Piecing together the Acropolis sculptures
On this page:
Overview
Spotlight: The Parthenon sculptures
The Parthenon sculptures are still scattered apart
Why reunite the Acropolis sculptures in Athens
How can the reunification of the Acropolis sculptures be achieved?
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Overview
The Acropolis consists of a number of structures, most of which were decorated with uniquely beautiful yet thematically linked sculptures. But a number of them were taken away from the Acropolis by European travellers in the 19th century. Sculptures and architectural members were removed from all four major structures of the Acropolis: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the temple of Athena Nike, and the Propylaea.
Today, the Acropolis sculptures remain scattered, while they only make sense as part of a single creation.
Over the last decades, a lot of attention has been drawn, specifically, to the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures, as a case that invites a reconsideration of a past act through the prism of today's cultural values and ethics.
Spotlight: The Parthenon sculptures
A quick description
The Parthenon sculptures consist of the sculptures of three discrete sets:
the sculptures of the pediments ⧉
the metopes, which alternate with the triglyphs, and
the frieze ⧉ that runs around the inner temple wall.
Each of them represents figures and scenes, all placed together, as a single composition in the three dimensions, conveying a certain message. You can read about the meaning in the depictions and design of the sculptures here:
the Meaning of the Parthenon
The sculptures are now divided
In the early 19th century, Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin (widely known as 'Elgin') removed parts and sculptures from all of the structures of the Acropolis - i.e. from the Parthenon, the Erectheion, the temple of Athena Nike, and the Propylaea, causing the most significant damage to the Parthenon.
Since then, the Parthenon sculptures have been scattered into pieces, at different locations, mostly in London. And, today, they continue to be far from the Acropolis and from each other.
Which sculptures were removed from the Acropolis? See the list:
the History of the Acropolis sculptures
The Parthenon sculptures are still scattered apart
Of the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon, half are in Athens while the other half are in London. Some pieces and fragments are also in other European cities (Paris, Copenhagen, Munich, Wurzburg, Vienna).
Why reunite the Acropolis sculptures in Athens
The sculptures of the Parthenon, as in the case of the other buildings of the Acropolis, make sense as a whole: bringing them back together will restore their physical and thematic integrity and, thus, their meaning.
6 reasons
Context
It will put them back in their original archaeological, architectural, and geographical context
Physical integrity
It will reunite all of them at the original location, as they were meant to be presented together
Meaning
It will restore the message and meaning they were intended to convey through their display as a set in the heart of Athens
Heritage
It will allow today's cultural values to be reflected on what is regarded to be the symbol of World Heritage
Ethics
It will represent a tangible gesture of respect to a number of communities and help update our views and cultural values
Development
It will help local and global communities develop on different levels - culture, research, education, tourism, economy, museums, relations
The public opinion is increasingly showing their support for the return of the sculptures to Athens
Watch τhe debate ‘Send them back: The Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Athens' ⧉ (Intelligence Squared Debate, Cadogan Hall, London, 11 June 2012; broadcast by the BBC)
Source: Intelligence Squared ⧉Updates:
Parthenon Sculptures: Pressure growing on British Museum ⧉ (July 2023)
Declassified documents on Parthenon Marbles reveal rift between UK government and British Museum ⧉ (May 2023)
Stephen Fry calls for return of Parthenon marbles to Athens ⧉ (January 2023)
Parthenon Marbles: UK body seeks return of artworks to Greece in 'win-win' solution ⧉ (October 2022)
Acropolis sculptures and fragments already returned
Rome returned three Parthenon sculpture fragments in 2023 (news article ⧉)
Sweden (private collection) fragment of the Erechtheion returned to Athens (news article ⧉)
French Woman Returns Marble Fragment of the Acropolis (news article ⧉)
Discussion stage
Palermo has currently loaned a Parthenon sculpture fragment to Athens (news article ⧉)
Austria - the return of Parthenon sculpture fragments is currently in discussion (news article ⧉)
The reunification of the Acropolis scuptures is a matter of time and understanding.
It’s already started.
How can the reunification of the Acropolis sculptures be achieved?
The majority of the Acropolis sculptures that have been removed from Athens are currently in London. The legal changes in the UK that would allow the British Museum to return the Parthenon sculptures to Greece are the following:
The British Museum Act 1963, which governs the museum’s operations, would need to be amended or repealed. This act prohibits the museum from disposing of any objects in its collection, except in very limited circumstances, such as duplicates, unfit specimens, or exchanges. [source ⧉]
Alternatively, a new legislation could be passed that would specifically authorise the transfer of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece. This would require the approval of both Houses of Parliament and the royal assent. [source ⧉]
Another option would be to invoke the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. Some legal experts have argued that the Parthenon sculptures are part of Greece’s cultural identity and heritage, and that their retention by the British Museum violates Greece’s right to respect for its private and family life, home and correspondence under Article 8 of the convention. [source ⧉]
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How important is the reunification of the Acropolis sculptures in Athens?
A historic act that will inspire future generations: Reuniting the Acropolis sculptures is the greatest act of heritage conservation awaiting action
In a nutshell: Why bring these classical sculptures back together
There is no more symbolic act of heritage conservation than reuniting the Acropolis sculptures in Athens. It is a historic opportunity to restore the physical and conceptual dimensions of a unique monument and rebuild a cultural bridge and understanding between London and Athens. It is an opportunity to celebrate a new era of creativity and museum ethics aligned with today’s values of heritage and education. It’s about friendship and making something great happen to broaden our view of humanity and inspire future generations.
A bit of background
In the early 19th century, Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin and British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire (commonly referred to as Elgin), took sculptures from the Acropolis of Athens by obscure means and shipped them to Britain. The sculptures, also known as the ‘Elgin Marbles’ (but correctly referred to as the Acropolis or Parthenon sculptures, as far as the subset that was removed from the Parthenon is concerned) included a number of artistic and architectural pieces, all of which are part of the surviving ancient buildings on the Acropolis.
Which sculptures were removed from the Acropolis? See the list:
The History of the Acropolis sculptures
The Greek State has repeatedly requested from the British government and British Museum to return the sculptures to Athens to restore the physical, archaeological and conceptual integrity of the sculptural set as a single masterpiece. However, Britain refuses to return them, arguing that they were taken by Elgin with permission from the Ottoman authorities. While the argument of ownership diminishes itself in comparison to the scientific and ethical reasons behind the request for the reunification, strikingly, the original Ottoman permit invoked in the British argumentation is missing. Since the late 20th century, when Melina Mercouri brought publicity to the long-standing claim for the return of the sculptures to Athens, this dispute has remained pending. This issue continues to affect the cultural bond between London and Athens, creating the exact opposite effect than the message of unity that the sculptures themselves were designed to convey.
The Meaning of the Parthenon
What can be done today
The argument for their reunification of the Acropolis sculptures in Athens is that such an act would restore the physical integrity and meaning of the sculptures, and allow them to be displayed in the correct geographic, historical, and archaeological context. While the architectural damage caused by Elgin cannot be reversed, today, a new Act of the English Parliament would allow the UK to return the sculptures to complete the set with the existing counterparts in the Acropolis Museum in Athens. As a goodwill gesture, Greece has previously offered to the British Museum an exchange of other artefacts in return for the reunification of the Acropolis sculptures.
The state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum ⧉, located at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, has been open to the public since 2009 and has the capacity to accommodate all of the Acropolis sculptures together in direct view of the Acropolis. Its Parthenon Gallery ⧉ provides a visual link between the Parthenon sculptures and the Parthenon itself, enabling their display in the correct sequence, layout, orientation and context. The Acropolis Museum is a purpose-built museum with exhibitions in natural light and only a short walk from the Acropolis itself.
In recognition of the issue that a significant number of the Acropolis sculptures is kept in London, many political and cultural figures have campaigned for their return to Athens. Polls have shown that the majority of people supports the reunification of the sculptures. English Parliament MPs have also campaigned for what will satisfy an international claim, highlighting the need to bring the parts of a masterpiece together. The ultimate aim is to restore the meaning of the Acropolis.
Watch the debate 'Send them back: The Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Athens' ⧉, in which you can hear Stephen Fry arguing in favour of the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens
Watch more Films & Videos about this issue
See documentary images in the Photo chronicle
Although practicalities need to be agreed and arranged between London and Athens before the sculptures are brought to the Acropolis Museum, one thing is certain: an increasing number of people realise that reuniting the parts of the Acropolis is about culture, education, respect, and the meaning of world heritage.
Click here for a list of selected websites
Greek Ministry of Culture
The Hellenic Ministry of Culture ⧉
The Acropolis of Athens and the Parthenon ⧉
The Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles ⧉
The Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles (another section, in Greek) ⧉
The Parthenon Frieze – Introduction, Tour and Stone-by-Stone Description ⧉
The Acropolis Restoration Project ⧉
Unification of the Archaeological Sites of Athens (Hellenic Ministry of Culture) ⧉
Unification of the Archaeological Sites of Athens (Project website) ⧉
World Heritage monuments in Greece ⧉
“The Unity of a Unique Monument” (statement by UNESCO) ⧉
Declaration of the EU parliament ⧉
Greek organisations, establishments and Initiatives
The Parthenon Marbles – an Initiative ⧉
The Parthenon Marbles – The Acropolis Museum ⧉
Foundation of the Hellenic World ⧉
The Secretariat General of Communication – Secretariat General of Information ⧉
The Greek National Tourism Organisation: Archaeological sites and Monuments in Greece ⧉
International organisations, initiatives and campaigns
International Council of Museums (ICOM): Code of Ethics for Museums ⧉
UNESCO: “[…] the Acropolis […] can be seen as symbolizing the idea of world heritage” ⧉
The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles ⧉
The American Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, Inc. ⧉
‘Missing Since 1801’ campaign ⧉
Australia – for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles ⧉
The 9 Muses News blog ⧉
I am Greek I want to go home ⧉
Marbles Reunited ⧉
The International Parthenon Marbles Action Committee ⧉
The International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures ⧉
Other organisations and initiatives
The Acropolis of Athens virtual tour ⧉
The Parthenon Sculpture Gallery – digital 3D Parthenon sculpture models ⧉
The Museum of Reconstructions – digital representation of buildings of the Acropolis of Athens ⧉
Ancient Athens 3D ⧉
Parthenon 3D movie highlighting how the sculptures in London are exhibited out of their context ⧉
Map of the Acropolis of Athens in Socrates and Plato’s time ⧉
Next in this section: Meaning