What Does Lord Elgin Represent

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

There are many monuments in the world and they are all built to honor someone or something that was done by that person. For example, after the Maine Lobsterman was built, the fake bronze statue returned to Maine and spent several decades being moved from city hall to museum to museum. No one seemed to want the man and his lobster. The issue at hand is if the monuments being built are memorializing the person or moment created accurately. Monuments capture legacy and preserve the individual's actions throughout history. Specifically, monuments should consider purpose, location, and size in their creation.

“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

According to Matt Barrett's 'Athens Survival Guide', in the 1789, when the Ottoman Empire is mixed up in the war in Europe and Napoleon decided to invade Egypt, Thomas Bruce who was the Earl of Elgin at the time, decided to travel to Athens to acquire sketches and molds of the famous sculptures. He believed that by doing so, the culture of England would improve and her people would grow Enlightened just looking at the impressive Greek works of art. Lord Elgin, who probably had a second motive for obtaining these sketches, was also encouraged return with these molds and sketches so that the architect of his new large home could have some inspiration in the designing.

Since 1983, after the transition from Post-Civil War Greece to the Modern Day Democratic Greece, the Greek Government has demanded the return of its ancient Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum in London. After Greece regained its independence and government, it has demanded for the stolen statues to be returned to Greece so they can be united with the rest of the Parthenon and the Acropolis. Not only this, but the Greeks put the legality of the British’s taking of the statues under question, stating it was through secrecy and conspiracy this was achieved. The British argue that under law, they legally bought the statues from the Ottomans (The then rulers of Greece) in 1811 with Lord Elgin. Not only this, but they state that they wish to preserve the statues in London, to showcase to the world mankind’s greatest achievements. While both sides offer valid and tenacious arguments,

The Elgin Marbles are a collection of Greek marble sculptures made by the citizens of Athens, originally part of the Parthenon. In the early 1800s, the marbles where removed from the building and transported overseas to Britain to be on display in the British Museum, where they reside currently. In my opinion, the marbles should be returned to their site of origin. These sculptures hold great cultural significance to Greece and deserve to be on display where they were built. Today, the Parthenon is protected and preserved, thus the artifacts would be protected as well, where they belong.

The “Elgin Marbles” controversy between the British and Greek governments concerns the ownership of certain marble sculptures removed from the Parthenon. In question is whether the British Museum is legally entitle to the sculptures or if they were stolen and should be returned to Greece. The British contend that Lord Elgin legally acquired the statues from the Turks and provided appropriate documentation or Firman, justifying the legal removal and transportation. The British Parliament then purchased the marbles from Elgin in 1816. Greece however, maintains the statues were taken illegally during Turkish occupation and should be returned. In support of Greece, the authenticity of the documentation has been called in question and if bribery

Greek culture has been a fascinating topic for hundreds of years. Greek Mythology, culture, and architecture are influences on society today. One of the greatest structures the ancient Greeks built was the Parthenon. It held a titanic sculpture of Athena, and was one of the greatest sights of its day. After the munitions cash exploded pieces of the structure were laid out everywhere, a topic we discussed in class. Lord Elgin took some marbles from the sight to The English Museum were they are located today. Plain and simple Greece wants the artifacts back.

Located on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, the Parthenon is the most famous and most important piece of architecture in Greece. Standing in ruins as a former temple dedicated to the Greek Goddess of wisdom, Athena, the Parthenon has held the most important sculptures made by the Greeks. During the 1800s, when Greece was under the control of the Ottomans, sculptures from the Parthenon were sent to Britain by Lord Elgin for safe protection. The Parthenon Marbles have since then never been returned to the Greeks. The sculptures, currently housed in the British Museum in London, should be returned to their homeland because they are part of Greece’s culture, they have a safe home ready for them in the Acropolis Museum, they are not being cared for as they should, it would most likely boost the economy, and the English did not have the right to take them in the first place.

The Marbles were removed from their original placement by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1805 for conservation, as some were damaged by time and war-related incidents (Jenkins 16). They have been safely displayed

The Site of Ancient Olympia meets the World Heritage Criteria in points i, ii, iii, iv and vi. The Site of Ancient Olympia is not only a famous masterpiece of beauty, but beneath it’s mask lies knowledge embedded with facts about history, geography and multiple things which we are yet to discover. It also has religious value to the world and is the place where the original Olympic games originated. Point i states that it is a masterpiece of human creative genius which reminds us of the beauty of the architecture in Ancient Olympia. Points ii, iii and vi explain the culture and history behind the site and point iv yet again talks about the amazing architecture which the site has been enhanced with. For these reasons, the site of Ancient Olympia meets the World Heritage Criteria in many ways.

The marbles of Greece's Parthenon have been situated in the British Museum for more than 150 years. The Elgin Marbles are stated to continue to be the focal points of an ongoing debate that will ultimately determine the historical influence of a particularly important culture. The Parthenon Marbles are reported to constitute "a unique case in that they form part of a unique historical monument which for humanity, and international public opinion, symbolizes civilization and democracy, but for the Greek people much more than that. For the Greek people they symbolize our history and the continuity of the Greek nation." (TED Case Studies, nd, p.1)

Museums contain vast collections of art from different places around the globe. Many of these art pieces have been acquired through donations from private collectors or are bought by the museums themselves (‘Collections Management Policy’). With vast amounts of ancient artworks inhabiting these museums, the issue of repatriation comes up. Repatriation is the return of artwork the country in which they originate from. Many nations and cultural groups wish to regain art which they deem important to their cultural heritage which gives them a sense of nationalism. Ancient art has been looted through war, expansion into other territories, and looting through illegal means. This has caused many nations around the world to lose pieces of art which they deem important to their culture. In the case of the Parthenon Marbles, the ownership of the pieces which came from the Parthenon is debated between England and Greece. The Parthenon began to be built in 447 BC with the design help of Iktinos who mathematically calculated the layout of the temple and Phidias who along with other sculptures decorated the building with countless statues and friezes which adorned the temple (Gardner). In the Early 1800s the Earl of Elgin received a permit from the Ottoman Empire which allowed him to remove many of the sculptures (Gould). However, questions over the legality of the permit Greeks have made strong pushes to have the Parthenon Marbles returned to Greece to be displayed in the new Acropolis

Around the year of 440 BC, a cultural monument was constructed in Athens Greece in dedication to the city’s patron Greek goddess Athena. This monument is known as the Parthenon which not only served as a temple for the athenian people, but also is home to a collection of marble sculptures which we know now as the famous “Elgin Marbles.” These marbles now sit in the British Museum of London thousands of years after their construction, thousands of miles away from the original location in Athens Greece.The Elgin Marbles are a collection of sculptures that were taken from their place of origin, Athens, Greece by Lord Elgin to London in1803. The controversy that has surfaced over the past one hundred plus years deals with the the reasoning behind the removal of the marbles. The two sides of the argument as indicated by Juan Pablo Sanchez in an issue of National Geographic's are whether the marbles were “salvaged or stolen.” In order to understand why this argument stands, one must gain knowledge of what the marbles are, look into both sides of the argument, and finally search for the reasoning behind both sides.