Elgin Marbles

Elgin Marbles
Jay.M · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Title	Elgin Marbles
Artist	Phidias
Year	447-432 BC
Type	Marble sculpture
Location	British Museum

Elgin Marbles. The Elgin Marbles are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures that were originally part of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, designed by Phidias and built under the supervision of Pericles. The marbles were removed from the Parthenon by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, with the permission of the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century, and are now housed in the British Museum in London, alongside other notable collections such as the Rosetta Stone and the Easter Island statues. The removal of the marbles has been a topic of controversy and debate, involving notable figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Lord Byron, and Winston Churchill, and has been the subject of numerous discussions at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

History of Removal

The removal of the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon began in 1801, during the Ottoman Empire's rule over Greece, and was carried out by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, with the help of Italian sculptor Giovanni Battista Lusieri and British architect William St. Clair. The marbles were transported to Britain on British Royal Navy ships, including the HMS Phaeton, and were later sold to the British Museum in 1816, with the support of Prince Regent George IV and Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool. The removal of the marbles was met with opposition from Greek scholars and Byzantine Empire enthusiasts, including Adamantios Korais and Nikolaos Pikkolos, who were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. The Congress of Vienna and the Treaty of Constantinople also played a role in the removal of the marbles, as they marked the beginning of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, led by Alexander Ypsilantis and Demetrius Ypsilantis.

Background and Controversy

The controversy surrounding the Elgin Marbles is rooted in the Greek War of Independence and the Treaty of Constantinople, which recognized Greece as an independent state, with the support of Britain, France, and Russia, as agreed upon at the Congress of Berlin and the Treaty of San Stefano. The Greek government, led by Ioannis Kapodistrias and King Otto of Greece, has long claimed that the marbles were removed illegally and should be returned to Greece, as stated in the Greek Constitution and supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The British Museum has argued that the marbles were acquired legally and are part of the British cultural heritage, as recognized by the British National Heritage Act and the Museums Association. The controversy has been the subject of numerous debates and discussions, involving notable figures such as Melina Mercouri, Jack Lang, and Neil MacGregor, and has been influenced by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

Legal Status and Ownership

The legal status and ownership of the Elgin Marbles are complex and disputed, involving International law and Cultural property law, as outlined in the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects. The British Museum claims that the marbles were acquired legally, with the permission of the Ottoman Empire, as stated in the Firman of Sultan Selim III, and are now part of the British cultural heritage, as recognized by the British National Heritage Act and the Museums Association. The Greek government, on the other hand, claims that the marbles were removed illegally and should be returned to Greece, as stated in the Greek Constitution and supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The controversy has been the subject of numerous court cases, including the Bumper Development Corporation Ltd v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis case, and has been influenced by the European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice.

Preservation and Display

The Elgin Marbles are considered some of the greatest surviving examples of Ancient Greek art, and their preservation and display are of great importance, as recognized by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The British Museum has taken steps to preserve and conserve the marbles, including the use of Laser cleaning and Conservation science, as outlined in the British Museum's Collection Care Policy and the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums. The marbles are displayed in a special gallery in the British Museum, alongside other notable collections such as the Rosetta Stone and the Easter Island statues, and are seen by millions of visitors each year, including Pope Benedict XVI and Queen Elizabeth II. The Greek government has also taken steps to preserve and display the marbles, including the construction of the Acropolis Museum in Athens, which was designed by Bernard Tschumi and Michel Virlogeux, and has been recognized by the European Museum of the Year Award and the RIBA International Award.

Repatriation Debate

The repatriation debate surrounding the Elgin Marbles is ongoing, with the Greek government and many Greek people calling for the return of the marbles to Greece, as stated in the Greek Constitution and supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The British Museum has argued that the marbles are part of the British cultural heritage and should remain in Britain, as recognized by the British National Heritage Act and the Museums Association. The controversy has been the subject of numerous debates and discussions, involving notable figures such as Melina Mercouri, Jack Lang, and Neil MacGregor, and has been influenced by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation has also been involved in the debate, and has recognized the importance of the repatriation of cultural property, as stated in the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Category:Art