“Ancient Kapelia. There is no other word that better describes what Elgin did.”said author Victoria Hislop, a member of the British Commission for the Return of Sculptors of the Parthenon speaking to SKAI 100.3 on the show “Snapshots” and Vassilis Koufopoulos (27.11.2024).

Hislop spoke out on the contentious issue shortly before the December 2 meeting in London between the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his British counterpart and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer while there is also a recent article by the Economist which stated that the return of the Parthenon Sculptures could take place in 2025.

“We have a new government that is more open to these issues” noted Victoria Hislop. “I recently attended an evening at the British Museum”Hislop continued, stating that the new director, Dr. Nicholas Callinan gave her the impression that he was ready for a new discussion. The planned renovation at the British Museum may provide an opportunity, the author added.

They should all read, said B. Hislop, How Elgin Got the Marbles. “The marbles are stolen from Greece” underlined and added that the Parthenon Sculptures traveled to England without the necessary documents. It is “archaic greed, there is no other word that better describes Elgin’s act” he characteristically said and added that “it is a piece of the heart of a country”. “The Parthenon Sculptures are not just another statue. It’s something much bigger.” said B. Hislop.