The Controversy Between Greek And British About The Elgin Marbles

The greek government has disputed the british museum trustees legal title to the sculptures.

The controversy between greek and british about the elgin marbles.

The elgin marbles which once adorned the parthenon in athens and belong to a category of rare art treasures capable of causing an international incident have done precisely that. Some suggest that lord elgin bribed turkish officials and effectively stole the marbles. Today much controversy surrounds the ownership elgin marbles both the british and greeks argue that each have legal and moral claim over the parliament s marble adornments. In many ways the marbles are emblematic of the development of modern ideas of national heritage and global display which argues that localized regions have the best claim over items produced there.

Lydia koniordou wright s greek counterpart has asked for dialogue with britain over the antique sculptures known as the elgin marbles. Brought to britain in the early 1800s by lord elgin the. Britain and the elgin marbles britain s ownership of the parthenon sculptures has caused controversy since they were first brought to london in the early 1800s. The british protected the marbles from being damaged during the greek war of independence between 1821 and 1833 when the parthenon was used as an ottoman munitions store and subsequently attacked.

It s a collection of stone pieces rescued removed from the ruins of the ancient greek parthenon in the nineteenth century and now in demand to be sent back from the british museum to greece. The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece. The greek government has frequently demanded the return of the marbles but the british museum claiming among other reasons that it has saved the marbles from certain damage and deterioration has not acceded and the issue remains controversial. David d arcy reports on the ongoing dispute between the greek government and british museum authorities over the fifth century parthenon sculptures or the elgin marbles.

The greeks claim england. Keen to keep the greeks onside the debate became highly charged during the second world war.