The Parthenon sculptures are a significant element of Greek culture and political orientation. With the British Museum being in possession of the artifacts, various debates have extended through time to ensure they return to Greece. The marbles are part of the surviving buildings of classical Greece dedicated to the goddess, Athena, an important deity in Greek mythology. Lord Elgin is responsible for the movement of the artifacts to England with his acquisition of them attracting criticism. Various arguments such as those centering on cultural nationalism, moralistic concerns, and international considerations support the return of the artifacts.
Cultural Nationalism as Support for Repatriation
Cultural nationalism posits that the Parthenon marbles signify an important aspect of culture. According to Merryman (2006), cultural nationalism explores the relationship between cultural property and the definition of it. The artifacts provide a secure identity as they signify a level of exposure to the history of Greece. Arguments have that cultural artifacts promote learning, and when people do not have an opportunity to learn about their past, they become culturally impoverished. An important component of cultural nationalism is cultural patrimony that refers to the ability of an artifact to explain the origin and heritage of a particular culture, (Merryman, 2006). This follows that the marbles were in England since 1821and in a sense have formed part of Britain’s cultural heritage. The time and the associations Britons made to the artifacts contributed to their culture. One can dispute the claim by arguing that the Greek have a stronger premise for demanding their return, as they had origins from there. However, it is reasonable to perceive the two positions as equivalent and each of the countries having a form of entitlement to artifacts.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Merryman (2006) offers a different alternative by arguing that if the artifacts were to return to Greece, modern Greeks would react differently to them. This is because; the passage of time and their stay at the British Museum makes it difficult for the artifacts to find relevance at this stage. The extent of values, beliefs, and accomplishments shared by modern Greeks is similar to those of Britons, as the artifacts have become an integral aspect of their culture. If the objects return to Greece, Britain will experience a loss similar to the one experienced by Greek over the years.
The nationalist cultural argument has a complexity with it bearing confusion to economic and political nationalism. Economically, the marbles have an enormous price. Placing an economic value on them is tantamount to lowering their value. Political nationalism on another hand treats the presence of the marbles in England as an offense to the Greeks, (Merryman, 2006). According to Ammineddoleh (2014), the British Museum violated political nationalism by loaning a piece of the Parthenon sculptures to a museum in St. Petersburg in memory of its 250th birthday. She argues that though it was a kind gesture, it was a form of insult.
Moralistic Support for Return of the Artifacts
A proposition that supports the return of the artifacts is a moralistic one. It centers on the notion that Lord Elgin’s actions were lacking in legal and moral concepts. Lord Byron, a major critic of Lord Elgin saw him as an opportunist who took the artifacts for the sole benefit of England without having in mind the culture of the Greek people. As explained by Ammineddoleh (2014), the British Museum claims removal of the objects as a form of protection from destruction, with the move aimed at safeguarding them from harm. However, Britain has an obligation to return them as Greece has a state of the art New Acropolis museum that can facilitate storage of the marbles. The claim that Greece is ill equipped to preserve the artifacts, is therefore, faulty. Fassouli (2015) justifies the return of the artifacts analyzing it from an integrity perspective. She explains that creators of works have the moral right to prevent their deformation .With maintaining integrity as an essential component of art, having the artifacts in possession is not an act of integrity. Some Greek arguments center on the repatriation as an act of setting things right and making amends. Concerning cultural heritage, archaeologists and collectors insist that Britain’s action is equal to theft. The credibility of the legal document provided by Elgin remains unverified. Not only does this worsen the situation, but also sheds light on the conservation efforts of the museum as wanting. The artifacts underwent harsh cleaning that interferes with their quality, destroying their archaeological context. An examination by Faraday on the objects reveals them as being dirty, bearing an accumulation of dust and soot with the cleaning procedures subjected to them making it worse.
Advocacy from the International Community
Support from the international community also advocates for the return to Greece. There is an increased awareness of the artifacts being part of the Parthenon. UNESCO, aiming to solve the predicament, had Britain and Greece be involved in mediation to arrive at an amicable solution. Integrity in art centers on the combination of several elements to encompass a whole. Merryman (2006) explains the marbles as a significant part needed to complete the puzzle. Completion of the Parthenon is possible by uniting the various objects. The beauty and cultural significance of the sum of the parts would be of great value. This may pose a challenge as reuniting the artifacts may expose them to certain destruction from the elements and smog of Britain.
Repatriation of the artifacts has potential benefits, as it would strengthen Anglo-Greek friendship and collaboration. Counter arguments exist that discourage the return of the artifacts. One encompasses the belief that Lord Elgin, who was responsible for bringing the artifacts to England, did it by following the legal procedures. The British Museum argues that the New Acropolis Museum is unable to preserve the marbles. They also argue that the movement of the marbles is likely to affect their quality.
The question as to whether the artifacts belong to Greece or Britain is one that necessitates mediation to resolve the issue. Many researchers and scholars incline on different sides, some supporting while others are denying their return. From an archeological standpoint, the artifacts belong to Greece as their origins trace to Greece with Britain simply being a temporary proprietor of them. The artifacts play a critical role in revealing Greek culture and serve as a blueprint of history. Having the artifacts in Greece, helps Greeks have a symbol of their culture, an element they can reference in the years to come. With cultural nationalism, the support of the international community and the fulfillment of moralistic concerns playing an essential role towards ensuring that the Greek people receive their artifacts. With Greece exercising a considerable amount of patience in collecting the artifacts, it is about time that they receive them.
References
Amineddoleh, Leila. (2014). The British Museum should Return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece . Print.
Fassouli, Danai. (2015). Parthenon Sculptures and their Return Print.
Greenfield, Jeanette. (1995). The Return of Cultural Treasures Second Edition New York: Cambridge University Press.
Merryman, John. (2006). Imperialism, Art, and Restoration New York: Cambridge University.
