The Elgin Marble

 "Should the Elgin Marble be returned to Greece or stay in the British Museum? Who do ancient cultural artifacts belong to? Is it better to have some of the sculptures viewable in numerous museums throughout the world or together in one place?" 

    The sculptures taken from ancient Greece in the early 19th century make up the British Museums exhibit on the Parthenon. These artworks are more than 2000 years old and represent the "High classical" style of ancient Greek art.  The sculptures are revered for their depiction of the human body and their naturalist features (Zucker & Harris).

     During a war in 1687 a Venetian mortar struck the Parthenon causing the damage that destroyed the roof; later Venetian attempts to remove a statue of Poseidon also resulted in the destruction of the statue. Thus began the destruction and plunder of the Parthenon. In 1770, much of the damaged marble was reported to have used to build cabins for a local garrison, which spurred a rush to acquire treasures from the Parthenon before it was forever lost (Sanchez). In 1799, the English government sent Thomas Bruce, seventh Earl of Elgin to the Ottoman sultan as an ambassador. Thomas Bruce's task was to assist in the defense against Napoleon's Egyptian campaign. On July 6th, 1801, Elgin's request to the Sultan to excavate artifacts of interest to him was granted by instructing his Governor to offer no opposition to the removal of some stone inscriptions. After this, Elgin instructed his men to remove the statues and send them to England. Elgin later admitted that his acquisition of the statues was likely illegal as the Sultan's order implied artifacts from their local excavation, not the temple itself (Sanchez). 

    The issue of the possession of the marbles has been a topic of cultural debate in recent years as have other pieces in the British Museum's inventory. British Imperialism resulted in the controversial acquisition of many pieces of art, and the Elgin Marbles themselves were appropriated in questionable circumstances (Rea). Beyond that, the marble statues are wanted back in Greece. These ancient cultural artifacts are integral to the design of the Parthenon, a great Greek historical site. While sculptures being displayed throughout the world do enrich our understanding of different cultures, this should be practiced with the consent of those it belongs too. The sculptures should be sent back to Greece, where they can be displayed in their original location. 

Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris, "Who owns the Parthenon sculptures?," in Smarthistory, March 16, 2018, accessed September 9, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/who-owns-the-parthenon-sculptures/.

Rea, Naomi. "London's British Museum Won't Return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, Saying Their Controversial Removal was a 'Creative Act.'" Business Insider, Published Jan 29, 2019. Accessed Sep 9th, 2020. https://www.businessinsider.com/london-british-museum-will-not-return-elgin-marbles-2019-1 

Sanchez, Juan Pablo. "How the Parthenon Lost Its Marbles." National Geographic. March/April, 2017. Accessed Sep 9th, 2020. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2017/03-04/parthenon-sculptures-british-museum-controversy/