The theme of the Parthenon finally returning to Greece, their original geography, is more than complicated, but, despite the difficulties, there are signs of white smoke on the horizon. Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis has already said progress is being made in the talks.
On November 28, Mitsotakis met with the director of the British Museum, George Osborne, and according to the Greek newspaper “Dea Nea”, on the table was the process of returning the marble friezes of the Parthenon. The talks, classified as “confidential”, will take place in London for about a year, the newspaper said.
Also known as the “Elgin Marbles”, the friezes were removed from the Parthenon by the British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and are now on display at the British Museum. But Greece has been asking for their return for years, considering them part of the national identity.
“A mutually beneficial solution can be found. The Parthenon sculptures can be brought together, while the concerns of the British Museum can be taken into account,” Mitsotakis was quoted as saying by Greek news agency ANA. M.B.A.
Further The British Museum released a statement last Saturday saying it wanted “a new partnership with Greece for the Parthenon” and expressed its willingness to talk with Athens. A dead end. “We are acting within the law and will not remove our large collection because it tells a unique story of our common humanity,” read a statement released by the museum.
“to the guardian”, Greek Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis confirmed that “it is true that there is a dialogue between the Greek government and the British Museum”, however, characterizing the talks as “preliminary”. To AFP, Mitosotakis was still optimistic: “Given the concerns of the British Museum, a mutually beneficial solution could be found to reunite the Parthenon sculptures.”
George Osborne Former British Chancellor of the Exchequer and London argued that the sculptures were “legally appropriated” by British diplomat Lord Elgin in 1802, who allegedly sold them to the museum 14 years later. Greece responded that the Frisians were “looted” during the Ottoman occupation.
If the return happens, the decision would be a symbolic move at a time when many European countries are debating the return of works of art, cultural objects and spoils from geographies and former colonies outside of Europe. The British newspaper “Observer” characterized these Greek-British discussions as a “tectonic movement”.
Mitostakis himself lifted the veil on a solution: “There is still a long way to go, but we will continue our discussions. It is very good that we are now trying to establish a wider cooperation with the British. The museum, which does not include traditional antiquities, but we are ready to send Byzantine treasures.
The frieze in question is about 2500 years old and 75 meters long. Hoping to get back, Greece built a museum in 2009, the purpose of which is precisely to host and display important marbles.
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