Why does Britain have the Elgin Marbles?

A sculpture from the Elgin Marbles has been allowed to leave the UK for the first time since Lord Elgin turned up in Greece in early 1800 and had them stripped from the Parthenon and shipped to Britain. Greek campaigners argue that the Turks were a foreign force acting against the will of the people they had invaded.

What is the controversy with the Elgin Marbles?

The Elgin Marbles have been controversial for over 200 years, with the Acropolis Museum in Athens – which houses the remaining sculptures – keeping a space empty for them amongst its current display. Greece considers the Elgin Marbles stolen goods and has frequently demanded that they’re returned.

Did Britain pay for the Elgin Marbles?

In Britain, the acquisition of the collection was supported by some, while some others, such as Lord Byron, likened the Earl’s actions to vandalism or looting. Following a public debate in Parliament and its subsequent exoneration of Elgin, he sold the Marbles to the British government in 1816.

Who gave Lord Elgin permission to take the marbles?

According to the British Museum, Elgin was granted a firman (letter of instruction) granting him permission to take away the pieces… … “as a personal gesture after he encouraged the British forces in their fight to drive the French out of Egypt, which was then an Ottoman possession”.

When did the Elgin Marbles come to England?

In 1810 Elgin published a defense of his actions that silenced most of his detractors. The final shipment of the Elgin Marbles reached London in 1812, and in 1816 the entire collection was acquired from Elgin by the crown for the sum of £35,000, about half of Elgin’s costs.

How the Parthenon lost its marbles?

In 1801 a British nobleman stripped the Parthenon of many of its sculptures and took them to England. Controversy over their acquisition by the British Museum continues to this day. Was it preservation, or pillage?

What do the Parthenon marbles represent?

Argument 3: cultural heritage The Parthenon Sculptures were made in Greece by Greeks to honour the glory of Greece. They represent the cultural identity of millions of people.

Why the Elgin Marbles should be returned?

Perhaps the most impassioned argument for the return of the Parthenon sculptures is that the pieces represent a vital and central part of Greek cultural heritage. That they are the most prominent and symbolic link that modern Athens and modern Athenians have with the greatness of their ancient ancestors.

Did Elgin damage the Parthenon?

From 1801 to 1804, Elgin’s crews worked on the Acropolis, causing considerable damage to the sculptures and the monument itself. They chipped away and divided up as spoils nearly half of the sculptures decorating the Parthenon, along with some architectural pieces from the structure of the building.

Did Lord Elgin have permission to take the marbles?

How much did Lord Elgin pay for the Elgin Marbles?

Do the Elgin Marbles have a right to be kept?

The British Museum has also claimed they have a right to keep the Elgin Marbles because they effectively saved them from further damage. Ian Jenkins was quoted by the BBC, while associated with the British Museum, as saying “If Lord Elgin did not act as he did, the sculptures would not survive as they do.

How much did the British pay for the marbles?

Parliament decided to purchase the marbles for the “British nation” in 1816 by a vote of 82–30 for £35,000. They were deposited in the British Museum, where they were displayed in the Elgin Saloon (constructed in 1832), until the Duveen Gallery was completed in 1939.

Are the marbles in the British Museum legal?

Legality of the removal from Athens. Further, that written permission exists in the form of the firman, which is the most formal kind of permission available from that government, and that Elgin had further permission to export the marbles, legalises his (and therefore the British Museum’s) claim to the Marbles.

Are the Elgin Marbles a symbol of ancient Greece?

The British Museum also disputes Greece’s claim that the Elgin Marbles are a symbol of Greece. The museum asserts that the marbles are part of a larger interconnected narrative — that they represent western democracy and are an emblem of western European civilization. No nation, the argument goes, has a “claim” on antiquity.