It is still doubtful whether lord elgin was ever truly granted permission to take the marbles.
Why are elgin marbles in london.
The marbles have suffered considerable damage while in london.
The elgin marbles refer to a collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details dating back to the fifth century bc which are currently kept in the british museum london.
These iconic examples of ancient greek sculpture created in athens in the 5th century bc have been in the british museum in london for over 200 years.
It s a collection of stone pieces rescued removed from the ruins of the ancient greek parthenon in the nineteenth century and now in demand to be sent back from the british museum to greece.
The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece.
The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas bruce 7th lord elgin who was british ambassador to the ottoman empire 1799 1803.
In the 19th century pollution seriously harmed the sculptures and the british museum s attempts to clean them using sandpaper chisels and acid also caused irreparable damage.
By then the fifth century parthenon was showing its age having suffered a catastrophic 1687 explosion while it was being used by the turks as a gunpowder magazine.
The situation of the parthenon marbles in london means that millions of visitors can appreciate their beauty on view for free in an enclyopedic museum which showcases world history and culture.
γλυπτά του παρθενώνα also known as the elgin marbles ˈ ɛ l ɡ ɪ n are a collection of classical greek marble sculptures made under the supervision of the architect and sculptor phidias and his assistants.
They were originally part of the temple of the parthenon and other buildings on the acropolis of athens.
Updated april 04 2019.
In many ways the marbles are emblematic of the development of modern ideas of national heritage and global display which argues that localized regions have the best claim over items produced there.
The parthenon marbles are often called the elgin marbles after thomas bruce 7th earl of elgin who had them removed from the acropolis complex between 1801 and 1812.
They were brought to britain by lord elgin.
Their continuing presence in the british museum attests to the diffusion and.
The elgin marbles displayed in london have been an inspiration to generations of people of all nationalities.