The British Museum may finally return the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, marking a significant shift in the decades-long quest for restitution. As negotiations between Greece and the UK near a breakthrough, the cultural heritage of Athens hangs in the balance.
The Quest for Restitution: The Parthenon Sculptures’ Journey Home
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For decades, Greek authorities have been advocating for the permanent return of the so-called Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles. These fragments, which include about half of the surviving pieces of a 160-meter-long frieze from the Parthenon Temple, date back around 2,500 years and are currently housed in the British Museum in London.
The dispute over the marbles’ ownership began when they were taken from Greece under Lord Elgin’s order as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople. Elgin’s staff removed the antiquities from the Acropolis in 1801 and later sold them to the British government, along with hundreds of other antique items taken from Athens.
The Elgin Marbles are a collection of classical Greek sculptures removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.
The marbles depict scenes from ancient mythology, including the battle between the Greeks and Amazons.
They were originally part of the Parthenon's frieze and pediments.
In 1816, Elgin sold the marbles to the British Museum, where they remain today.
The Greek government has requested their return, citing cultural heritage rights, but the UK government has refused, arguing that the marbles are better preserved in the museum.
Despite repeated requests, Greek leaders have yet to see a permanent return of their cultural heritage. However, recent developments suggest that negotiations between Greece and the UK may be nearing a breakthrough. In December 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Greek President Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London, just as the British Museum announced it had been holding ‘constructive’ discussions with Athens over the return of the marbles.
British Museum Chairman George Osborne stated that ‘at some point, some of the sculptures’ could be sent to Greece in exchange for ‘treasures’ from Athens. Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni expressed optimism about the prospects for a deal, noting that the UK Labour government elected in 2024 did not have the same level of negativity as prior governments.
The hope of a swap deal was further boosted when Constantine Tassoulas, a leading proponent for the restitution of the Parthenon sculptures, became Greek President in February. As Culture Minister a decade ago, Tassoulas helped revive Greece’s campaign to reclaim its cultural heritage. Amal Clooney, wife of actor George Clooney, has also played a key role in driving international awareness about the restitution claim.
Despite these positive developments, legal barriers remain a significant obstacle to the marbles’ return. The British Museum Act of 1963 prevents the museum from permanently removing objects from its collections, with only a few exceptions. Additionally, Tiffany Jenkins, author of ‘Keeping Their Marbles: How the Treasures of the Past Ended up in Museums and Why They Should Keep Them,’ has recently been appointed to the board of trustees of The British Museum.
In 2023, the Vatican finalized the process of returning several Parthenon marble fragments. Three pieces were returned to Athens on March 7, 2023, after being held in the Vatican Museum’s collection since the 19th century. These fragments include a piece depicting a young boy’s head and another showing the foot of a goddess.
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The Vatican City is home to numerous iconic landmarks, including St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums.
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The return of these marbles marks an important step towards the restitution of Greece’s cultural heritage. Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis, director-general of the Acropolis Museum, has called for the democracies of the world to support the return and reunification of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens. As he said, ‘Greece is not asking this for itself alone. It is asking it for all of humanity, as an example of reunification.’
