Greek prime minister pledges to ‘ramp up’ efforts to regain Parthenon marbles
Summary
The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has promised to increase efforts to get the Parthenon marbles returned from the British Museum. He said he will raise the issue strongly with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who previously supported returning the marbles but has recently softened his stance.Key Facts
- The Parthenon marbles were taken by Lord Elgin more than 200 years ago and are now partly held by the British Museum.
- Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis plans to intensify efforts to have the marbles returned to Greece.
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham supported returning the marbles before he took office but has recently said the issue is for the British Museum to resolve.
- Previous talks with the British Museum and its chair, George Osborne, have not made progress.
- Mitsotakis said the marbles’ return could be connected to UK-EU relations and is a wider issue for Europe, not just Greece.
- Greece proposes a “win-win” deal, including loaning other Greek antiquities to the UK in exchange for the marbles.
- The British Museum acquired about 160 meters of the Parthenon frieze in 1816, a purchase that was controversial even at that time.
- The Greek National Archaeological Museum is closing for renovation, which may allow new cultural exchanges related to the marbles.
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