What Are The Elgin Marbles Controversy

γλυπτά του παρθενώνα also known as the elgin marbles ˈ ɛ l ɡ ɪ n are a collection of classical greek marble sculptures made under the supervision of the architect and sculptor phidias and his assistants.

What are the elgin marbles controversy.

The parthenon marbles greek. 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. The elgin marbles have been controversial for over 200 years with the acropolis museum in athens which houses the remaining sculptures keeping a space empty for them amongst its current. 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.

The elgin marbles have been surrounded by controversy for decades. Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures. The real story of the elgin marbles. Lord elgin a staunch patriot had turned down lucrative offers from other governments for the treasures and argued all along that the marbles would add luster to britain s imperial image.

They were originally part of the temple of the parthenon and other buildings on the acropolis of athens. The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas bruce 7th lord elgin who was british ambassador to the ottoman empire 1799 1803. Some doubt the legality of the aquisition. Live broadcast of the intellegence squared parthenon marbles debate at the new acropolis museum.

In many ways the marbles are emblematic of the development of modern ideas of national heritage and global display which argues that localized regions have the best claim over items produced there. The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece. Meanwhile in london the elgin marbles started a new chapter of their history as museum objects. Greece maintains that their demand is for permanent return of the parthenon marbles.

Today much controversy surrounds the ownership elgin marbles both the british and greeks argue that each have legal and moral claim over the parliament s marble adornments. Apparently elgin obtained written permission to excavate and remove the sculptures from the sultan however the original document was lost.