O.Ed. For him poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage wey him publish for 1812, he talk about di Parthenon like dis:E be eye wey no go cry if e see, 

Dem don spoil your walls, your shrines don dey go, 

Na British hand wey suppose dey protect dem, 

Dem don carry all your relics wey no fit come back. 

This hour wey dem leave their land, 

Dem don come chop your heart again, 

And snatch'd thy shrinking gods to northern climes abhorred!Byron no be di only person wey dey vex for di removal for dat time. Sir John Newport talk say:

Di Honourable Lord don use di worst way wey no dey justified and don do serious theft. E be serious matter say person wey represent our country go carry di things wey di Turks plus other barbarians  don dey consider sacred.

Edward Daniel Clarke see dem take out di metopes and he call di action 'spoliation', he write say 'di form of di temple don suffer pass wetin e don already feel from di Venetian gun dem', and 'no workman wey dey work for di thing ... no one no show say dem dey worry say such wahala dey necessary, after dem don already make moulds and casts of all di sculpture wey dem designed to remove'. When Sir Francis Ronalds waka go Athens meet Giovanni Battista Lusieri for 1820, e talk say, "If Lord Elgin get real taste instead of greedy heart, e for do di opposite of wetin e don do, e for carry di rubbish comot den leave di ancient things."
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Temporary_Elgin_Room_at_the_Museum_in_1819.jpg|thumb|De Trustees insyde de Temporary Elgin Room, 1819, by Archibald Archer, depicts de Elgin Marbles at de British Museum surrounded by museum staff, a trustee, plus visitors.
For 1810, Elgin drop one paper wey e defend im actions, wey e talk say na only when e see say the marbles no dey under correct care from Ottoman people, e decide to carry am come away. E fear say dem fit enter Napoleon army hand if e no act fast.St Clair (1967). p. 182Encyclopædia Britannica, "Elgin Marbles", 2008, online ed.

Felicia Hemans gree buy di marbles, and for her Modern Greece: A Poem (1817), defied Byron with the question:

And who go fit cry say, wey dem don save am from dem, Those wey dey spoil fine things and no like art, 

Thy relics, Athens! wey dem carry go other side, 

Still dey get respect from every heart for you?and she talk about Haydon and other people wey dey support how dem fit reach insyde her notes.Modern Greece, London 1817, pp. 45, 65–66

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe dey talk say di British government wey go buy di marbles go bring 'new age of great art'.Beard (2002) p. 16 Di marbles show for public for temp room inside di British Museum for 1817 and e soon break attendance record for di museum.Jenkins (2016). p. 110 John Keats waka go di British Museum too for 1817, him record wetin e dey feel for di sonnet wey dem call 'On Seeing di Elgin Marbles'. Some lines for him 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' dey feel like e inspire from di Elgin Marbles visit. William Wordsworth sef see di marbles and e talk sweet tings about demma aesthetics for letter wey e write to Haydon.

Dem go show di marbles for di Elgin Saloon wey dem build specially (1832), and e turn di favorite models wey people dey use train for fine arts. Plaster casts of di marbles dey hot for market and dem share am give museums, private collectors plus big men throughout de world.Jenkins (2016). p. 111Beard (2002). pp. 16–18 Dem carry am go Duveen Gallery, wey dem name after Joseph Duveen, 1st Baron Duveen, for 1939, and dem still dey gather plenty people wey wan see am.

 Damage 

 Late antiquity plus Byzantine era 
Some time after dem change Parthenon to Christian church for 6th-century CE, Christians go spoil de metopes for north, west and east side of Parthenon to remove images of pagan gods. Dem damage e too much, we no fit identify the images wey dey for di affected metopes well well.Robert Ousterhout (2005) "'Bestride the Very Peak of Heaven': The Parthenon after Antiquity." In Neils (ed). The Parthenon, from Antiquity to the Present. pp. 306–307

 Venetians 
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elgin_Marbles_east_pediment.jpg|thumb|Statuary from de East Pediment
Di Venetian bombardment wey happen for Parthenon for 1687 spoil plenti sculptures, plus some wey Elgin come remove later. As dem dey try remove some big sculptures, di Venetian general Francesco Morosini cause more wahala. E no go fit collect dem well, so one sculpture of Poseidon plus two horses from Athena chariot fall down break. Plenti sculptures plus small pieces dem  Venetians don remove.

 Elgin 
Elgin dey yarn with Italian sculptor Antonio Canova for 1803 how e go fit restore di marbles well well. Dem dey talk say Canova be di best sculptural restorer for di world that time; Elgin write say Canova no wan touch di marbles sekof e dey fear say e go spoil dem more.

To make dem fit transport by Elgin, dem don chop off di columns' tops and plenty metopes and frieze slabs from di main structure, e don spoil di Parthenon wey no go fit fix back.Where Gods Yearn for Long-Lost Treasures , The New York Times One ship wey carry marbles on di British brig Mentor catch rain for Cape Matapan wey dey south Greece plus sink near Kythera, but di Earl come use im own money save am; e take dem two years to bring dem back come up.

 British Museum 
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tools_used_for_the_cleaning_of_the_Elgin_Marbles.JPG|thumb|Tools dem dey use to clean de marbles for 1937–38Oddy, Andrew, Andrew Oddy The Conservation of Marble Sculptures in the British Museum before 1975 , 47(3).
Di artefacts wey dey London don suffer from 19th-century pollution wey go on till mid-20th century, plus dem don suffer irreparable damage from di cleaning wey British Museum workers dey use.Oddy, Andrew, "The Conservation of Marble Sculptures in the British Museum before 1975", in Studies in Conservation, vol. 47, no. 3, (2002), pp. 145–146, Quote: "However, for a short time in the late 1930s copper scrapers were used to remove areas of discolouration from the surface of the Elgin Marbles. New information is presented about this lamentable episode."

E be back as 1838, scientist Michael Faraday don dey asked make e find solution for di wahala wey di marbles dey spoil. Di outcome na wetin e talk for beta letter wey e send give Henry Milman, wey be commissioner for di National Gallery.Oddy, Andrew, "The Conservation of Marble Sculptures in the British Museum before 1975", in Studies in Conservation, vol. 47, no. 3, (2002), p. 146Jenkins, I., '"Sir, they are scrubbing the Elgin Marbles!" – some controversial cleanings of the Parthenon Sculptures', Minerva 10(6) (1999) 43–45.Di marbles wey I see dem, dem really dey dirt ... from dust and soot wey pile on top. ... I see di body of di marble wey dey under di surface, e white. ... When I use water with sponge or soft cloth, e fit wash away di big dirt. ... But when I use fine, gritty powder with water, e fit clear di top dirt quick, but e still left plenty dirt wey dey inside di marble. I come try alkaline, both carbonated and caustic; dem help small to loose di surface dirt ... but e no fit bring back di marble true color and clean state. I finally use diluted nitric acid, but even dat one no work. ... After I check am, I dey feel say e go hard to show di marbles for di British Museum make dem pure and white like as dem be originally before.Another try to clean di marbles happen for 1858. Richard Westmacott, wey dem appoint as di person wey go supervise di 'moving and cleaning di sculptures' for 1857, write letter wey di British Museum Standing Committee approve on 13 March 1858.Oddy, Andrew, "The Conservation of Marble Sculptures in the British Museum before 1975", in Studies in Conservation, vol. 47, no. 3, (2002), p. 148I go talk am sharp say some of the works don get plenty wahala from people wey no sabi or no care – with oil and lard – plus dem restore am with wax and resin. This kind mistake don make am lose color. I go try fix am without using any small thing wey fit spoil di surface of de marble.Another effort to clean di marbles happen for 1937-38. Dis time, dem build new Gallery wey go house di collection. Dem mine di Pentelic marble from Mount Pentelicus wey dey north of Athens, di sculptures wey dem make with am dey get brownish colour like honey wen air touch am; dem dey call dis colour di marble's 'patina'.Gardner, Ernest Arthur: A Handbook of Greek Sculpture. Published 1896 Macmillan;  But Lord Duveen, wey finance di whole thing, think say di marbles be originally white,Oddy, Andrew, "The Conservation of Marble Sculptures in the British Museum before 1975", in Studies in Conservation, vol. 47, no. 3, (2002), p. 149 so e fit don tell di masons wey dey work for di project to remove di discolouration from some of di sculptures. Dem use seven scrapers, one chisel and one piece of carborundum stone. Now dem don store am for British Museum Preservation Department. De cleaning wey dem do scratch some detail from plenty carvings.Paterakis AB. [Untitled]. Studies in Conservation 46(1): 79–80, 2001  Harold Plenderleith talk say dem remove surface for some places reach one-tenth of an inch (2.5 mm).

British Museum talk say dem fit make mistakes for dat time.mistakes were made at that time , The Guardian. Another time, dem also talk say di damage don dey blow too much for political wahala and say di Greeks dey clean di marbles too much before dem carry am go Britain. For one big talk wey happen in 1999 about di cleaning of di marbles, curator Ian Jenkins wey be deputy keeper of Greek and Roman old things, talk say, 'British Museum no be perfect, e no be Pope. E history get as e be, with good intentions but wahala plenty, and di cleaning for 1930s na one of di wahala.' Still, im talk say di main reason for di damage wey happen to di marbles na di weather wey don dey happen for Acropolis for 2000 years.

For one newspaper article, American archaeologist Dorothy King talk say the method wey dem use for 1937–1938, Greeks sef dey use am for later years pass British. She still yan say Italians dey find am acceptable. British Museum talk say dem do similar clean up for Temple of Hephaestus inside Athenian Agora by de conservation team from American School of Classical Studies at AthensJ. M. Cook and John Boardman, "Archaeology in Greece, 1953", The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 74, (1954), p. 147 for 1953, dem use steel chisels plus brass wire. Greek ministry of Culture talk say dem clean am carefully, just de surface salt crusts. The 1953 American report conclude say the method wey dem use na to clear black dirt wey rain water cause plus e show say carving quality high, revealing at de same time "a few surviving particles of colour".
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elgin_marbles_frieze.jpg|thumb|Section of a frieze from de Elgin (Parthenon) Marbles
One study wey Emma Payne do for 2023 talk say di damage wey dem cause from di 1930s cleaning no be too much and we fit consider am based on wetin dey happen that time. Research wey dem do on di surface of di sculptures with archaeometric techniques, like Visible-Induced Luminescence (VIL), show say plenty traces of ancient colors dey still dey for di sculptures, wey go support di idea say di cleaning damage no be as bad like people dey think before.

Documents wey British Museum release under Freedom of Information Act show say some small accidents, thefts plus people wey dey vandalize don cause more damage for di sculptures.Hastings, Chris. Revealed: how rowdy schoolboys knocked a leg off one of the Elgin Marbles , The Daily Telegraph, 15 May 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2010. Dis one include one incident for 1961 wey two schoolboys knock part of centaur leg, and for 1966, four shallow lines dey scratch for di back of one figure by some bad guys. For 1970, dem scratch letters for di upper right thigh of another figure. Four years after, thieves spoil di dowel hole for centaur hoof as dem dey try pull lead pieces. For June 1981, falling glass skylight make one west pediment figure chop small chip.

 Return controversy 

 Greek requests for return 
For 1836, King Otto wey dey run new Greece, e go ask British government make dem return some Elgin Marbles (the four big stones wey dey show for Temple of Athena Nike). Then for 1846, after Greece talk say dem need am, Britain come send them full set of de Parthenon frieze casts. But for 1890, Athens try beg make dem return the original frieze but e no work. For 1927, the Greek minister wey dey London try ask for dem to bring back some architecture pieces, but e no work at all. For 1983, Greek government dey beg British government make dem return all di sculptures wey dem remove from Acropolis for Athens wey still dey British Museum now, and for 1984, dem go list di wahala with UNESCO. For 2000, some group for British parliament gather do inquiry on illegal trade wey dey affect cultural property, and dem sabi talk about the disputes wey dey for de marbles. Dem hear from de Greek foreign minister, George Papandreou, wey talk say the matter of who own am be second to de ethics plus culture wey dey push for make dem return de sculptures. But the committee no give any suggestions about wetin go happen to de marbles insyde de future.Beard (2002). pp. 177–181

For 2000, Greek government sef start build new Acropolis Museum, wey dem open for 2009. Dis museum dey try arrange di Parthenon sculptures wey still dey survive (including di ones wey Elgin get) as dem be when dem dey for di Parthenon, plus to reply people wey talk say di Elgin Marbles go be better preserved and displayed if dem dey for British Museum.Beard (2002). pp. 176, 184 Acropolis Museum dey showcase small part of di frieze wey remain (around 30% don lost or spoil), dem place am how e suppose be, make e fit see Parthenon well. Di position of de elements  wey dey London dey clearly marked with white casts, plus dem leave space for where di sculptures no dey again.

For 2013, Greek government shout make UNESCO help dem talk with British people about how dem go return di marbles, but British government plus British Museum no gree listen to UNESCO. Fast forward to 2021, UNESCO don tlak say British government suppose return di sculptures, e don call upon United Kingdom make dem open negotiations with Greece.

Late 2022, dem British and Greek people start talk about the future of di marbles again. When dem ask British Culture Secretary, Michelle Donelan, about if dem go fit return di Marbles, she talk say: "I dey feel some of di points but I believe say e be  very dangerous den slippy road to embark down", she dey fear say if dem return dem, more cultural things wey dey for Britain go also need to go back to where dem come from.

For November 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancel meeting wey him wan do with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sekof of wetin Mitsotakis talk about di marbles.

 Rationale for returning to Athens 
Dem wey dey argue say make dem return di marbles, dem mention legal, moral, culture, conservation and art reasons. Demma points include:

 Dem marbles dey come from illegal way, or at least no unethical, so e good make dem return am to the owner wey get am.
 Di marbles dey carry universal cultural value, but dem too be part of Greece unique cultural heritage, plus dis place na di best spot make dem showcase am.
 Di Parthenon sculptures wey dey all over di world suppose come together make dem fit restore di 'organic elements' wey 'now dey without any connection, uniformity plus history of di monument wey dem belong to' plus make visitors fit enjoy dem as one whole.Nicoletta Divari-Valakou, (Director of the Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Athens), "Revisiting the Parthenon: National Heritage in the Age of Globalism" in Mille Gabriel & Jens Dahl, (eds.) Utimut : past heritage – future partnerships, discussions on repatriation in the 21st Century, Copenhagen : International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and Greenland National Museum & Archives, (2008)
 If we fit show all di Parthenon Marbles wey dey around for dia original history and culture place, plus other Greek old things, e go help people sabi dem better and understand wetin dem be.
 Dem go keep the marbles safe for Acropolis Museum, e get beta technology wey go protect and preserve de exhibits well well.
 De Elgin Marbles don chop serious wahala from bad conservation plus accidents for London, e nor sure say dem go de better preserved there.Beard (2002). pp. 166–178
 If dem return Parthenon sculptures, e no go set any standard for other things wey people dey claim back, because Parthenon get special 'universal value' way e different.Nicoletta Divari-Valakou, (Director of the Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Athens), "Revisiting the Parthenon: National Heritage in the Age of Globalism" in Mille Gabriel & Jens Dahl, (eds.) Utimut : past heritage – future partnerships, discussions on repatriation in the 21st Century, Copenhagen : International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and Greenland National Museum & Archives, (2008) passim; (see also Conference summary )

 Rationale wey de remain insyde London 
Plenty people dey talk wetin dem tink, like scholars, British leaders plus British Museum, about why dem go keep Elgin Marbles for London. Dem talk say:

 Elgin buy de marbles correct way, plus no court go side with any Greek wey dey complain.Jenkins (2016). p 99Herman (2023), chapter 3.
 Elgin save de marbles from wahala, and the ones wey dey British Museum dey better pass the ones wey dem leave behind. British Museum get right to keep and show wetin dem preserve from destruction.
 E no go fit bring all di Parthenon sculptures together as one, cause half don lost or destroy by 1800.
 British Museum dey show di marbles beta as dem fit mix with odas big ancient cultures, e go show di whole picture wey Acropolis Museum dey provide.
 If we go fulfill all di restitution claims, e go scatter plenty of di big museums for di world – dis one dey make some European and American museums dey fear, and one wahala fit be di Nefertiti Bust wey dey for Berlin's Neues Museum; plus, plenty other European museums dey hold some parts of di Parthenon marbles too.
 British Museum dey collect like 6 million people every year, while Acropolis Museum get only 1.5 million visitors. If dem carry di marbles go Greece, e go seriously cut down how many people fit see di marbles.
 Elgin Marbles don dey show for public for England since 1807 plus e don turn part of British cultural heritage.

 Public campaigns for return 
Biko, outside Greece, di campaign wey wan bring back di marbles start for 1981 when dem form di International Organising Committee – Australia – for di Restitution of di Parthenon Marbles, Den for 1983, dem form di British Committee for di Reunification of di Parthenon Marbles. Plenty campaign groups de exist for Greece plus everywhere insyde de world too.

Plenty British and international stars like comedian Stephen Fry plus actors Liam Neeson den George Clooney, don talk say dem dey support make dem bring back di marbles.

 Opinion polls 
One Ipsos MORI poll wey dem do for Britain in 1998 show say 39% dem want make dem send the marbles go Greece, and 15% want make dem dey for Britain; 45% nobody get mind or go fit vote if dem ask am for referendum. Another Mori poll wey dem do for 2002 show same kind results. One YouGov poll for 2021 come show say 59% of Britons believe say the Parthenon marbles suppose dey for Greece, 18% say make dem dey for Britain, and 18% no sabi.

 British press 
De Guardian drop one write-up for 2020 wey dem dey back de Parthenon marbles make dem come back. For January 2022, De Times change their mind wey dem don dey support make dem keep de marbles, put out one write-up wey dey call make dem return am go Greece. De Daily Telegraph come publish one write-up for January 2023 wey dey talk say any decision wey concern de Elgin Marbles make dem return to Greece, e go fit be British parliament wey go decide am.

 British Museum Act 1963 
De British Museum Act 1963 be law wey UK Parliament make wey no allow British Museum sell dem things, unless e get some special case. If dem wan change de law, Parliament go need approve am.

 Loans plus copies 
De British Museum don make plaster casts of di marbles and dey share am to plenty museums around di whole world. For 2022, Institute of Digital Archaeology (IDA) wey dey Oxford ask British Museum make dem scan di Parthenon marbles to fit make robot-chop marble copies. But di museum no gree for di request, and di Greek government no wan talk anything about di project.

British Museum don lend river-god figure, wey fit be Ilisus, go Hermitage Museum for Saint Petersburg as dem dey celebrate 250 years. E dey show for there from 6 December 2014 to 18 January 2015. Dis na di first time wey British Museum lend part of Parthenon Marbles, and e cause some controversy. British Museum talk say dem dey open to lend dem marbles go Greece, but Greek government no wan agree to di standard clause wey go accept say British Museum get di ownership of any loan items.

 Check am too 

 Pedimental sculpture
 Palermo Fragment
 Greece–United Kingdom relations
 Las Incantadas, portico taken from Thessaloniki
 Saint Demetra, sculpture taken from Eleusis

 References 

Sources






Read further


  (with essays by Robert Browning and Graham Binns) 






 External links 

Acropolis Museum
The Parthenon Frieze
The British Museum Parthenon pages

Pros den cons of restitution

British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles' site
The Parthenon Project
"The Case for Lord Elgin," Classics for All
Gillen Wood, "The strange case of Lord Elgin's nose": the cultural context of the early 19th century debate over the marbles, the politics & the aesthetics, imperialism and hellenism
Two memorandums submitted to the UK Parliamentary Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport in 2000.
"Keeping our share", Aothen Magazine: Argues for the dismissal of the Greek claim, and for retaining the Marbles as part of cultural history.


Category:5th-century BC Greek sculptures
Category:Parthenon
Category:Art den cultural repatriation
Category:Greece–United Kingdom relations
Category:Ancient Greek den Roman sculptures insyd de British Museum
Category:History of museums
Category:History of Athens
Category:Marble sculptures insyd de United Kingdom
Category:Sculptures by Phidias
Category:Greek artifacts outsyd Greece
Category:19th century insyd Athens
Category:Horses insyd art
Category:Architectural sculpture
Category:Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin
Category:Sculptures of Dionysus