The Parthenon Marbles

                        

Parthenon sculptures, frieze: 438-432 B.C.E., pediment: c. 438-432 B.C.E. and metopes: c. 447-32 B.C.E.

I found the Parthenon marbles, also known as "The Elgin Marbles", and was intrigued by their story. After doing some additional research, I decided that they would be my second topic for this week. In 1816, Lord Elgin, a politician and diplomat, sold multiple pieces of the frieze of the Parthenon to the British Museum. There are many questions that revolve around these removed pieces of art. Should they stay where they are in Britain or perhaps be returned to Greece? Do they belong to Greece due to their heritage or do they belong to the world? Was the way he removed the sculptures fair? While these questions have been speculated for decades, and the answers remain a matter of opinion rather than fact. 

Based on the research I have done, I do not believe that the Marbles were taken initially to save these pieces from worse fates. I do believe that the Marbles were taken unjustly and for profit. Regardless of said approval, there was no legitimate moral reason to allow Elgin to take the Marbles. I believe that both options, keeping the Marbles in Britain or returning them to Greece, will do varying amounts of harm to varying parties. If the Marbles are removed from Britain it could be true that other museums might lose their possessions as well. It is also true that it will limit the accessibility and knowledge of the Marbles. However, if the Marbles remain in Britain then they are deciding to disregard the injustice of what Lord Elgin did by removing and selling the Marbles despite the destruction it caused to the Pantheon. Considering all of the research that I have done, when push comes to shove, I have to say that I believe that the display of the Marbles should be shared. I believe that important and incredible pieces of art and history, such as the Marbles, should be loaned out and shared around the world so that these displays of culture and history are not limited because of former woes and current rifts. 

Arguments made on the side of the British Museum continuing to obtain these Marbles point out that Lord Elgin’s removal of these statues was approved by the Ottomans and likely saved them from worse fates then residing in another country than they originated from. These fates include looting, being taken for solely private collections, and unwarranted demolition. While I do agree with these initial reasons for removing the statues and selling them to the British Museum, and that the accessibility of these statues should play an important role in where they should reside, one must also keep in mind the importance of the heritage and origin of these pieces as well. These pieces, while on display in the British Museum, represent Greek art, history, and culture. Also, returning these pieces to their home in Greece, while it may not diminish the meaning and significance of these Marbles, may set a precedent to strip major museums and galleries of major artworks regardless of what would be best, now, for these artworks. This would mean a decrease in accessibility to education, awareness, and appreciation of art from all over the world and throughout all of history.                                     

Arguments made on the side of returning the Marbles to Athens say, not only was the removal of the Marbles irreversibly damaging to the Parthenon but, the argument on the side of the British about Greece having an unfit atmosphere is moot as they are preparing a museum for the return of the Marbles. The return of the Marbles to Athens would make it much easier for scholars to study them as the building they came from, the Parthenon would be in close proximity as well. Their argument also points out that the return of the Marbles to Greece should not be stalled because the museum, as well as others, are afraid of their other pieces being reclaimed by other countries whose works are displayed in and owned by museums outside of their pieces heritage. The reclaiming of art by families and countries is always a concern for museums and art collectors but the concern of the loss of these pieces by their rightful owners is far more warranted, especially in the case of unlawful or deceitful removal which was exhibited thoroughly throughout the years of the holocaust.

 

(Just as a side note for my fellow classmates, JSTOR is letting you look at up to 100 articles per month for free temporarily and I would highly recommend it as a resource!)

Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris, "Who owns the Parthenon sculptures?," in Smarthistory,              March 16, 2018, accessed September 10, 2020,

"Figure Thought To Be Of Dionysos From The East Pediment Of The Parthenon - Google Arts & Culture". Google Arts & Culture, 2020, https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/figure-thought-to-be-of-dionysos-from-the-east-pediment-of-the-parthenon/XgE6C-9WfO4Dbw.

Hamilakis, Yannis. “Stories from Exile: Fragments from the Cultural Biography of the Parthenon (or 'Elgin') Marbles.” World Archaeology, vol. 31, no. 2, 1999, pp. 303–320. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/125064.

Rudenstine, David. "Did Elgin Cheat at Marbles?" The Nation, 29 May 2000, p. 30. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com.libproxy.uccs.edu/apps/doc/A62102045/ITOF?u=colosprings&sid=ITOF&xid=014cf80f. Accessed 9 Sep. 2020.

"Snatched from northern climes; Lord Elgin and the Parthenon marbles." The Economist, 27 June 2009, p.  20(EU). General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com.libproxy.uccs.edu/apps/doc/A202378068/ITOF?u=colosprings&sid=ITOF&xid=13025796. Accessed 9 Sep. 2020.



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