Specific weight for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures hires permanent repatriation to our country “Fagan fragment”, of the part of the plate that belongs to the eastern frieze of the Parthenon. The fragment depicts the foot of Artemis, goddess of hunting, sitting on a throne.
The Government of the Region of Sicily, by decision of the Regional Council, gave its consent for “release” of the object, ie the technical act that was necessary for the final return of the fragment to Athens, having received in the previous weeks the “green light” from the Legal Service of the Italian State, for the process of “release” from Sicily, in order to his return to Greece, as well as the approval of the Ministry of Culture of the Italian Republic regarding the competence of the Region of Sicily to proceed in this direction.
Sicily paves the way for return in Greece of the Parthenon Sculptures, making its decisive contribution to the long-running debate at international level.
The final approval now remains from the Italian Ministry of Culture, which under these conditions is expected to be given quickly.
The procedure was initiated at the Italian Ministry of Culture on the initiative of the Region of Sicily, which, on the proposal of the Regional Councilor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity Alberto Samona, had forwarded a request to the “Commission for Recovery and Return of Cultural Goods ”set up at the Italian Ministry of Culture. The above action was an ardent pursuit of the Regional Councilor A. Samonas and the President of the Region of Sicily Nello Musumeci, as well as the Greek Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni.
The archaeological find, came to the beginning of the 19th century in hands of the English consul Robert Fagan under conditions that are not fully understood. After his death he bequeathed it to his wife, who then sold it, between 1818 and 1820, to the Royal Museum of the University of Palermo, whose current successor is the Regional Archaeological Museum “Antonino Salinas”. As of last January, the fragment is already in the Acropolis Museum in Athens, where during a ceremony attended by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, it was reconnected with the original frieze from which it had been removed.
The return to Athens was made possible by an Agreement, which resulted from the fruitful dialogue between the Government of Sicily -with Councilor A. Samonas- and the Government of Athens -with Minister L. Mendoni- and was finally concluded between the Regional Archaeological Museum “Antonino Salinas” of Palermo, under the direction of Dr. Katerina Greco, and the Museum of the Acropolis of Athens, under the direction of Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis, providing for the multi-year transfer and exchange of archaeological finds between the two museum institutions, according to Article 67 of the Code of Cultural Property and Landscape of the Italian Republic and article 25 of the Law “On the protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in general” of the Hellenic Republic.
Under the agreement, an important headless statue of the goddess Athena from the Acropolis Museum, dating to the end of the 5th century BC, has been on display in Palermo since last February. The statue is already highly visited and will remain in the Salina Museum for four years. Then, a geometric amphora from the first half of the 8th century BC, also from the Acropolis Museum, will be exhibited at the Salina Museum for another four years. The agreement, signed last February in the Sicilian capital in the presence of the Minister of Culture of the Hellenic Republic Lina Mendoni and the Italian Deputy Minister of Culture Senator Lucia Borgonzoni, also provides for the organization of exhibitions and other joint initiatives to be held in cooperation with Greece. issues of international cultural interest.
“The final return of the Parthenon fragment to Greece – underlines the Regional Councilor of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, Alberto Samona – is the confirmation of the existing feeling cultural brotherhood between Sicily and Greece, which are linked by common Mediterranean roots and ancient strong ties. We participated with President Moussoumetsi in this important effort, aware that it is on culture that new relations must be established between countries that intend to use their cultural heritage to build a stable future. As I said in Athens in January, we laid the foundations for the creation of a Europe of Culture, based on ancient and universal values: In a time of war and uncertainty, we are convinced that it is from Culture that this message of peace that unites them can come. peoples with common principles and a vision for the future that is essential. I would like to thank the Italian Ministry of Culture, which has been with us from the very beginning, without ever depriving us of its support, and in particular Deputy Minister Borgonzoni, who, due to her role in UNESCO, has provided the necessary assistance to Sicily. ».
The Greek Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni, Announcing the decision of the Regional Council of the Government of Sicily, adopted after approval by the Legal Council of the Italian Republic, made the following statement: “The procedure followed by the Government of Sicily and its Ministry of Culture Italian Republic for the final repatriation to Athens of the Fagan fragment, shows the clear and moral path for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens. The reunification of the Sculptures of Pheidias is a moral obligation for Europe, in the context of the protection of its common cultural heritage, of the Republic, of the prosperity of its peoples. We live in a time of great challenges, in a time of constant challenge and acquis. Today investing in the values and principles of Humanism is more necessary than ever. We are grateful to the Government of Sicily and President Nello Musumeci, but especially to Regional Councilor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity Alberto Samona, for their initiative and generosity. The Director of the Antonino Salinas Museum, Dr. Katerina Greco, played a key role in formulating the final agreement. The Director of the Acropolis Museum, Professor Nikos Stampolidis, collaborated in an exemplary manner, proposing solutions. Thanks to both. Italian Culture Minister Dario Francescini and Undersecretary of State Senator Lucia Borgonzoni strongly supported Sicily’s request. I thank them warmly. “The expressed political will confirms the longest ties of cultural relevance and the tangible recognition of our common Mediterranean identity.”
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