The Controversy Between Greek And British About The Elgin Marbles

The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece.

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. 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. Keen to keep the greeks onside the debate became highly charged during the second world war. 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. Brought to britain in the early 1800s by lord elgin the. The greeks claim england. The greek government has disputed the british museum trustees legal title to the sculptures.

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. Ioannis stefanidis published 27 jun 2018. Some suggest that lord elgin bribed turkish officials and effectively stole the marbles. Lydia koniordou wright s greek counterpart has asked for dialogue with britain over the antique sculptures known as the elgin marbles.

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 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.