Parthenon Marbles

Parthenon Marbles and Koh-i-Noor: Cameron opposes ‘returnism’

BBC News – by Trevor Timpson
“The prime minister has been criticised after he opposed calls to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece and the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India…”
Full article and several links at BBC

Related responses:

• Kathimerini – Cameron rules out return of Parthenon marbles
• Causes – WHAT IS IT YOU WANT MR CAMERON?

A talk in London about whether the British Museum should return the sculptures was screened live to an audience in Athens.
They came in their Athenian finery, filing patiently into the low-lit auditorium and waiting to hear a message of hope. Its deliverer: a man who until recently was unknown to them but who is now regarded as something of a hero; a saviour of the Greek people in the face of foreign meddling and arrogance; a man who has come to their rescue in troubled times to fight for Hellenic pride…

The Guardian – Read Full Article

Stephen Fry’s Parthenon Marbles plea backed in debate vote
By Trevor Timpson BBC News

“A call backed by actor Stephen Fry for the return to Greece of the British Museum’s Parthenon Marbles has come out on top in a debate held in London. Fry said it would be a “classy” move to restore the sculptures brought to the UK by Lord Elgin in the 19th Century.

The debate, hosted by Intelligence Squared, ended with a majority for the motion of 384 to 125.

Opposing the motion, Tristram Hunt MP said the British Museum played a key role in cosmopolitan culture.

The Greeks were a proud people suffering terribly, Stephen Fry told the audience in London’s Cadogan Hall, but “no matter how much the sovereign debt crisis means they owe us, we will never repay the debt that we owe Greece.”…

Read Full Article at BBC

Newsletter of the Marbles Reunited Campaign
A Last Farewell, A tribute to Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011
PDF view/download

ADVANCE NOTICE

INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUY ON THE REUNIFICATION OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES
LONDON HELLENIC CENTRE,

19-20 JUNE 2012

 

This conference will be presented jointly by:

• The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles
• The American Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures  and
• The International Organising Committee – Australia – for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles (inc).

It is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the opening of the Acropolis Museum (www.theacropolismuseum.gr) and the occasion of the London Olympics which will start one month later.

Venue: London Hellenic Centre
Duration: 2 days (19 – 20 June 2012)
Entrance Fee: £79 (includes refreshments throughout day one and lunch)

PROGRAMME

Day One: Tuesday 19 June 2012

• Presentations by speakers from the UK, Greece, Australia, USA and elsewhere. Themes will include legal issues relating to the reunification of the marbles and the concept of the “universal museum”.
• There will also be an optional conference dinner (chargeable separately) with a distinguished guest speaker in the evening of day one.

Day Two: Wednesday 20 June 2012

• Organised attendance at the British Museum.
• “Missing” campaign to be launched.

Further details including application forms will be published shortly. In the meantime those who may be interested in attending may wish to note the dates in their diaries and/or contact:

Eddie O’Hara
Chairman, British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles

Would all secretaries and others with lists of contacts, websites and other means of onward transmission please assist in disseminating this notice.

By Margarita Pournara (Kathimerini)

Greece’s Culture and Tourism Ministry last month said it would slash the cost of permits for filming and photographic shoots at more than 100 of the country’s ancient monuments, including the world-famous Parthenon in Athens.

Some foreign reports reacted to the news by saying the Greek government was putting the Parthenon under the hammer. Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos tweeted that speculation that the sites would be “rented out” was totally unfounded.

Full article in Kathimerini

On December 19 2011, Stephen Fry demonstrated again his ideas about the Parthenon Marbles. That is, return the Parthenon Marbles to their rightful owner: Greece.

“How can we British be proud until we sit down with Greek politicians and arrange for the return of their treasure? It would be a dignified, but a thrilling celebration. No need for head-hanging apology or anything silly, just a recognition that the time is now right.”

Read the full article

By Andrew George*
While the current financial crisis dominates all current press coverage relating to Greece, there is no reason why we should use this as an excuse to ignore other key Anglo-Hellenic issues…

…read full article By Andrew George

PM dismisses suggestion by Liberal Democrat that collection of classical Greek marble sculptures should be returned to Athens

Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, reopened the issue of the marble sculptures, currently in the British Museum, when he incorporated the Greek financial crisis in a Commons question.

….Read full article

A so true quote from Things That Never Made It Into Print…
“…that were (Marbles) sawed off by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, in the early 1800s while ambassador of the British Empire while Greece was under Ottoman occupation. So the British were actually allies — or partners — in this theft.“

Full article and comments below…