Lord byron and many others attacked elgin s actions in print.
The controversy of 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.
In the 19th century pollution seriously harmed the sculptures and the british museum s attempts to clean them using sandpaper chisels and acid also caused irreparable damage.
A team of lawyers in london had recommended taking legal action for the long disputed collection of artifacts but athens has opted for.
A public debate in parliament followed elgin s publication and parliament again exonerated elgin s actions eventually deciding to purchase the marbles for the british nation in 1816 by a vote of 82 30.
The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece.
In 1810 elgin published a defence of his actions but the subject remained controversial.
A select committee of parliament was established to examine the sculpture and the possibility of acquiring it for britain.
Greece rules out suing british museum over elgin marbles.
The british defend their ownership of the marbles based on greece s lack of an adequate museum and the fact that they paid for the pieces mcguigan 2.
The first serious discussion about returning the elgin marbles is said to have been initiated in an exchange of correspondence in a newspaper in 1925 with courtenay pollock arguing that the time.
Controversy over their acquisition by the british museum continues to this day.
It is still doubtful whether lord elgin was ever truly granted permission to take the marbles.
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.
The marbles have suffered considerable damage while in london.
Even before all the sculptures soon known as the elgin marbles went on display in london lord byron attacked elgin in stinging verses.
In 1801 a british nobleman stripped the parthenon of many of its sculptures and took them to england.
An outcry arose over the affair and elgin was assailed for rapacity vandalism and dishonesty in hauling the grecian treasures to london.