The Elgin Marbles Facts

While british ambassador in constantinople he obtained authority from the turks first to study then to remove some of the antiquities which were badly looked after.

The elgin marbles facts.

In 1816 parliament paid 350 000 for the parthenon marbles most of which went to elgin s many creditors and a new home was found at the british museum albeit initially in a shed. Here are some facts about the elgin marbles. In many ways the marbles are emblematic of the development of modern ideas of national heritage and global display which. Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures.

The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece it s 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 the british museum to greece. After an eventful journey during which some of the carvings were. The parthenon marbles greek. The elgin marbles are a collection of classical greek sculptures.

The marble pieces were originally part of the parthenon the temple built on the acropolis in athens greece. The elgin marbles sometimes called the acropolis marbles are a series of ancient greek sculptures made from marble they were originally part of the parthenon temple in athens but they were taken away by thomas bruce 7th earl of elgin in the early 1800s. γλυπτά του παρθενώνα also known as the elgin marbles ˈ ɛ l ɡ ɪ n are a collection of classical greek marble sculptures made under the supervision of the architect and sculptor phidias and his assistants. They have been on display in the british museum in london since the early 19th century.

Since then greece has campaigned to have the works of art returned to greece. Many people including the greek government have argued that elgin stole the marbles and did not take them legally. The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas. They were originally part of the temple of the parthenon and other buildings on the acropolis of athens.

So many theories abound about the controversial elgin marbles academics claim it s hard to separate fact from fiction. Here archaeologist dr dorothy king dispels the myths.