You know I can't ever resist news on the Parthenon marbles, even if it barely qualifies for the title. The premier of the state of Victoria in Australia has thrown his weight behind Greek calls for the return to Greece of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum in London.
Victoria State Premier Daniel Andrews said at the unveiling of a replica of a section of the Parthenon Marbles at the Greek Center in Melbourne at the weekend"
The event was attended by political leaders from different parties as well as celebrities. Greek-Australian actress Mary Coustas said:
"Britain is conveniently ignoring the screams from the world. Keep the dream alive and keep applying pressure."
I think we all know it isn't going to happen (at least not any time soon), but it's another +1 in favor and I like it!
Victoria State Premier Daniel Andrews said at the unveiling of a replica of a section of the Parthenon Marbles at the Greek Center in Melbourne at the weekend"
"We demand and continue to demand the restoration of the injustice done by Lord Elgin two centuries earlier. This is not just my personal opinion but a standing demand of the Victoria government and all the parties that are part of it and will not change until this injustice has been restored."
The event was attended by political leaders from different parties as well as celebrities. Greek-Australian actress Mary Coustas said:
"Britain is conveniently ignoring the screams from the world. Keep the dream alive and keep applying pressure."
I think we all know it isn't going to happen (at least not any time soon), but it's another +1 in favor and I like it!
I'm of two minds on this topic. On one hand, the Marbles are part of Greek cultural heritage, and it only seems fair and just for their modern descendants to receive that inheritance, rather than another culture that happened to have the ability to seize them. On the other, there's been a lot of upheaval in modern Greece, and much damage was already done to the Parthenon during the early modern era; therefore it seems likely that British custody was the best means of preservation.
ReplyDelete" it seems likely that British custody was the best means of preservation" YOU MUST BE JOKING. HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE ATHENS MUSEUM?
DeleteUnfortunately not, but I have been to the British Museum, which seemed to be well-run. From looking it up, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens seems excellent, and they've maintained many antiquities there. Still, a few decades passed between Elgin's removal and Greek independence, so it may have been helpful during that interim.
ReplyDeleteI guess you're right, present-day Athens would be perfectly suitable, but there's a host of other complicating factors when it comes to issues like this.