In recent decades, the preservation of historical artifacts and their repatriation from other countries have been primary concerns for governments and cultural officials worldwide.
Introduction
Founded in 1753, the British Museum is among the world’s richest museums, housing over 13 million treasures and historical artifacts from various cultures, peoples, and eras—from prehistoric times to the present. As one of the ancient European powers with the most colonies, Britain’s expansive collection at the British Museum testifies to an era of colonialism. From bronze artifacts from Benin, Nigeria, to the Rosetta Stone from Egypt, most items in the collection bear witness to Britain’s historical looting from its colonies. While many countries, including China and Italy, have made continuous efforts to repatriate their looted cultural artifacts, Britain has consistently refrained from returning these items to their original owners under the pretext of “protecting cultural artifacts.”
Greece, known for its rich history, is among the countries embroiled in disputes with Britain over the repatriation of historical artifacts, notably the Parthenon Marbles. In recent decades, Greece has made serious and continuous efforts in this regard.
The British Museum holds more than 100,000 valuable Greek antiquities, of which slightly more than six percent are on display. However, Greece seeks only the return of the Parthenon marble sculptures that Lord Elgin, the then-British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, removed from the Parthenon temple over 200 years ago, sparking one of the world’s most famous, complex, and longest cultural disputes.
History
Thomas Bruce, the British diplomat known as “Lord Elgin,” removed a significant portion of the Parthenon frieze between 1801 and 1805 when Greece was under Ottoman control. He obtained an official permit from the Ottoman authorities to visit the Parthenon. Although the original decree has been lost, a surviving copy states that Elgin had the necessary permission. Subsequently, the British government acquired these marble sculptures for display in the British Museum, thus transforming the treasures of the Greek nation into the “illustrious” treasures of the British Museum.
Efforts by Greece to Repatriate the Parthenon Marbles
Since its declaration of independence in 1832, Greece has repeatedly requested the return of these artistic and historical artifacts but has never succeeded. The first official request for their permanent return was sent to the British Museum in 1983. Greek authorities have made multiple efforts to repatriate the Parthenon marbles, indicating the country’s continuous determination and pursuit. These efforts include legal lawsuits, diplomatic requests, and the utilization of international organizations like UNESCO.
Over the past thirty years, numerous requests have been sent by Greek authorities to Britain. In particular, Prime Minister Mitsotakis, who came to power in July 2019, has consistently emphasized the importance of these marbles as the most symbolic link between modern Greece and its ancestors. Greece, in addition to its own efforts, has sometimes raised this demand through political, cultural, and artistic figures.
An important initiative undertaken by Athens to facilitate the return of the Parthenon sculptures and reach an agreement with the British Museum is the construction of a new museum on the Acropolis hill. They hope this new museum will one day become the home of these ancient marbles. The new Acropolis Museum in Athens, equipped with modern facilities, provides Greeks with better opportunities for the care, preservation, and display of ancient artifacts in their original location.
Despite all these efforts, the British government has not deviated from its positions over the years, legally considering the Parthenon marbles to belong to Britain. They have even passed laws to prevent the return of cultural artifacts. The British Museum, which initially claimed that the Greeks had no suitable place to preserve the ancient artifacts previously exposed to pollution and acid rain, changed its tone when a magnificent museum was built in Athens in 2009. They stated, “While the statues can be seen in the background of Athens’ historical timeline, in London, these artifacts can be observed in the context of world history.” The main reason for not agreeing to return these artifacts to Greece so far is the fear that dozens of other countries will also demand the return of their historical and artistic treasures. This prospect is strongly opposed by major museums worldwide because they are concerned about emptying their halls.
Recent years have seen a shift in public opinion in favor of returning these heavy artifacts. A 2018 survey showed that 56% of British participants believed these marbles should be returned to Greece. This issue has not been limited to public opinion but has also been accompanied by official debates, indicating the correctness of Greece’s program and actions.
According to The Guardian, simultaneously with the thirteenth anniversary of the opening of the Acropolis Museum in Athens, six members of the British Parliament demanded the return of these historical artifacts to their original source and considered returning these
Atefeh Ghaderi
Sources:
- University of Glasgow, Parthenon Marbles: the case for return, https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/art-crime/0/steps/11902
- Katie Razzall, Parthenon Sculptures: Pressure growing on British Museum, https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66239150
- Helena Smith, Greek PM to make Parthenon marbles key issue in meeting with Boris Johnson, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/15/greek-pm-kyriakos-mitsotakis-parthenon-marbles-boris-johnson
- https://www.iefimerida.gr/news/414597/independent-giati-ta-glypta-toy-parthenona-prepei-na-meinoyn-sti-vretania
- https://www.militaire.gr/giati-i-ellada-den-prepei-na-mila-gia-daneismo-ton-glypton-toy-parthenona-kon-ziazias/
- https://time.com/6340252/elgin-marbles-uk-greece/
- https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/11/28/why-britain-should-want-to-return-the-parthenon-marbles-argued-by-a-professor-of-aegean-hi
- https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/mar/13/no-plans-to-return-parthenon-elgin-marbles-to-greece-says-rishi-sunak
