Who Gets to Keep the Elgin Marbles?

The Fight for the Elgin Marbles

You studied the Greek sculpture from the Parthenon (known as the Elgin Marbles) in the module. These sculpted figures belong to the British Museum because they were removed from Greece in the 19th century. Greece wants them back and has built a beautiful new museum to house them. England wants to keep them.View this videoLinks to an external site. to understand the controversy surrounding the Elgin marbles.

To understand the controversy surrounding the Elgin marbles. 

WATCH THIS https://smarthistory.org/who-owns-the-parthenon-sc…

READ THIS https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-mus…

Jigsawing Discussion (choose a piece that has not  been taken already) 

To understand this issue and how art relates to personal responsibility, let’s use the jigsawing technique. Choose one  of these “pieces” or aspects of the issue that has not already been chosen by a member of your group  and make your posting. 

Pieces

Imagine that you are the Prime Minister of Greece. Write a letter to the British Museum describing your position.

Imagine that you are the British Museum. Write a letter to the Prime Minister of Greece describing your position.

Imagine that you are Lord Elgin. Write a letter to the British Museum justifying your actions.

Imagine that you are the Ottoman governor of Athens. Write a letter to your government justifying your actions regarding the Parthenon marbles.

Imagine that you are the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Write a letter to your mother expressing concern about what the Elgin marble debate may mean for your museum and others like it.

Imagine that you are the negotiator helping Greece and the British Museum resolve the matter. Propose a solution that will make both sides happy.

Imagine that you are the negotiator helping Greece and the British Museum resolve the matter. Propose a solution that will make both sides unhappy.