The Elgin Marbles Debate

A summary of the key arguments points on both sides of the parthenon marbles debate.

The elgin marbles debate.

The first post. Hayley millar bbc interviews the historian dr dominic selwood and marlen godwin of the british committee for the reunification of the parthenon marbles bc. When lord elgin removed the sculptures athens was under the control of the ottoman empire and had been. Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures.

A public debate in parliament followed elgin s publication and parliament again exonerated elgin s actions eventually deciding to purchase the marbles for the british nation in 1816 by a vote of 82 30. Because this issue of ownership is extremely controversial and prevalent today many believe that the case of ownership should be considered in a modern court. Elgin marbles debate curently the elgin marbles constitute one of the most important collections of the british museum. Among the supporters of elgin was the painter benjamin robert haydon.

The costs of shipping the marbles were paid out of lord elgin s own pocket. First posted february 13 2009. Should britain return the elgin marbles. There is a longstanding debate over whether the elgin marbles should be returned to greece.

The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas. The first serious discussion about returning the elgin marbles is said to have been initiated in an exchange of correspondence in a newspaper in 1925 with courtenay pollock arguing that the time.