5 Comments
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John Marshall Bryden's avatar

Agreed! Long past time!

Tim Stammers's avatar

Always interesting, thanks Jackie. I'd like to see the marbles returned but do you know:

Is it true that Elgin paid money for them?. Even if true that's of very little relevance IMHO, but very relevant if it's actually a myth invented as an excuse for keeping them.

Could we replicate them before returning them? That would seem a lovely move. The V+A is full of amazing 19th plaster cast copies of ancient and medieval stuff.(God knows how they dealt with the undercuts in the original carvings, but they did it. Even easier now with modern tech).

Jackie Kemp's avatar

The ship he was removing them in sank and he spent a tonne of money bringing them back up from the sea bed. That why he had to sell them to the British government. But I’m pretty sure he didn’t pay the Turks for them.

Peloponnese Guide's avatar

Great piece! 🩵💙