Debates Elgin Marbles

« “Great Britain should return the Elgin marbles to Greece” => pros Intro : From the Parthenon, a temple built to honor Athena in the 5th century before Christ. More than two millennia after the construction of this temple, Athens was subjected to the Ottoman Empire’ authority.

An British ambassador of the Ottoman Empire (great relationship between Greece and Great Britain), Lord Elgin, was fascinated with classical Greek history, and took a particular interest in the Parthenon.

He then took pieces of the marble and statues back to England, claiming they were damaged, before they were sold to the British museum (where they still are nowadays).

Since gaining independence in 1832, Greece has expressed its disapproval in the removal of those marbles, and asked for their return. Pros : - - - - - - - Elgin marbles should stay in the new Greek Acropolis museum, built in 2009.

It is a great initiative to preserve the objects that belong to us.

=> Elgin’s supposed motivation behind removing the Elgin marbles is now invalid.

It demonstrates the Greek government’s desire for maintaining and preserving its culture. George Voulgarakis, the Greece’s former cultural minister, compared Elgin’s taking of the marble statues to the Nazis plundering/stealing art during the World War II. Still today Nazi looted art is being returned to their legal owners as an act of atonement/expiation for those atrocities.

A court case regarding the possibility of the Elgin Marble’s return to Greece could be handled similarly to the homecoming of Nazi looted works. it should morally go back to the Greeks, because it’s a vital part of Athenian’s culture.

In total, Lord Elgin sold 119 marbles to the British Museum from the Parthenon.

This is an astronomical amount of art, and a large part of Athenian culture.

I believe that modern courts have an obligation to overturn past legal actions if they are contrary to what is correct for modernity.

It’s the most prominent and symbolic link that modern Athenians have with the greatness of their ancient ancestors. Moreover, from a purely aesthetic point of view, it is more pleasant to contemplate these works of art in their original city setting.

It’s a whole artistic experience, with the work of art, culture and land together.

It represents the religious and metaphysical beliefs of Ancient Greece. Many international organizations, such as UNESCO, are supporting the return of the marbles.

Public figures such as George Clooney, Matt Damon or the French president Emmanuel Macron have raised their voices in our favor.

You are turning your back on potential political and economic allies. “The commission urges the United Kingdom to reconsider its position and to negotiate with Greece, acknowledging that the matter is intergovernmental— contrary to the British side’s claim that the case concerns the British Museum alone —and primarily that Greece is rightly and legally claiming the return of the sculptures to their land of origin.”, Lina Mendoni, Greek Minister of Culture and Sports.

Great Britain must accept a conversation with Greece, to hope to maintain good diplomatic relations with this country. There is a debate about the authenticity of the permit Lord Elgin possessed, as the original document has been mysteriously lost.

So, even if the museum has. »