London, Thanasis Gavos

With a variety of opinions surrounding the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures from London to Athens, a debate was held on Monday evening at the British Museum, organized by the Times newspaper, on the topic “Who owns the past?”.

The panel of debaters was asked about whether the Sculptures should be returned by Guardian columnist and author Simon Jenkins.

The well-known classics professor Mary Bird, who also happens to be one of the trustees of the British Museum, responded that she would see “the Marbles shared, realistically more generously, with Greece”, commenting that she does not think there are many who disagree with this position. However, he added that he would like the Sculptures to be shared with the rest of the world.

Former minister, academic and author Rory Stewart responded that “they should probably go back”.

Well-known historian and TV presenter David Olusoga noted that we are eight years away from the 200th anniversary of the “quite controversial” acquisition of the Sculptures by the British Museum and nine years from the 200th anniversary of the first Greek request for their return.

“I think the argument is overwhelming that they are an essential part of the culture of Greece and that they belong in the beautiful museum that the Greeks have built in anticipation of them,” added Mr. Olusoga.

Earlier in the debate, David Olusoga had again argued in favor of reuniting the Sculptors, noting among other things that already at that time Elgin had been criticized as profane by Lord Byron, that the argument that the museums would be emptied if some exhibits were returned to the country is false where they were born, and that the Sculptures in the care of Elgin and the British Museum have been damaged.

Boris Johnson’s former adviser Munira Mirza has opposed the return of the Sculptors, saying that Elgin essentially saved them and that the current situation is a “realistic compromise”.

It is noted that at an event for foreign correspondents in London, the most likely next Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, said that a Labor government does not plan to change the law that prohibits the permanent removal of exhibits from the British Museum, but added that talks will continue with the Greeks for some agreement on the Parthenon Sculptures.