Elgin’s stolen antiquities must be returned to Greece

“Thank goodness for the DAM and the Mayers,” Oct. 31 letter to the editor

The letter writer says: “The Elgin Marbles were rescued by Lord Elgin at his own expense from Greece and brought to England from a heavily damaged Parthenon. Thank goodness for Lord Elgin and the British Museum.” This reference to the looted Sculptures of Parthenon is inaccurate and insulting.

At the beginning of the 19th century a systematic looting of the Acropolis archaeological site took place. Lord Elgin managed to secure an authorization (firman) from the Ottoman Sultan for investigation of the Acropolis — but not

for stripping the monuments of their sculptural decoration. Nevertheless, Elgin’s team removed a large number of the sculptures until then preserved on the Parthenon, as well as one of the Caryatids from the Erechtheion, four frieze blocks from the Temple of Athena Nike and other antiquities, which were shipped off to the United Kingdom.

A recent decision by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee recognizes Greece’s just and legal request for a permanent return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens and urges the UK to engage in dialogue with Greece in good faith to discuss this issue and reach a clear conclusion. The UNESCO Committee has also expressed its concern over the poor conditions in the British Museum’s Duveen Gallery, where the sculptures are currently exhibited.

Twelve years ago, Greece built the new Acropolis Museum, which is consistently rated as one of the best museums in the world, where Parthenon Sculptures are already exhibited and awaiting their reunification with those looted by Lord Elgin.

Andreas Spyrou, Los Angeles, Calif. Editor’s note: Spyrou is the head of public diplomacy at the Office of the Consulate General of Greece in Los Angeles.