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UK government rules out permanent return of Elgin Marbles

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 13:42 · Archive

The UK government has no plans to change the law allowing the Elgin Marbles to permanently return to Greece.

The UK government has no plans to change the law to allow the Elgin Marbles to be permanently returned to Greece, culture minister Baroness Twycross told the House of Lords on Tuesday. The British Museum Act 1963 prevents the museum from disposing of items in its collection, with limited exceptions for duplicates, objects unfit for retention, objects taken during the Nazi era, and human remains under 1,000 years old.

Greece has long demanded the return of the sculptures, which it claims were illegally removed from the Athens acropolis during the Ottoman occupation in the 19th century. The sculptures were removed in the early 1800s by Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, who claimed Ottoman officials permitted their removal.

Lady Twycross said the government welcomes discussions between the British Museum and Greek ministers on a potential loan. The Museum chair, former Tory chancellor George Osborne, is negotiating the possibility of a long-term loan in exchange for rolling exhibitions of famous artworks from Greece. The government recognises the strength of feeling on the issue and supports the British Museum in stating it would consider a loan request, should that be agreeable.

UK government rules out permanent return of Elgin Marbles
Image: The Independent

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In this story: UK · Greece · Baroness Twycross · British Museum · George Osborne · Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin · Athens · Ottoman Empire

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