Download the parthenon sculptures

THE PARTHENON SCULPTURES
Periodically, the question of where the surviving sculptures
from the Parthenon should now be displayed becomes a
subject of public discussion. This document provides key
information for understanding the complex history of the
Parthenon and its sculpture. The main arguments of the
debate are also presented here. If you would like to know
more, the British Museum’s website gives a fuller account.
For another view, see the website of the Hellenic Ministry of
Culture. Both websites are listed below.
What is the Parthenon and how did the sculptures come to London?
The Parthenon in Athens is a building with a long and complex history. Built nearly 2, 500 years
ago as a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, it was for a thousand years the church
of the Virgin Mary of the Athenians, then a mosque, and finally an archaeological ruin. The
building was altered and the sculptures much damaged over the course of the centuries. The
first major loss occurred around AD 500 when the Parthenon was converted into a church.
When the city was under siege by the Venetians in 1687, the Parthenon itself was used as a
gunpowder store. A huge explosion blew the roof off and destroyed a large portion of the
remaining sculptures. The building has been a ruin ever since. Archaeologists worldwide are
agreed that the surviving sculptures could never be re-attached to the structure.
By 1800 only about half of the original sculptural decoration remained. Between 1801 and
1805 Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, of which Athens had been a
part for some 350 years, acting with the full knowledge and permission of the Ottoman
authorities, removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the fallen ruins and from the
building itself. Lord Elgin was passionate about ancient Greek culture and transported the
sculptures back to Britain. The arrival of the sculptures in London had a profound effect on the
European public, regenerating interest in ancient Greek culture and influencing contemporary
artistic trends. These sculptures were acquired from Lord Elgin by the British museum in 1816
following a Parliamentary Select Committee enquiry which fully investigated and approved the
legality of Lord Elgin’s actions. Since then the sculptures have all been on display to the public
in the British Museum, free of entry charge.
Where can the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon be seen?
Sculptures surviving from the Parthenon are located in museums in six different countries. The
majority of the sculptures are roughly equally divided between Athens and London, while
important pieces are also to be found in other major European museums, including the Louvre
and Vatican.
1. Parthenon sculptures in Athens
Recently the Greek authorities have continued the process of removing the sculptures
from the Parthenon, work that began over 200 years ago. Nearly all of the sculptures
have now been removed from the building. They are displayed at the New Acropolis
Museum.
2. Parthenon sculptures in London
The sculptures in London, sometimes known as the “Elgin Marbles,” have been on
permanent public display in the British Museum since 1817, free of charge. Here they
are seen by a world audience of six million visitors a year and are actively studied and
researched to promote worldwide understanding of ancient Greek culture. The
Museum has published the results of its research extensively.
3. Parthenon sculptures in other museums
The following institutions also hold sculpture from the Parthenon:
Musee du Louvre, Paris
Vatican Museums
National Museum, Copenhagen
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
University Museum, Wurzburg
Glyptothek, Munich
What has the Greek Government asked for?
Since the early 1980s Greek governments have argued for the permanent removal to Athens of
all the Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum. The Greek government has also disputed
the British museum Trustees’ legal title to the sculptures. For more information on the Greek
government’s official position, see the website of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture:
www.culture.gr
What is the British Museum’s position?
The British Museum exists to tell the story of cultural achievement throughout the world, from
the dawn of human history over two million years ago until the present day. The Museum is a
unique resource for the world: the breadth and depth of its collection allows the world public
to re-examine cultural identities and explore the complex network of interconnected world
cultures.
Within the context of this unparalleled collection, the Parthenon sculptures are an important
representation of ancient Athenian civilization. Each year millions of visitors, free of charge,
admire the artistry of the sculptures and gain insights on how ancient Greece influenced – and
was influenced by – the other civilizations that it encountered.
The Trustees of the British Museum warmly welcome the opening of the New Acropolis
Museum which will allow the Parthenon sculptures that are in Athens to be appreciated against
the backdrop of ancient Greek and Athenian history. The new museum, however, does not
alter the Trustees’ view that the sculptures are part of everyone’s shared heritage and
transcend cultural boundaries. The Trustees remain convinced that the current division allows
different and complementary stories to be told about the surviving sculptures, highlighting their
significance for world culture and affirming the universal legacy of ancient Greece.