What Are The Elgin Marbles Controversy

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.

What are the elgin marbles controversy.

The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas bruce 7th lord elgin who was british ambassador to the ottoman empire 1799 1803. 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. Greece maintains that their demand is for permanent return of the parthenon marbles. Live broadcast of the intellegence squared parthenon marbles debate at the new acropolis museum.

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. Meanwhile in london the elgin marbles started a new chapter of their history as museum objects. Making a grand gresture by returning the elgin 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.

The parthenon marbles greek. γλυπτά του παρθενώνα also known as the elgin marbles ˈ ɛ l ɡ ɪ n are a collection of classical greek marble sculptures made under the supervision of the architect and sculptor phidias and his assistants. Apparently elgin obtained written permission to excavate and remove the sculptures from the sultan however the original document was lost. Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures.

The real story of the elgin marbles. They were originally part of the temple of the parthenon and other buildings on the acropolis of athens. Acquiring the sculptures had bankrupted elgin and he was keen to sell them to the government. Some doubt the legality of the aquisition.

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. 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.