Elgin Marbles
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Elgin Marbles
No - Elgin Marbles is not the name of a game of marbles - although may be it is. The Elgin Marbles is the new name given to some priceless sculptures of Phidias that once adorned the Parthenon, the most important religious monument in the Acropolis, which stands on the high ground of Athens as it has for near on 5,000 years. So why are they called Elgin? Well that's easy to understand - if, as I am, you're British. In 1800 AD an UK aristocrat called Thomas Bruce, who was the 7th Earl of Elgin, went to Greece and, depending on your point of view, bought them, at a knock down price, or stole them with the help of some sky high bribes. Whichever - there is no doubt that he exported them from Greece to Great Britain, sold them on to the British Museum in London and, in the way of most European 18th century voyagers, was flattered to have his name stuck all over them.
The good people of Athens take the view that the evil Earl was a thief and so want them back. The grand people of the British Museum are clear the marbles were fairly bought and insist on keeping them. The politicians of both countries are stymied. On the one hand there is clearly no point in losing friends over some nicely carved rocks. On the other if you give them back where will it end? Will the British have to give the Falklands Islands back to the Argentineans who will call them Islas Malvinas - in the name of the National Anthem surely not?
What do you think? My only contribution to the debate is that if the marbles are returned to Greece the casually dressed, whistle blowing, security guards that look after the national treasures of present day Greece should take a very long course in being civil. I say this with authority of a tourist that witnessed them being inexplicably obnoxious.
No - Elgin Marbles is not the name of a game of marbles - although may be it is. The Elgin Marbles is the new name given to some priceless sculptures of Phidias that once adorned the Parthenon, the most important religious monument in the Acropolis, which stands on the high ground of Athens as it has for near on 5,000 years. So why are they called Elgin? Well that's easy to understand - if, as I am, you're British. In 1800 AD an UK aristocrat called Thomas Bruce, who was the 7th Earl of Elgin, went to Greece and, depending on your point of view, bought them, at a knock down price, or stole them with the help of some sky high bribes. Whichever - there is no doubt that he exported them from Greece to Great Britain, sold them on to the British Museum in London and, in the way of most European 18th century voyagers, was flattered to have his name stuck all over them.
The good people of Athens take the view that the evil Earl was a thief and so want them back. The grand people of the British Museum are clear the marbles were fairly bought and insist on keeping them. The politicians of both countries are stymied. On the one hand there is clearly no point in losing friends over some nicely carved rocks. On the other if you give them back where will it end? Will the British have to give the Falklands Islands back to the Argentineans who will call them Islas Malvinas - in the name of the National Anthem surely not?
What do you think? My only contribution to the debate is that if the marbles are returned to Greece the casually dressed, whistle blowing, security guards that look after the national treasures of present day Greece should take a very long course in being civil. I say this with authority of a tourist that witnessed them being inexplicably obnoxious.
