Red Greece - Elgin Marbles - how do Greek people feel about this?

Elgin Marbles - how do Greek people feel about this?

I saw on the news this morning that the Elgin marbles may be returning to the new museum at the Parthenon, but on loan. Excuse my ignorance, but why how did the marbles come to be in the UK, surely they should be given back to the country where they are from. I would like to know your opinions on this (Greek people especially, but all opinions welcome!) I am British but live in Greece, I feel the marbels should be returned to Greece, not just "loaned" for the new museum.

Public Comments

Greece was under turkish occupation at the times and Lord Elgin got a permit to remove statues and other parts of the Acropolis monuments - and trasported them to the UK. Of course all these should be permanently returned to Greece - but the truth is that British, French, Germans, Spanish etc all have stolen local cultural heritage, either from Greece or Egypt or anywhere they could get their hands on and the sad reality is that none will ever return anything to anyone (or museums can close down entire sections).
The "Elgin" marbles are artifacts removed from the Parthenon by a British "archaeologist" treasure hunter at a time, when it was not seen as looting or stealing. Attitudes to this have changed, and anyone attempting to remove such artifacts and take them overseas would likely be charged with theft. In fact, not only would they be charged with theft but no other country would be able to allow these artifacts to be imported! I do believe that these items should be returned to Greece, and that they ought to be restored to their original position. An apology to the Greek people might also be in place. We have just apologised for slavery, so why not apologise for theft and wanton damage, by someone who ought to have known better? What is puzzling, is the fact that the current British Museum position seems to be that they still have more right to these artifacts, than Greece! They really ought to appreciate the damage done by their removal from the Parthenon, more than anyone.
Ooooh controversial question! The Elgin Marbles were 'removed' from Greece by Lord Elgin, who was British Ambassador to Greece. Since then they have been looked after at great cost by the British Museum. On the one hand, yes indeed they are a part of Greek history and culture. On the other hand, the chances are they wouldn't have survived Greece's turbulent past and 20th Century troubles, so the Greek people should be grateful that they are still all together in one place. The same argument could be made that the Pergamon Library should be returned from Berlin to Ephasus (in Turkey) ... in Berlin the Pergamon Library remains have been restored and maintained since WWII ... I was surprised that they weren't returned even on loan (supervised by the EU) for the Olympic Games in 2004 but of course Greece wouldn't accept a loan ... I think eventually they will end up being returned to Greece, but I hope only on loan...because Britain has looked after them for so long... plus made them freely available for everyone to see in the British Museum Philip
Even in Britain there are educated people who support the return of the marbles to the place and the monument where they belong to. The marbles were not given to Elgin by the greeks but by the turkish governor of Athens, who of course got bribed. And there is a legend of those times, according to which the rest of the Karyatides were crying overnight moarning the loss of their sister that Elgin stole. The hole project caused a lot of damage to the monument, as many parts were broken into pieces while that barbarian was trying to detach the statues. We are also aware of the methods that the british museum used in order to "clean" the marbles.... common household chlorium which destroyed a great deal of the details... And in addition, receptions and parties for those who can afford to pay are held in the halls were the masterpieces are kept. Despite these facts and instead of an apology, some idiots keep sharing the argument that the marbles are better off there, because "they are well preserved" . Does London have less polution than Athens? The new Acropolis museum is a very modern, scientifically designed museum, much more appropriate for the marbles. Yet, if the English Government consents to the return of the Parthenon masterpieces, this will give rise to claims from other countries (like Egypt e.g.) as well, and the British museum will be deprived of all the treasures exhibited there, and London of a great deal of tourists. We must also blame the greek governments that seem to have forgotten the petition of the return of the marbles where they belong to, under the sun of Athens and not in the fog of London....
Thank you for your support Every antiquity every cm of marble everything should be returned to the country where it belongs! Thieves can steal objects but they ll never be albe to steal our history our culture our glory cause we left our mark in world's history and nothing can change that Regards
how would British people feel if sb had removed some stones of the Stonehenge ? yes, the marbles (at least) should be returned permanently in Greece . http://www.museum-security.org/elginmarbles.html http://www.greece.org/parthenon/marbles/
Exactly, because they have been stolen from Greece, and the truth is that they havent been conservated well... They belong to us...Just to us, and it is time the european museums to return to some countries their treasures, and to create other things
No matter how one wants to view lord Elgin's acquisition of the marbles, their place is at the Parthenon. They represent part of the symbol of the city of Athens and therefore western civilization. Greeks demand nothing else. The rest of Greece belongs to humanity anyway. So bring the Parthenon marbles back to mother.