British Parthanon Marbles
I. Identification
1. The Issue
The British Museum, located in London, England, purchased the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, from Lord Elgin on July 11, 1816 through an Act of Parliament (1). The Parthenon marbles consist of 115 panels of frieze and 92 mesotopes of which the British Museum owns 56 panels of the frieze and 15 mesotopes. The museum also owns 17 pedimental figures, and thus houses about half of surviving sculptures of the Parthenon while the other half is in Athens (2). The legal circumstances surrounding Lord Elgin’s removal of the marbles is questionable as he never obtained permission from Greece, but rather the temporary occupational government at the time- the Ottoman Empire (3). Therefore, the Greek government would like the British Museum to return the marbles so they can be placed in the new Acropolis Museum near the Parthenon, a vital part of Greek heritage. The British Museum does not want to comply as the marbles have now become a key component of their collection, and they believe themselves to be rightful and legal owner of the marbles. Furthermore, the marbles’ removal would cause the questioning of museums worldwide, and their ownership of foreign antiquities.
2. Description
The Parthenon was built after the Athenian government voted to use its surplus revenue to rebuild the temple of the warrior goddess Athena on highest point in the city, the Acropolis. It took fifteen years to build, from 447 B.C. to 432 B.C. Athens was at the height of its political power and having an artistic and intellectual renaissance, thus it is understandable that a structure like the Parthenon would have been created as a testament to the accomplishments of the Greeks. Not much is known about the arrangements for the construction, but the principle architect was a man named Iktinos, who had also designed the temple of Apollo at Bassae in Arcadia (4).
The temple has a row of Doric columns on each side and a double row of porches at
1. The Issue
The British Museum, located in London, England, purchased the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, from Lord Elgin on July 11, 1816 through an Act of Parliament (1). The Parthenon marbles consist of 115 panels of frieze and 92 mesotopes of which the British Museum owns 56 panels of the frieze and 15 mesotopes. The museum also owns 17 pedimental figures, and thus houses about half of surviving sculptures of the Parthenon while the other half is in Athens (2). The legal circumstances surrounding Lord Elgin’s removal of the marbles is questionable as he never obtained permission from Greece, but rather the temporary occupational government at the time- the Ottoman Empire (3). Therefore, the Greek government would like the British Museum to return the marbles so they can be placed in the new Acropolis Museum near the Parthenon, a vital part of Greek heritage. The British Museum does not want to comply as the marbles have now become a key component of their collection, and they believe themselves to be rightful and legal owner of the marbles. Furthermore, the marbles’ removal would cause the questioning of museums worldwide, and their ownership of foreign antiquities.
2. Description
The Parthenon was built after the Athenian government voted to use its surplus revenue to rebuild the temple of the warrior goddess Athena on highest point in the city, the Acropolis. It took fifteen years to build, from 447 B.C. to 432 B.C. Athens was at the height of its political power and having an artistic and intellectual renaissance, thus it is understandable that a structure like the Parthenon would have been created as a testament to the accomplishments of the Greeks. Not much is known about the arrangements for the construction, but the principle architect was a man named Iktinos, who had also designed the temple of Apollo at Bassae in Arcadia (4).
The temple has a row of Doric columns on each side and a double row of porches at