Julian spalding the former head of glasgow sheffield and manchester museums agreed that the british museum should give the elgin marbles back because they re an intrinsic part of one the.
Elgin marbles british museum.
The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece.
Thomas bruce the 7th earl of elgin and.
It s a collection of stone pieces rescued removed from the ruins of the ancient greek parthenon in the nineteenth century and now in demand to be sent back from the british museum to greece.
The 5th century artefacts are currently housed in the british museum and are widely regarded as one of the finest examples of marble sculpture on earth.
They further bolster their argument claiming that western culture including britain is a product of greek antiquity thus the elgin marbles are part of british history as well the british museum 2.
The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas bruce 7th lord elgin who was british ambassador to the ottoman empire 1799 1803.
The marbles were transported by sea to britain.
Some refer to the collection in london as the elgin marbles after the british aristocrat lord elgin who removed them.
His actions were thoroughly investigated by a parliamentary select committee in 1816 and found to be entirely legal prior to the sculptures entering the collection of the british museum by act of parliament.
The ancient friezes which include depictions of battles between mythical ancient greeks and centaurs were taken by british diplomat lord elgin in the early 19th century and are now on display at.
In many ways the marbles are emblematic of the development of modern ideas of national heritage and global display which argues that localized regions have the best claim over items produced there.
From 1801 to 1812 agents of thomas bruce 7th earl of elgin removed about half of the surviving sculptures of the parthenon as well as sculptures from the propylaea and erechtheum.
The collection is now on display in the british museum in the purpose built duveen gallery.
Fischer said that the sculptures tell different stories about the parthenon which at various times was a temple of athena a christian church and a mosque.