Download speech of the minister of culture mr. giorgos voulgarakis in the

Athens, September 5th, 2006
SPEECH OF THE MINISTER OF CULTURE
MR. GIORGOS VOULGARAKIS
IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE FIRST FRAGMENT FROM THE
PARTHENON SCULPTURES, WHICH WAS RETURNED TO GREECE
BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG
I am extremely honored and profoundly touched to present to you today the first of
the dismembered fragments of the Parthenon Sculptures returning to its proper place,
after, approximately, one century and a half.
As you probably know, yesterday I went to Heidelberg to officially receive the
fragment, which belonged to the collection of the Archaeological Institute of the
University of Heidelberg.
My decision to travel there, myself, was the result of the enormously important
symbolic gesture of the University to return the fragment, turning the page on the –till
recently- unsuccessful discussions on the return of all Parthenon Sculptures from the
museums abroad.
The University of Heidelberg has taken the decision to return the fragment,
recognizing the importance of the Parthenon as a unique monument of world cultural
heritage. Virtually, it made this gesture, as a first step towards the reunification of the
Parthenon Marbles, bearing in mind that there are no scientific or legal grounds for its
retaining. Furthermore, it thus indicated that both the Museums and the collections of
various Institutes and Organizations should not constitute luxurious exiles or
cemeteries of ancient monuments. They should be alive, contemporary organisations,
guardians of cultural cooperation and synergies of the peoples, as well as the
supporters of a United Europe, which cannot proceed without harmonizing its policy
with the re-establishment of Law and Ethics.
The Parthenon symbolizes the spiritual reserve bequeathed by the Athenian 5th
century B.C. to humanity. It is distinguished because it transmutes material
preconditions to spiritual virtues. It marks the awakening of the individual
consciousness, in the collective and social framework guaranteed by the principles of
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Democracy. It also marks the parity of classes, generations and sexes, as well as the
gravity of history, the importance of memory as a precondition for self-knowledge,
human standards and the values of morality. Finally, it stresses the duty of defending
the State and its Laws and the belief in the supremacy of the democratic model of
governance.
The entity of the Parthenon’s form is the basic prerequisite for its acceptance as a
unified monument of art, as its form includes the very concept of its content.
Consequently, if the principle of entity is a general rule for every creation, in the case
of the Parthenon it acquires its absolute meaning. Only if this entity is again fulfilled,
with the reunification of all the dismembered parts, the existence of the Parthenon will
be restored as a prominent symbol of European spirit, ruled by the essential values of
humanism.
The demand for this reunification goes beyond our national borders and takes
international dimensions. It is not a matter of national pride, so I will never stop
stressing that the singularity of the Parthenon as world monument is the decisive
factor which renders this demand a universal one. This is how the Greeks and all
those who are able to see the self-evident of this request perceive it. And this is the
message we would like to transmit to all the museums abroad, which contain
sculptures from the Parthenon in their collections.
Hereby, I would also like to make clear that the return of the sculptures in question
won’t pave the way for other monuments or antiquities. The case of the Parthenon is
extremely particular and the reunification of its sculptures constitutes a duty towards
history, therefore, the museums have to respond to their duty toward the cultural and
mental cohesion of United Europe.
Moreover, I would like to underline my optimism and certainty that the return of the
fragment from Heidelberg will trigger once again the discussion on the dismembered
parts of the Parthenon, in the perspective of a balanced and objective dialogue, as I
believe it will be.
I have faith in the consensus, co-operation and support of all the European cultural
bodies and I look forward to the dynamic role of the future and a positive outcome.
For every scattered fragment of the Parthenon, which will finally come back to its
own place, gifts from our rich cultural past will be offered as a token of our good will
and co-operation.
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The research carried out on the Sacred Rock of Athens, as well as the imminent
completion of the New Acropolis Museum, are preparing the reception of all the
sculptures in Greece.
The Parthenon Hall of the New Museum will enable the unification of all the existing
parts of the monument. A large and homogeneous collection will be exhibited, which
will later on include the Sculptures that we claim from the British Museum and
which, having been removed from their historical and cultural framework, now tend
to constitute an autonomous artwork. In the Parthenon Hall, specific show-cases will
remain empty waiting for the return of the dismembered Sculptures.
As regards the historically important return of the first Parthenon fragment by the
University of Heidelberg, I would like to express my thanks to all those who have,
systematically, worked before me in the Ministry of Culture for the sake of today’s
result.
What is more, I would like to thank the Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture
Mr. Christos Zachopoulos, the Director General of Antiquities Mrs. Vivi
Vassilopoulou and the Head of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Mrs. Elena
Korka, as well as the Ephors of the Acropolis, who have for many years now served
the idea of the reunification of the Sculptures and, of course, the archaeologists who
have helped to make this important step.
I would especially like to refer to Professor Angelos Delivorias, Director of the
Benaki Museum, for his active role in the return of the fragment and the constant
efforts he has made all these years in the struggle for the reunification of the
Parthenon Sculptures.
Finally, I would like to thank the seventeen international Committees around the
world, which strive through touching efforts to promote the request of the return of all
the scattered Parthenon Sculptures, and I should also say a warm ‘thank you’ to the
Citizens of the whole world who identify the Parthenon as an eternal world symbol.
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