We Want the Marbles Back

180 years have passed since Lord Elgin took the Marbles from Athens. It's time for the Marbles to come back to Greece so that they can be reunited with those that remain here. The Greek government has already planned the museum where all the Parthenon sculptures will be displayed.

Reconsider

We call on the British government to reconsider its position. Taking into account that they returned the Stone of Scone to Scotland, we are very disappointed that they still refuse to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. As the Times pointed out in a recent article:

"If the Stone of Scone can be wrenched from the very throne of England and carted up the motorway, say the Greeks... surely the Elgin Marbles can be lifted from a wall in Bloomsbury."

The arguments of the British Museum have been answered by Epaminondas Vranopoulos in his pamphlet, excerpts from which we have published on these pages. Our own point is more simple.

National Heritage

Many objects have been taken from countries with ancient civilisations like Greece, Egypt, modern-day Iraq, etc. But there is one major difference. The Parthenon Marbles were cut down from an ancient building which still stands, in a form recognisable as the Parthenon of ancient times. Half the sculptures remain in Greece. The other half are housed in the British Museum. We believe that the sculptures of the Parthenon should be reunited. They could be reunited in London or Athens. We believe they should be reunited in Athens where they can be seen in the context of the Parthenon which they adorned for over 2,000 years. We believe they should be reunited in Athens because the present day Greeks are the descendants of those who built the Parthenon and created the sculptures.

The Parthenon is a glorious monument that makes Greeks feel proud. At present that beauty has been diminished without the Marbles in their rightful place.

To restore to the temple of the Parthenon the majesty it should have, we want the marbles back so our children can see the Parthenon and its sculptures reunited after 180 years.