BRING THEM BACK!

Pap

Campaign for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures and the Reunification of the Monument


Reunite them!


What does Shakespeare mean to England?
Saint Paul’s cathedral?
What does the Taj Mahal mean to India?
What do the paintings in the Sistine Chapel mean to Italy?
The Parthenon marbles are our pride. They are our identity.
They are today’s link with Greek Excellence.
They are creations synonymous with our concepts of democracy and freedom.
Melina Mercouri

Jason P

That video confused me on what exactly you want brought back.

Pap

Jason P wrote:

That video confused me on what exactly you want brought back.

A: Parthenon sculptures

Pap

Stephen Fry on the Parthenon Marbles

brianlux

Pap wrote:

Stephen Fry on the Parthenon Marbles

A very reasonable idea well presented here by Mr. Fry. I hope it reaches the ears of those who can help make this happen. I'll definitely forward this to my sister who recently returned from Greece where she studied several years ago and I'm sure she will pass it along as well.

Pap

brianlux wrote:

A very reasonable idea well presented here by Mr. Fry. I hope it reaches the ears of those who can help make this happen. I'll definitely forward this to my sister who recently returned from Greece where she studied several years ago and I'm sure she will pass it along as well.

Thank you Brian! What did your sister study and where?

brianlux

Pap wrote:

brianlux wrote:

A very reasonable idea well presented here by Mr. Fry. I hope it reaches the ears of those who can help make this happen. I'll definitely forward this to my sister who recently returned from Greece where she studied several years ago and I'm sure she will pass it along as well.

Thank you Brian! What did your sister study and where?

She was on an archeological dig. I don't remember where in Greece off hand but I'll ask her. At the time, she wanted to become an archeologist but the work experience led her to believe that too many of the leaders in that field were more into their egos than being factual or doing something of worth. But she really loved the Greek people, especially the family she stayed with there and when she went back recently (after probably around 40 years) she found those people that she stayed with and they remembered her and they had a wonderful time being together again.

Pap

brianlux wrote:

...Many of the leaders in that field were more into their egos than being factual or doing something of worth.

Even though I am not myself an archaeologist, I was a member of a university excavation for two consecutive summers (2009 & 2010) too. Beautiful experience. Unfortunately, your sister is right. That is so sad. They are supposed to help preserve our heritage, instead they try to become famous and make some money out of it. :roll: Glad to hear that she has fond memories from my country. Maybe someday, you can visit Greece together to attend a PJ concert there. I hope that day come soon.

Pap

The Elgin Marbles... by Dorothy King

RE4790

What is the argument in favor of the Museum keeping them?

Pap

More or less, that they have the means to protect them while we - the Greeks - are unable to do so.

RE4790

Pap said:

More or less, that they have the means to protect them while we - the Greeks - are unable to do so.

That seems somewhat reasonable. The Greek economy is still pretty shaky and when push comes to shove it's better to feed people than polish old stonework, so wouldn't it be better for the Marbles to stay in London until things improve in Athens? Not forever, but until the security of the treasure can be better guaranteed.

Pap

RE4790 said:

Pap said:

More or less, that they have the means to protect them while we - the Greeks - are unable to do so.

That seems somewhat reasonable. The Greek economy is still pretty shaky and when push comes to shove it's better to feed people than polish old stonework, so wouldn't it be better for the Marbles to stay in London until things improve in Athens? Not forever, but until the security of the treasure can be better guaranteed.

That argument is ridiculous and outdated. We are talking about universal heritage here. The Parthenon sculptures need to return to their original place now, so every citizen of this world can admire their beauty in their natural context. Otherwise it is like distorting the truth. Besides, the Greek economy was not always the same. Especially back in the 1990s when the then Ministry of Culture made a serious plead for their repatriation.

i_lov_it

Sounds very reasonable Pap I hope they do get returned.

rgambs

RE4790 said:

Pap said:

More or less, that they have the means to protect them while we - the Greeks - are unable to do so.

That seems somewhat reasonable. The Greek economy is still pretty shaky and when push comes to shove it's better to feed people than polish old stonework, so wouldn't it be better for the Marbles to stay in London until things improve in Athens? Not forever, but until the security of the treasure can be better guaranteed.

yeah that doesn't hold up for me. We are talking about a modern country which prides itself on it's (badass) historic legacy. It isn't like the Persians are going to sack the Parthenon again lol...worst case scenario, if greece gets too broke, they can sell them fair and square!

RE4790

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting Greece not get them back. I was just trying understand what the opposing side was and it's not entirely illogical if you put the well being of the artifact first above any moral, social, or political concerns. I would also add that I would not have been able to see these treasures if they hadn't been in the BM.

Pap

RE4790 said:

... I would not have been able to see these treasures if they hadn't been in the BM.

Why? You could have always traveled to Athens and experience first hand the achievements of the Golden Age of Pericles.

rgambs

RE4790 said:

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting Greece not get them back. I was just trying understand what the opposing side was and it's not entirely illogical if you put the well being of the artifact first above any moral, social, or political concerns. I would also add that I would not have been able to see these treasures if they hadn't been in the BM.

Yeah, as Pap suggested, you would have been more edified to have seen them in the correct setting..and its important to think, who should see them? The people who's very ancestors populated the land and created the art? Or the ancestors of the imperialists who appropriated them?

AELARA

RE4790 said:

Pap said:

More or less, that they have the means to protect them while we - the Greeks - are unable to do so.

That seems somewhat reasonable. The Greek economy is still pretty shaky and when push comes to shove it's better to feed people than polish old stonework, so wouldn't it be better for the Marbles to stay in London until things improve in Athens? Not forever, but until the security of the treasure can be better guaranteed.

The Greek economy has not always been as shaky as it is now but still the British wouldn't even think of giving them back because there is no political will to give them back. That's why they always make excuses.

Pap

From the recently released collection Playing with Melina:

Pap

Pap

35 years ago, Melina Mercouri started the campaign for the return of the Parthenon sculptures currently at the British Museum. Given her great contribution to raise global awareness for the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures, the Acropolis Museum produced a video about the removal of the sculptures from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin and Melina Mercouri’s international campaign, with material provided by the Melina Mercouri Foundation.

The 23-minute video will be on display on Monday 6 March 2017, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the auditorium on the ground floor of the Museum.

On this day, entry will be free for visitors to both the auditorium and the Museum exhibition areas. Like every Monday, the Museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pap

3D printing is helping museums in repatriation and decolonisation efforts

brianlux

Pap said:

3D printing is helping museums in repatriation and decolonisation efforts

  l like it that some of the ancient artifacts are being returned to their place of origin.  Totally on board with that idea!

Pap

'Product of theft': Greece urges UK to return Parthenon marbles