Question

From 1801-1812, Thomas Bruce, Lord Elgin bought from the Greek government, sculptures that had adorned the Parthenon and Acropolis. Lord Elgin found the sculptures lying on the ground around the Parthenon, broken, dirty, and unprotected from the elements. Lord Elgin moved the sculptures to England, restored them, and they now are a premier exhibit at the British Museum in London, England.

Today, the Greek government wants the sculptures back in Athens. Should the British government give the sculpture back to the Greek government? Why or why not? Should the Greek government “buy back” the sculptures? Why or why not? In New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has an incredible collection of art and artifacts from the ancient Egyptians. Should we give back our Egyptian collection to the Egyptians? Why or why not? Use 100 to 200 words to complete your answer and comment on at least two student’s writings.

Answer 1

A part of Parthenon sculpture that is a broken piece of the original masterpiece was bought by Lord Elgin from the Greek government of that time, who found it unprotected and dirty and moved it to England with him. The marble sculpture is around 200 years old it is part of the Parthenon temple, it is argued by the Greek government that it is taken by Mr. Elgin during the reign of Ottoman Empire. The Parthenon temple was built around 2500 years ago. The Greek government is carrying out the restoration of the Parthenon temple, thus it wants all the fragmented part of the sculpture that scattered and kept with other museums too. The Greek government is right in asking back its precious monuments that replicate their history. The heads of a centaur and a human in a dramatic fight are in Athens and bodies are in London, It is right to give back the glory back to the monuments by restoring it fully, In return, the Greek government is ready to loan their other sculpture to the UK museum on a recurring basis. The Greek government argues that it will be a symbol of restoring the message that the UK government still believes in nationalism. The UK government maintains that it is bought from the regime of that time while the Greek government argues that it is illegally taken during the Turkish occupation and should be returned. In my opinion, the UK government should give back the marble and in lieu of it get other masterpieces from the Greek government. The sculpture without the head looks as if it is murdered. When it is known that the marble is a part of broken monuments, let it get back the glory.

In case of Egyptian monuments that are in the Metropolitan Museum and adorn it is being returned to the Egyptian government that contains 19 objects illegally taken from Tutankhamun's tomb during excavation? Metropolitan has helped the Egyptian government in finding out many illegally exported antiques to be returned to Egypt. While the Egyptian government has gifted the Temple of Dendur to the MET. The Met and Egyptian shows the matter of understanding and cooperation for that US is worldwide famous and known.