The british protected the marbles from being damaged during the greek war of independence between 1821 and 1833 when the parthenon was used as an ottoman munitions store and subsequently attacked.
Why the british marbles is controversial.
Part of the elgin marbles collection has been moved from the british museum to st.
What are the elgin marbles.
Today much controversy surrounds the ownership elgin marbles both the british and greeks argue that each have legal and moral claim over the parliament s marble adornments.
Figure of a river god one of the controversial elgin marbles the trustees of the british museum.
In 1801 a british nobleman stripped the parthenon of many of its sculptures and took them to england.
Controversy over their acquisition by the british museum continues to this day.
The british defend their ownership of the marbles based on greece s lack of an adequate museum and the fact that they paid for the pieces mcguigan 2.
The so called elgin marbles were part of the parthenon the most iconic building of classical greece and one of the most important buildings in ancient history.
The greek government has frequently demanded the return of the marbles but the british museum claiming among other reasons that it has saved the marbles from certain damage and deterioration has not acceded and the issue remains controversial.
Parthenon and elgin marbles history.
By and large the marbles have been better looked after in the specialist duveen gallery than they would have been in highly polluted athens.
Should the elgin marbles be brought back to the athens and be displayed in the acropolis museum or remain at the british museum.
The elgin marbles are a source of controversy between modern britain and greece it s a collection of stone pieces rescued removed from the ruins of the ancient greek parthenon in the nineteenth century and now in demand to be sent back from the british museum to greece.
Why the british museum sculptures taken from the parthenon are so controversial the acropolis museum in athens is keeping a space empty for the 2 500 year old.
Why are the elgin marbles so controversial and everything else you need to know the british museum has lent one of the elgin marbles to russia.