UK Government Won’t Prevent Parthenon Marbles Loan, but British Museum Head Says Agreement Not Imminent

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Parthenon sculptures of Ancient Greece, fragments which are collectively known as the Parthenon Marbles aka Elgin Marbles at the British Museum on 4th December 2023 in London, United Kingdom. The Elgin Marbles are considered stolen goods by Greece, and has regularly demanded their return, while the Acropolis Museum, which houses the remaining sculptures, keeps an empty space for them within its current display. The British museum counters this, claiming that the sculptures were legally acquired by Lord Elgin following an agreement with Ottoman leaders. The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. It has a permanent collection of eight million works and is among the largest and most comprehensive collection, which documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Parthenon sculptures of Ancient Greece, fragments which are collectively known as the Parthenon Marbles aka Elgin Marbles at the British Museum on 4th December 2023 in London, United Kingdom. The Elgin Marbles are considered stolen goods by Greece, and has regularly demanded their return, while the Acropolis Museum, which houses the remaining sculptures, keeps an empty space for them within its current display. The British museum counters this, claiming that the sculptures were legally acquired by Lord Elgin following an agreement with Ottoman leaders. The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. It has a permanent collection of eight million works and is among the largest and most comprehensive collection, which documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images) In Pictures via Getty Images

Discussions between Greece and the British Museum about the fate of the Parthenon Marbles are gaining momentum, with Greek officials optimistic about the potential for an agreement in 2025, according to a report by the Finanial Times this week.

The conversations between the two governments, which have spanned several years, focus on a possible loan arrangement. Under this plan, portions of the artifacts could be temporarily returned to Athens, while significant Greek antiquities would be showcased in London.

Known as the Elgin Marbles in the UK, the sculptures were removed from the Parthenon in Athens in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin during the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The British Museum has housed the artifacts ever since, asserting their acquisition was legal. However, Greece has long contended that the removal was unauthorized and views their return as vital to its cultural and national identity.

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During a meeting this week between UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the matter was reportedly brought up by the Greek side. The UK stated the sculptures were not officially on Starmer’s agenda, but confirmed that the UK government would not obstruct a loan agreement. The British Museum, as an independent institution, has the authority to decide on those arrangements.

A British law enacted in 1963 prohibits the museum from permanently transferring any part of its collection, leaving a long-term loan as the most feasible compromise. George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum, acknowledged the constructive nature of the ongoing talks but noted that an agreement is still a way off.

Since assuming office in 2019, Mitsotakis has made the return of the Parthenon Sculptures a cornerstone of his administration’s cultural policy. To avoid escalating tensions, Athens has focused on fostering collaboration and mutual understanding.

While the British Museum has shown openness to creative solutions, some of its trustees remain cautious about setting a precedent that could affect other contested artifacts.

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