British Museum says it won't dismantle Elgin Marbles after report of 'secret talks' with Greece 🏛️
However, after the newspaper quoted “insiders” as saying the talks were at an “advanced stage”, the museum has vowed not to “dismantle our great collection”.
It is the latest twist in the long-running dispute over ownership of the ancient sculptures, which originally stood on the Acropolis in Athens and have been a centrepiece of the British Museum’s collection since 1816.The museum did not deny that talks have taken place, but a spokesman refused to discuss the specifics of thestory. It said it was prepared to “talk to anyone, including the Greek government” about a new Parthenon “partnership’’.
“As the chair of trustees said last month, we operate within the law and we’re not going to dismantle our great collection as it tells a unique story of our common humanity,” the museum added in a statement released on Saturday.“But we are seeking new positive, long-term partnerships with countries and communities around the world, and that of course includes Greece.”
On its website, the British Museum says it is willing to consider loaning the sculptures to Greece, but that successive Greek government’s have refused to acknowledge the museum’s ownership. There are no current negotiations about the issue, the museum said.The British Museum holds 17 figures, 15 sculpted relief panels and part of a frieze that decorated the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple at the Acropolis. They portray gods, heroes, a religious festival and a story from Greek myth.
Although British authorities have rebuffed efforts to return the sculptures to Greece since at least 1941, there has been a change of tone recently as museums around the world seek to address concerns about the way ancient artefacts were acquired during periods of imperial domination and colonial expansion.
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