The Parthenon Marbles are also known as the Elgin Marbles. They are a collection of Classical Greek marble sculptures, inscriptions and architectural pieces that were originally part of the temple of Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens.
From 1801 to 1812, Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, of which Athens had been a part for some 350 years, acting with the full knowledge and permission of the Ottoman authorities, removed about half of the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon and transported them to Britain by sea.
The marbles were purchased from Elgin by the British government in 1816 and were passed to the British Museum, where they stand now on display in the purpose-built Duveen Gallery. The British
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Greece disputes the subsequent purchase of the Marbles by the British Government and urges the return of the marbles to Greece for their unification.
The safekeeping of the marbles would be ensured at the New Acropolis Museum, situated to the south of the Acropolis hill. It was built to hold the Parthenon sculpture in natural sunlight that characterizes the Athenian climate, arranged in the same way, as they would have been on the Parthenon. The museum's facilities have been equipped with state-of-the-art technology for the protection and preservation of exhibits. Prior to the existence of the new museum, the side that refuses to return the marbles claims that the Greeks don’t have a proper place to put the artifacts.
In the PBS interview with Christopher Hitchens and James Cuno, Hitchens argues for the reunification of the sculptures that were intended to be seen as a unity. These would be displayed in the Acropolis Museum adjacent to the
Acropolis of Athens, and more specifically the Parthenon is the most mysterious. It is thought to be the most characteristic monument in in Greek history. Symbolizing the beginning of Western civilization, it is also an icon of European history. The Parthenon was dedicated to Athena, Goddess of the city of Athens and the goddess of wisdom. In modern culture, more than half the sculptures are now located in the British Museum in London. Christianity was established in the 6th century. With this development, the temples were changed to Christian churches. Today the return of the Parthenon sculptures to their original home of Acropolis is highly anticipated.
Those Marbles are Greek and belong to Greece, and not to who stole them. The Parthenon Marbles, known as the Elgin Marbles, name downgrade the practice rapture of the sculptures from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin, is a large collection of marble sculptures which had been stolen by Thomas Bruce, (Earl of Elgin). Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 until 1803 and again in Britain in 1806. Taking advantage of the Ottoman hegemony in Greek territory, managed and acquired firman from the Ottoman Sultan for the disestablishment of the Parthenon to measure and fix their plans, and then proceeded to remove and smuggled them. These sculptures were stored in the British Museum in London 1816. To Ottoman firman, which owns the British Museum does not bear the signature and seal of the Sultan or the usual invocation to God. And without them, the Elgin and therefore the British Museum doesn't have any legal proof of ownership of the Parthenon Marbles, according to a report by experts (Newsletter, Nov. 2008). The 1936 report placed the Duveen created for this purpose. Since 1983, on the initiative of the then Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri, Greece has made efforts to bring back the Elgin Marbles to
In “Bring Them Home,” the author explains why certain countries sell their artifacts to protect them from conflicts in their country. Many countries need a place to send their very important valuables to prevent them from getting damaged. A country will sale or send their valuables to a trustable country.As stated in the article,Greece sent “stunning marble sculptures” that were in the Parthenon Temple to keep them from being damaged by the Turkish Government. Now,Greece has took their independence back and wants their sculptures back.It’s only right to send them back considering that Britain’s job was to
The controversy began almost one hundred years ago. Between 1801 and 1812, Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, removed several sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens and shipped them to England, where he sold them to the British Museum in 1816. 167 years later, Melina Mercouri, Greek Minister of Culture, requested that the “Elgin” Marbles be returned. This request sparked one of the greatest debates the art world has ever known. For the past two decades, people have argued over who has the rights to these Marbles. The Greek position is certainly understandable from a cultural and emotional point of view. However, from the standpoint of
For obvious reasons, preservation of the marbles takes priority to both the Greek and the British. Integrity and distribution rely on the preservation of the marbles, therefore everyone
The Parthenon was built in Greece in 447 B.C, and was a strong symbol of Athenian wealth in Ancient Greece. Located in Athens, the Parthenon was dedicated to Athena, an important patron to the city. The Parthenon holds the city of Athens treasury office (Doc 6). The Parthenon's purpose
The Parthenon Frieze is the inner most decorative piece on the outside ceiling of the Parthenon. Its construction finished in 447BC and it was built by Phidias on the orders of Pericles. (1) The Frieze today is situated in multiple museums around Europe. The majority of the Frieze is located in the British Museum where the 80m’s of Frieze has its own room in the Duveen Gallery that was built to replicate the position from where it was taken from on the Parthenon in Athens. In 1938 Duveen and his associates undertook a cleaning process on the marbles using copper tools and carborundum which damaged the marble but gave it a whiter, more authentic classical look, due to the decolouration which had happened to it. When this came to the attention of the public years later, it caused outrage as the directors had chosen to do nothing about it. (2) The second largest collection of the Frieze is in the Acropolis museum in Athens with smaller parts in museums around Europe such as Paris. (3)
One thinks that it is wrong to keep something from its original home. In the article “Returning Antiquities to Their Countries of Origin” in paragraph three, sentence two, it states “In the early 19th century, the Earl of Elgin had numerous sculptures taken from Greece to the Uk.” also in paragraph three, setance three, it states “These include half of the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon in Athen.” If one takes away the sculptures ones taking away the history. The sculpture were built to show the history of the past. They were built to show what had happened in the past and who was in it. They show Greeces culture and beliefs. If one wants to take the sculptures, than the Greeks and other countries won't know what their past was. People and historians have learned alot from the Greek artwork, sculpture, books , paintings, and much more. When
It’s extremely crucial when arguing whether a person or a thing belongs in a certain area; where it originated or where it fits in. The British and the Greeks have been bickering at one another for the past several years to determine on who should keep the Parthenon Marbles. Museums tend to obtain and showcase the best art they can put their hands on. The British showcase their famous Elgin Marbles, which have been removed from Greece. With the Elgin Marbles being displayed in the British museum, critics from Greece argue on wanting their marble sculptures back that originated in Athens, Greece.
The removal of these sculptures would result in the removal of one of the most iconic representations of civilization, with values that are and should be practiced worldwide, not just on a national basis (The Parthenon Marbles, n.d.). Visitors are able to appreciate international artistry, as well as gain knowledge and an understanding as to how Greek civilization has effected other civilizations and how it has been influenced by other civilizations (Gibbon, 2005). The British have and continue to take care of these delicate sculptures using methods approved and used worldwide. It is important to understand that the transport of these sculptures could potentially result in damage and destruction of these fragile pieces. Additionally, it would be important to consider the appropriate environment for these sculptures.
The Parthenon is located on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece; is a former temple which was dedicated to Greek goddess Athena, whom the Athens considered their leader. According to the British Museum (2015), The Parthenon was built nearly 2500 years ago and has a long and complex history. After thousands of years it became a church of the Virgin Mary of the Athenians, then a mosque and then finally resulted in a archaeological ruin. After the result of a ruin, the buildings were reformed in which various sculptures were damaged. During the 1800’s after the Parthenon being damaged, the Elgin marbles (Elgin) a part of the remaining sculpture, was removed and given to a British museum. For hundreds of years there has been a question if the British museum should return the Elgin marbles back to the Athenians or not. I believe that that the safest and most beneficial place for the Elgin marbles is the British museum, therefore the British should not return the marble to the Athenians.
One of the most well-known components of the Parthenon are the enormously beautiful and important marble sculptures that were placed in the pediment of the monument. These marbles are shrouded in controversy as to whom they belong: Greece or Britain. These marble sculptures were removed between 1801 and 1812 in order to protect them from possible destruction caused by the war between the Grecians and the Venetians, taken to Britain for refuge by the Earl of Elgin, and sold to the British Museum to be displayed. John Henry Merryman discusses his view on the issue of the ownership of marbles by presenting two main points and the validity of both sides. One aspect of his examination revolves around the legality of the removal of these sculptures.
Lord Elgin was an ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1801 through 1805. Elgin Marbles are stone sculptures purchased by the British from Lord Elgin in 1816; they are on display in a British museum. There is controversy over the sculptures. Ottoman gave Lord Elgin permission to transfer the sculptures to Britain, but the Greek feel the sculptures belong to them.
the acropolis, the central hill of the Greek city –state which was used for defensive and religious purposes, then in seventeen years, Ictinus and Callicrates completed the decorations of the Parthenon (Harper OL). The Parthenon is made entirely of a marble from Mount Pentelicus called Pentelic marble and stands approximately eighteen meters high. The selections made for the material of the Parthenon were chosen with many points considered to ensure a strong and sturdy future.
Therefore, I strongly believe that these exquisite sculptures need to return to where they were originally built, in Greece.