Should the "Elgin Marbles" be returned to Greece? - YES! The Elgin Marbles is a culturally important piece of history for Greece. Having said this, it is important that the British museum focuses on being fair and follows the steps taken by other countries to return the items taken from Acropolis. By returning the item, the British Museum will simply be showing a form of peace and will help in attaining a positive outcome. The marble has clearly been faced with numerous issues and damages and there has been serious harm that is done to the marble based on pollution. Here the sculptures although have been cleaned with acids, and chisels, the damage is irreparable and quite drastic to the marbles as a whole. Here before the marbles are faced
In the second story that I’ve read called Museums Preserve the Cultures of The World says that “sometimes museums agree that it is appropriate to return these items, but sometimes the other museums don’t return the items back to the right museums that
Therefore, the Greece government demands for their Elgin Marbles or the Parthenon Sculptures to be send back to their rightful home, Greece. In the modern days the argument has arisen about weather or not they should return the Elgin Marbles to Greece? In my opinion, I think that it should remain
As I mentioned, this is an extremely controversial topic that has raised a lot of difference in opinions. Furthermore, I must admit that those arguing for the sculptures to remain in Britain do make some interesting points that plenty of people have taken into consideration. One of their arguments is that the sculptures were already in a damaged and fragile condition, and leaving them in Greece would have destroyed them completely (‘The Parthenon Marbles: Refuting the Arguments”, par 6). In the YouTube video, “Parthenon Marbles Debate ", one of Tristam Hunt’s arguments is if the Greeks are able to acquire their historic artwork, this may cause other countries to demand their historic artifacts as well, not just from the British Museum, but from museums all over the world as well. I can see the counter arguments that this controversy issue involves. However, regardless of whether they were in a horrible condition, the Greeks were never consulted, nor did they have a say regarding the selling of this artwork to Elgin. Now, when it comes to everyone claiming and demanding they receive their ancient artwork, like historian Hunt said; this is true. It can happen, but I don't believe that any other artifacts have the amount of significance that these sculptures do. The Greeks worked their hearts
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 Parthenon was an amazing and expensive achievement of ancient Greece. Although it is mostly in ruins today, there is enough knowledge about its construction to allow others to recreate the structure. The Parthenon is often constructed not only to honor the ancient Greeks, but also to honor the culture and place where it is recreated. Although the Parthenon’s influence is tremendous throughout the western world, it is generally only faithfully represented in part- the nearest representations found during my research include the Walhalla and the Nashville Parthenon. This paper focuses mostly on the original building’s history and its influence on American architecture, with a short discussion on a site in Germany. Research was conducted through the use of our course’s textbook, our consortium library, and educational websites. After my research was concluded, I became particularly fascinated with the golden ratio, which is debated to have been used during the construction of the Parthenon. I would like to research this in future work.
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.
This sculpture is comprised of marble, and due to its large size it was easier for me to develop an impression about the piece because I can focus on specific parts in more detail. To understand the piece, a very visual and detailed perspective is needed. Judging by the way the thighs are represented, it appears as though she is striking a contrapposto pose, which makes her appear static. She has most of her weight shifted on her left leg, but not all of it The focal point of this piece I believe is her robe. It skillfully falls down her left side, while leaving other parts exposed, drawing the main attention of this piece. Few different types of shapes are displayed, except the shape of her legs and the form of the robe. The physical texture was smooth throughout the entire piece, partly due to the material it is made of. There is only this one texture, as her robe and body parts all feel the same.
Pentelic marble is used in sculptures as well as architecture. (Seth) The figure is 21 inches tall, 3115/16 inches long. (Art) The object is meant to be viewed from the front. In this piece of sculpture, we see a muscular barrel-chested Greek man centered in the middle with a larger rounded shield next to him, while his right arm placed behind his squared faced head. His full chest muscles carefully polished smoothly and delicately. Based on the warrior’s sinking pose, it has been thought that he is falling to the ground after dealing a mortal blow from behind. The strong, solid linear of the large geometric rounded shield is in contrast to the serpentine, subtle and smooth lines appear on this organic body figure of the warrior. It appears as though the sculpture itself is not painted for the most
“Who Owns the Elgin Marbles?” this question continues to linger in some minds today, and just so happens to be reviewed in the respectfully titled article written by John Henry Merryman in 1986. In this article, Merryman, in the most unbiased way possible, assesses both Britain’s and Greece’s side of the argument pertaining to the ownership of the Elgin Marbles and whether they should be returned to Greece after being removed from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century. Within the article, the main points discussed regard the morality and legality of the removal of the marbles. Merryman goes on to discuss three more main concerns dealing with the marbles and where they belong:
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
The Frieze was taken from the Parthenon between 1801 and 1812 by Thomas Bruce the Earl of Elgin after he was granted permission to take them by the Ottoman Empire. He later sold them to the British Government in 1816 where it was moved to the British Museum in 1832. The Frieze was shipped in two stages with the first set going in 1803 in 200 boxes with the second shipment in 1809. The transportation of the marbles took so long as Elgin was imprisoned on the Spanish border at Pau for three years. The entire removal process of the marbles taken from the Parthenon cost Elgin £74,000. (4)
The marble used to create the sculpture brings out the fine quality of such material. It also adds elegance and sensuous grace to the whole sculpture. The use of marble links the sculpture to the radiance and softness of the female skin. The hips of the
The marble figures were passionately crafted for religious and cultural purposes, which presents the argument of preserving the religious icons of the Grecian peoples. However, the principle of cultural nativism is not being infringed upon by the British because of the acknowledgement that the marbles originate from Greece. These marvelous works of art can be appreciated while also being protected and preserved at the British Museum instead of being exposed to the elements at the Parthenon. In contrast to this view, Robert browning structures his view on the topic by presenting the cases of cultural property and integrity. On the argument of cultural property, Browning states that the Earl of Elgin’s intentions for the removal of the sculptures are irrelevant to the argument and the legality of his actions should be the main point of this argument. However, Browning suggests that the past cannot be undone, but can be rectified by the Parliament after a debate in front of the House of Lords. This informed debate will also have to take into account of the integrity of the continued British ownership of the Greek religious
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.
This is why I think the author wanted Tomas to drop the marble. First, maybe the author wanted to show that the marble is a special marble because it didn’t break. In the text it says, “the marble was not broken.” It shows that it is a special marble because if it was a normal it would break. Also, maybe the author wanted you to think it will open up and something will magically come out. In the text it says,“it did not break open and magically turn into a chair on a ladder”. may be the author wanted to surprise you. People probably expect that something will magically come out when Tomas dropped the marble, but it didn’t. Finally, maybe the author wanted us to think