The parthenon marbles a major money making display at the british museum have been the subject of an ongoing dispute between greece and the uk.
British museum acropolis marbles.
447 438 bce type marble dimensions 75 m 246 ft location british museum london the parthenon marbles greek.
The elgin marbles refer to a collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details dating back to the fifth century bc which are currently kept in the british museum london.
The 2 500 year old sculptures were illegally torn off the parthenon in the.
It was the centrepiece of an ambitious building programme on the acropolis of athens.
Lord elgin sold the marbles to the british government who passed them on to the british museum in 1817 where they remain one of its most prized exhibits.
There are no current discussions with the greek government on this issue.
The temple s great size and lavish use of white marble was intended to show off the city s power and wealth at the height of its empire.
Should the acropolis receive the marbles from the british museum a new museum in athens must be in place to store all the sculptures since the space at the museum might not be enough.
Parthenon marbles elgin marbles artist phidias year c.
The british museum enjoys a good professional relationship with the acropolis museum which in recent years has included scholarly workshops staff placements and sharing knowledge over a wide range of subjects from colour on ancient sculpture to museum display and presentation.
The marbles have been on display in the british museum since 1817 of the 115 delicately sculpted marble panels that circumscribed the temple with a depiction of the annual panathenaic procession.
Like the acropolis museum the marbles in london are housed in a purpose built room the duveen gallery room 18.
The british museum is prevented by uk law from returning the marbles although the labour leader jeremy corbyn has said he would repatriate them if his party were elected.