Should Britain return the Elgin Marbles?

[Adsos Letter]

Source: The First Post.

An opinion piece formatted as a pro/con argument re; The Elgin Marbles. Not easily duplicated in an OP (at least not with my Victorian Era technical skills) so you'll have to visit the site. The issue is a timely one, regarding legitimate claims to material culture remains.

Feel free to add your own views, Pro & Con.

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/46540,opinion,pros-and-cons-should-britain-return-the-elgin-marbles-to-greece?WTmc_id=rss

[leftstreet]

1. That's a tough one

At first, sure you'd like to see them in their original setting. !!

On the other hand, sounds like the Brits were instrumental in protecting them so that they're still around.

I don't know.

:shrug:

[Adsos Letter]

2. I don't either....

I suppose that, in each case of this type of thing, the conditions under which the cultural remains were procured would have to be taken into account.

[leftstreet]

3. Good point

Sounds like there's a difference of opinion on Elgin's royal decree.

By the way, I wonder what happened to all the stuff looted out of Baghdad

[Adsos Letter]

5. They got some of it back...

I'm sure the rest is in private collections, with the less easily recognizable stuff on the black market for antiquities.

[ContinentalOp]

4. Definitely not. The whole idea of repatriating cultural artifacts is absurd.

Should all of the world's Rembrandts be sent back to Amsterdam?

[VPStoltz]

6. Rembrant didn't expect his work to stay in Amsterdam.

I would think the builder of the Parthenon did expect their work to remain in Greece.
It's unlikely the Brits even consulted with the Greek government at time to remove the frieze.

[Cleita]

7. There wasn't a Greek government at the time as they were under the rule

of the Ottoman Empire. The Turks gave Elgin permission to remove them and at the time, it was a wise thing to preserve them. However, now that Greece is once more a sovereign nation, I believe they should be returned.

[VPStoltz]

8. Shows what I know about Greek history. But I do agree with you.

[ContinentalOp]

9. So you're in favor of repatriating artifacts only if they were once architectural ornaments...

or somehow designed to be part of a specific installation? I can see the logic behind that and I suppose I would support the idea. I think it's really up to the British Museum though and I have no problem with them deciding to hold onto them.

[VPStoltz]

13. Not really. I think it's cultural.

The marbles are part of Greek history, and in illustrious one it was. Native American pieces are being returned because they are culturally significant. Crown jewels and relics are returned to their place of origin. I believe Egypt has some strict laws regarding the handling of its cultural artifacts. I think the BM would actually be doing itself a favor by returning them.

[MADem]

10. Well, the actual builders were a bunch of slaves. I imagine if it were put to a vote

they'd probably say "The enemy of my oppressor is my friend. Go for it."

[Runcible Spoon]

15. Spoken like a true colonialist.

[Norrin Radd]

11. Yes. And there is a lovely new home awaiting them:

http://www.newacropolismuseum.gr/eng/

[JCMach1]

12. Yes

[malaise]

14. To be kind

The British were common thieves.

[EFerrari]

16. OT: Adsos Letter, is The Invention of Air on your reading list?!

Fantastic BookTV segment (Joseph Priestly, Adams, Franklin, science, democracy, good times. :) )

http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=10129&SectionName=History