Change of line for the British newspaper Times, which after 50 years stands on the side of Greece demanding the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.
“The sculptures belong to Athens. “Now they have to go back,” they note in their article entitled “The Times’ View of the Parthenon Sculptures: Uniting Greek Heritage.”
“Marbles are wonderful in depicting the human form and the impression of movement. “Millions have admired these sculptures that once adorned the Parthenon and have been on display at the British Museum for the past two centuries.”
They add that for more than 50 years, artists and politicians have argued that artifacts for a nation’s cultural identity should be returned to Greece. “The museum and the British government, with the support of the Times, have resisted the pressure. But times and conditions are changing. The sculptures belong to Athens. “Now they have to return.”
In fact, the article refers to the recent agreement of Italy to return to Greece a marble fragment of the goddess Artemis, which was taken, like the sculptures of the Parthenon, from the Ottoman-controlled Athens in the early 19th century and later sold to the University of Palermo. . In return, Italy will receive an ancient statue of Athena and an amphora. The deal is similar to the one proposed at the British Museum several years ago. In return for the return of the sculptures, Greece would send to London an exhibition of some of its best classics that are not permanently on display.
“The proposal came close to an agreement. It failed due to a dispute over ownership of the Parthenon sculptures. Britain insisted they had been bought, not looted, and should remain the property of the British Museum. Greece argued that the Ottoman Empire had no right to sell items made in Greece almost two millennia before the Ottoman conquest. The museum and the government have tossed the decision back and forth. Such a bureaucratic absurdity can be resolved quickly. Let the sculptures be sold back at a cost price. An act of parliament awarded Lord Elgin’s purchases to the museum. “Let the parliament approve their return,” the article reads.
As it is pointed out, Britain has put forward other arguments for the continuation of the occupation. The increasing air pollution in Athens has affected much of the Parthenon, while the Elgin Marbles have been kept in an almost unspoiled condition in a clean, safe environment. “This argument is no longer valid. “Not only have the Marbles already been damaged by improper cleaning, but Greece has built a magnificent museum next to the Acropolis, safe and accessible, where the original sculptures are now kept and where the marbles would complete the frieze,” the Times underlines.
He adds that a more compelling argument has been made by Neil MacGregor, the former director of the British Museum, about the future of all museums. Can anyone continue to own assets that they have bought, stolen or taken from other countries in the past? Looted items, such as Benin’s Bronze, were justifiably returned. But can museums remain centers of world culture and heritage if they are allowed to keep only what comes from today’s political boundaries?
Detailed translation:
The Times for the Parthenon Sculptures: Uniting Greek Heritage
The case of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens is now imperative
The Parthenon Sculptures are majestic in the representation of the human form and the depiction of movement. Millions of people stand with admiration on the face of the sculptures that once adorned the Parthenon, while for the last two centuries they have been housed in the British Museum, one of the most beautiful of all its acquisitions.
For more than 50 years, artists and politicians have argued that the artifacts – which are an integral part of the nation’s cultural identity – should be returned to Greece. The museum and the British government, with the support of the Times, resisted this pressure. However, times and circumstances have changed. The sculptures belong to Athens. And they must return now.
The recent precedent is the agreement between Italy and Greece for the return of a marble fragment of the Goddess Artemis, which was taken – like the Parthenon Sculptures – from Ottoman-controlled Athens in the early 19th century and later sold to the University of Palermo. . In return, Italy will receive an ancient statue of Athena and an amphora. The deal is similar to the one proposed at the British Museum a few years ago. In exchange for the return of the Sculptures, Greece would send to London a rotating exhibition with some of its best classic objects that are not permanently exhibited.
The proposal came close to an agreement. It failed, however, due to a dispute over the ownership of the Parthenon Sculptures. Britain, for its part, insisted that the sculptures had been purchased and not looted and should therefore remain the property of the British Museum. Greece claimed that the Ottoman Empire had no right to sell items made in Greece almost two millennia before the Ottoman conquest. The museum and the government are throwing the decision back and forth. Such a bureaucratic absurdity can be resolved quickly. Let the sculptures be sold back at a cost price. A decision by parliament gave Lord Elgin’s purchases to the museum. So let parliament now approve their return.
Britain has put forward other arguments for continuing the occupation. Increasing air pollution in Athens has affected much of the Parthenon, while the Parthenon Sculptures have been preserved in an almost pristine condition in a clean, safe environment. This argument is no longer valid. Not only have the Parthenon Sculptures already been damaged due to improper cleaning, but Greece has built a magnificent museum next to the Acropolis, safe and accessible, where the original sculptures are now kept and where the sculptures would complete the frieze.
A more compelling argument has been made by Neil MacGregor, the former director of the British Museum, about the future of all museums. Can anyone continue to own assets that have been purchased, stolen or taken from other countries in the past? Looted items, such as Benin’s Bronze, were justifiably returned. But can museums remain centers of world culture and heritage if they are only allowed to keep what comes from within the current political boundaries?
Other countries, especially France, are already under pressure from the contenders. This is their business. The sculptures of the Parthenon are sui generis. They stand in the way of a warm relationship with Greece: Lord Byron is considered a hero of Greek independence. Hellenism reached its zenith in Victorian Britain. Separating elements of an artistic ensemble is like taking Hamlet out of the First Sheet of Shakespeare’s works and saying that the two can still exist separately. The return of the Parthenon Sculptures would be a gesture of magnanimity at a time when Britain needs to rekindle European friendships.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
.
