“I think it represents one of the great problems of cultural heritage, which is who owns the things? Which belong; Who has the right to see them?’
London, Thanasis Gavos
Undecided over what should happen to the Parthenon Sculptures on display in London, says one of the most recognizable members of the Board of Commissioners of the British Museum.
Cambridge University classics professor Mary Beard says in a Times podcast: “I see good and bad arguments on both sides of the issue. And the more I process them, the more undecided I am. I think it (the issue) represents one of the great problems of cultural heritage, which is who owns the things? Which belong; Who has the right to see them?’
The host of the podcast David Aaronovitch notes that in 2019, about 1.8 million visitors came to the Acropolis Museum paying a ticket, while in the same year the British Museum welcomed 6.2 million visitors for free.
“However”, he adds, “it is easy to see that there is significantly more popular demand in Greece for the marbles to be returned than there is in Britain for them to remain”.
The well-known Times columnist cites another parameter, the fact that next year the British Museum is expected to announce a huge and expensive building renovation program, for which public support will be needed.
“My suspicion is that the commissioners will look to loan the marbles back to Greece while this process is ongoing. But would the Greeks give them back?” adds the Times reporter.
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