Keep the Elgin Marbles in London... they’re in safer hands, says GREEK scholar
THE Elgin Marbles will be ‘much better preserved’ if they remain in the British Museum, a renowned Greek academic claimed yesterday.
Acquired from the Acropolis of Athens by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, the 2,500year-old statues are one of the museum’s most prized exhibits. But under plans drawn up by its chairman George Osborne, they could soon be sent back to Greece.
Dr Dimitris Michalopoulos, a former director of the Athens City Museum, has argued that the figures should remain in London. He said: ‘As I am fairly acquainted with Greek museums, I am convinced the Elgin Marbles are much better preserved in the British Museum than in any Greek one.’ The Athens-born historian, 70, also claimed that if the statues were sent to Greece on a loan basis, they would ‘never be returned’ to London.
He added: ‘I think British public opinion, in a manifestation of traditional British gallantry, is henceforth inclined to give them back to Greece. Nonetheless... the matter has an outstanding political aspect, let alone the legal, moral and religious ones.’
Greek politicians have long called for the marbles, taken while the country was under Ottoman rule, to be returned.
UK law prevents the British Museum giving away objects in its collection. But former chancellor Mr Osborne is understood to be in talks to loan the statues in exchange for other ancient artworks.
The British Museum said ‘constructive discussions are on-going’. A government spokesman said: ‘The Parthenon Sculptures are legally owned by the trustees of the British Museum. Decisions relating to its collections are a matter for the trustees.’