The so called Elgin Marbles are the marble statues and friezes which once adorned the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. As Lord Elgin was returning the marbles to England he was captured by the French and in 1816 the British Parliament voted to purchase the marbles from the French. After being placed in the British Museum, the Elgin marbles have become one of the museum’s most prized possessions.
Because of their antiquity and beauty, the Elgin Marbles are a source of constant friction between the British and Greek governments. Many individuals have also taken sides in this controversy but the logic and solutions are not as clear-cut as they might initially seem. I will try to summarize the two arguments without belittling or aggrandizing either side of the issue.
The Greeks sincerely believe that the marbles were taken from Greece under dubious authority and that they should be returned to their rightful home. A new Acropolis Museum has been recently opened in anticipation of the return of the marbles.
The British sincerely believe that the marbles were acquired legally and that they now belong to the British Museum. Furthermore, there are collections of Parthenon marbles in Germany and Greece which, including the marbles in England, allows people from all over the world to see and appreciate these ancient treasures.