The ongoing dispute over the Parthenon Marbles between Athens and London has escalated, with Greece maintaining that the marbles were stolen, while the UK argues they were obtained legally.
Adding to the friction, designer Erdem Moralioglu chose the Athens Parthenon sculptures showroom at the British Museum as the backdrop for presenting the autumn-winter 2024 collection of his brand Erdem, inspired by Greek singer Maria Callas and her portrayal of the opera Medea in 1953.
The 1963 British Museum Act explicitly prohibits the removal of objects from the museum’s collection, adding a legal dimension to the controversy.
Despite mounting pressure on the British Museum to repatriate foreign antiquities, officials have not ruled out the possibility of a loan deal.
Tensions flared in late November when Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his “displeasure” after UK counterpart Rishi Sunak abruptly canceled a scheduled bilateral meeting to discuss the marbles’ return.
The cancellation came after Mitsotakis’s remarks in a BBC interview questioning the ownership of the 2,500-year-old marbles, likening their divided ownership between London and Athens to cutting the Mona Lisa in half.
In response, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni criticized the British Museum’s choice of venue, accusing its directors of showing disrespect for the masterpieces of Pheidias and undermining their universal significance. She highlighted concerns over the deteriorating conditions of display and storage of the sculptures in the Duveen Gallery and reiterated Greece’s call for the marbles’ return to their homeland.
The Parthenon sculptures, originally from the Parthenon temple at the Acropolis in Greece, were taken in the early 19th century by British diplomat Thomas Bruce, the earl of Elgin, sparking a long-standing cultural dispute between Greece and the UK.
What happened earlier
Earlier, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed displeasure after his planned meeting with British counterpart Rishi Sunak was canceled just hours before.
Rishi Sunak canceled his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis because the latter intended to discuss the repatriation of Greek antiquities, including the Parthenon Marbles, which are currently held in the British Museum. The marbles are held under the name Elgin Marbles.
Following Sunak’s cancellation, Mitsotakis was offered a meeting with British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, but he refused, stating on the Greek prime ministerial website that “whoever believes in the correctness and justice of his positions is never afraid of a confrontation of arguments.” He further expressed his disappointment at not being able to discuss the Parthenon Marbles issue and other global challenges such as Gaza, Ukraine, the climate crisis, and migration with his British counterpart.
