Why was the Elgin Marbles built?

The Parthenon and its sculptures/marbles have a history which stretches back 2500 years when it was built to honor a goddess called Athena. It has been a Christian church and a Muslim mosque. It has been ruined since 1687 when gunpowder stored inside exploded and attackers bombarded the structure.

Why should Britain keep the Elgin Marbles?

The British Museum argues that the sculptures in their collection should remain in London because there’s nowhere to house them in Greece and that the Greek authorities can’t look after them.

Why won’t Britain return the Elgin Marbles?

Maintenance work at the British Museum and the pandemic have prevented the Parthenon marbles from being publicly viewed for almost a year. The Acropolis Museum, which was purpose-built to house the classical carvings at the foot of the monument in Athens, reopened in May.

Did Lord Elgin steal the marbles?

Following a public debate in Parliament and its subsequent exoneration of Elgin, he sold the Marbles to the British government in 1816. It has expressed its disapproval of Elgin’s removal of the Marbles from the Acropolis and the Parthenon, which is regarded as one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments.

Why won’t the British Museum return the Elgin Marbles?

Boris Johnson won’t return 2,500-year-old Elgin Marbles to Greece as they had been ‘legally acquired’ by British Museum. The 2,500-year-old sculptures were removed from the Acropolis more than 200 years ago and have long been the subject of dispute.

Why does Greece want the Elgin Marbles back?

Perhaps the most impassioned argument for the return of the Parthenon sculptures is that the pieces represent a vital and central part of Greek cultural heritage. The Parthenon Sculptures were made in Greece by Greeks to honour the glory of Greece. They represent the cultural identity of millions of people.

What is Lord Elgin famous for?

Thomas Bruce, 7th earl of Elgin, (born July 20, 1766—died Nov. 14, 1841, Paris), British diplomatist and art collector, famous for his acquisition of the Greek sculptures now known as the “Elgin Marbles” (q.v.).

Who stole the Elgin Marbles?

The marbles were taken from Greece to Malta, then a British protectorate, where they remained for a number of years until they were transported to Britain. The excavation and removal was completed in 1812 at a personal cost to Elgin of £74,240 (equivalent to £4,700,000 in 2019 pounds).

How much did Britain pay for the Elgin Marbles?

The final shipment of the Elgin Marbles reached London in 1812, and in 1816 the entire collection was acquired from Elgin by the crown for the sum of £35,000, about half of Elgin’s costs.

What is the Elgin Marbles controversy?

The Elgin Marbles have been controversial for over 200 years, with the Acropolis Museum in Athens – which houses the remaining sculptures – keeping a space empty for them amongst its current display. Greece considers the Elgin Marbles stolen goods and has frequently demanded that they’re returned.

Did the British steal the Elgin Marbles?

In Britain, the acquisition of the collection was supported by some, while some others, such as Lord Byron, likened the Earl’s actions to vandalism or looting. Following a public debate in Parliament and its subsequent exoneration of Elgin, he sold the Marbles to the British government in 1816.

What are Elgin Marbles and where are they found?

For those of you who are not already aware, the Elgin Marbles are a collection of ancient Greek marble sculptures that originally decorated buildings on the Akropolis in the city of Athens, Greece . Most of them were originally parts of the Parthenon, but some of them were parts of the nearby Erechtheion and Propylaia.

What is the significance of the Elgin Marbles?

The Elgin Marbles are a source of controversy between modern Britain and Greece, being a collection of stone pieces rescued/removed from the ruins of the Ancient Greek Parthenon in the nineteenth century, and now in demand to be sent back from their home in the British Museum.

What were the Elgin Marbles made of?

The Elgin Marbles (/ˈɛlɡɪn/), also known as the Parthenon Marbles (Greek: Γλυπτά του Παρθενώνα), are a collection of Classical Greek marble sculptures made under the supervision of the architect and sculptor Phidias and his assistants.

Should the Elgin Marbles be returned to Greece?

The Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece. A little history on this: The Elgin Marbels play a big role in Greece, the historical content of Greece from between 447 and 432BCE, until 1801 when lord Elgin, the so called art lover, obtained them by sawing them off.