The Marbles British Museum

The british museum says it will never return the elgin marbles defending their removal as a creative act hartwig fischer s statements are already drawing international backlash.

The marbles british museum.

The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece 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. A british museum spokeswoman confirmed that it allows a stolen goods tour run by an external guide. When the marbles were shipped to england they were an instant success among many who admired the sculptures and supported their arrival but both the sculptures and elgin also received criticism from detractors. In a leaked letter uk culture secretary oliver dowden said that government funded museums and galleries risk losing taxpayer support if they remove artefacts.

She said the elgin marbles were acquired legally with the approval of the ottoman. Learn how colonial relationships shaped the british museum s collection in our new trail collecting and empire. Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures. We need your support your support is vital and helps the museum to share the collection with the world.

In many ways the marbles are emblematic of the development of modern ideas of national heritage and global display which. Ian jenkins the parthenon sculptures in the british museum british museum press 2007 ian jenkins greek architecture and its sculpture in the british museum british museum press 2006 mary beard the parthenon profile 2002 william st clair lord elgin and the marbles 3rd edition oxford university press 1998. Lord elgin began negotiations for the sale of the collection to the british museum in 1811 but negotiations failed despite the support of british artists after the government. The elgin marbles refer to a collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details dating back to the fifth century bc which are currently kept in the british museum london.

The director of the british museum has provoked anger by suggesting the removal of the parthenon marbles from greece in the 19th century could be seen as a creative act.