World Media on Elgin’s Right to “Sell” the Parthenon Sculptures

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   In his article “Return Elgin Marbles and lay ‘curse of Minerva’ to rest,” (News.scotsman.com, 7.3.2008) author John Kapranos Huntley reminds readers that Lord Elgin was a Scot, who was at the time, British ambassador in Constantinople. Furthermore, in removing the sculptures from the Acropolis buildings, through his agents in Athens, Elgin was acting in a personal capacity. “His intention was to transport them to Scotland, to embellish amansion he was building in Fife. The decision to offer the Parthenon sculptures for sale to the British Museum was made subsequent to their removal and transportation.” Thus, the essential question is -to be determined ultimately by the Scottish courts- did Lord Elgin have the right to “sell” the sculptures in his possession?

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Who Owns History?

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  In an article published in Time Magazine (Who Owns History? – February, 21) Richard Lacayo explores the notion of cultural property and “universal museums”, presenting opinions and arguments from all sides. One of the Museum professionals he talks to is Dimitrios Pandermalis: “Pandermalis is president of the organization behind the New Acropolis Museum in Athens, initially conceived as a standing rebuke to the British Museum’s continued possession of the most passionately disputed cultural property, the 5th century B.C. Elgin Marbles…,” he writes.

Greece returns stolen artcrafts

(ATHENS NEWS AGENCY-MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY)  Greece returned to Albania two ancient statues which were stolen from the neighbouring country 17 years ago and smuggled into Greece. The first statue is a representation of goddess Artemis, dated second century BC, and the second one of Apollo, from the second century AD. Minister of Culture Mihalis Liapis stated that “the statues were finally returned to their rightful owners”.