As a temple created for the goddess Athena, the Parthenon is one of the greatest structures of the ancient world and a symbol of ancient Greek culture. In the 1800s after the Parthenon was partially destroyed, Lord Elgin took pieces of the Parthenon back to London and is now in the British Museum. For centuries many people believe that the British Museum should return the Parthenon Marbles aka the Elgin Marbles back to Greece. These Marbles have great historical and cultural significance in Greece and it is where they belong. Lord Elgin had no right to remove the Marbles from the Parthenon to being with, getting permission from the Ottomans who were occupying Greece. I believe that the British Museum should return the Marbles back to Greece.
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Elgin wanted to prove that Britain was artistically superior to other countries by acquiring the pieces, returning them to Britain, where they would stay and so they can show these wonderful pieces of art; “Even at the time, questions were raised about the legitimacy and morality of Elgin’s actions. The controversy was also fueled by personal vendettas in the world of British arts, by the ongoing war with France, and by Britain's on-again, off-again alliance with Turkey.” (Gibbon 109). Using his connections as the British ambassador to the Ottomans, who at this time was in control of Greece, Elgin was allowed only to cast and make paintings of the sculptures. That was not what ended up happening, he took apart the remaining sculptures and broke them down into different pieces. Some would argue that Elgin saved them from being destroyed, but he made it worse by separating the Marbles into pieces. His motives were clear in that he did not care for the pieces and just wanted to bring them home; “In acquiring the marbles Elgin, claimed to have been motivated by the desire to raise the level of understanding and appreciation of greek art, and revitalized artistic endeavour in Britain” (Gibbon 112). Elgin was greedy and wanted to preserve these antiquities his way, in doing so, I think he made the wrong decision. When the Ottomans granted him permission to take the Marbles it was like them selling something they stole. Greece was robbed of a national treasure and this is the rightful place of where the Marbles
Elgin wanted to prove that Britain was artistically superior to other countries by acquiring the pieces, returning them to Britain, where they would stay and so they can show these wonderful pieces of art; “Even at the time, questions were raised about the legitimacy and morality of Elgin’s actions. The controversy was also fueled by personal vendettas in the world of British arts, by the ongoing war with France, and by Britain's on-again, off-again alliance with Turkey.” (Gibbon 109). Using his connections as the British ambassador to the Ottomans, who at this time was in control of Greece, Elgin was allowed only to cast and make paintings of the sculptures. That was not what ended up happening, he took apart the remaining sculptures and broke them down into different pieces. Some would argue that Elgin saved them from being destroyed, but he made it worse by separating the Marbles into pieces. His motives were clear in that he did not care for the pieces and just wanted to bring them home; “In acquiring the marbles Elgin, claimed to have been motivated by the desire to raise the level of understanding and appreciation of greek art, and revitalized artistic endeavour in Britain” (Gibbon 112). Elgin was greedy and wanted to preserve these antiquities his way, in doing so, I think he made the wrong decision. When the Ottomans granted him permission to take the Marbles it was like them selling something they stole. Greece was robbed of a national treasure and this is the rightful place of where the Marbles