“Whatever I have done until now, I have done it with my soul and I am sure that one day these marbles are going to get back to Greece. I don’t know when but for sure they will get there,” Emanuel J. Comino tells The Greek Herald after his lecture in Brunswick, Victoria.
Mr Comino’s lecture on the Parthenon Marbles was organised by the Pallaconian Brotherhood of Melbourne & Victoria “Leonidas.”
More than 100 guests filled the Brotherhood’s hall in Brunswick on Wednesday, March 29. Among them were Dr Tim Read MP; Russell Darnley OAM; Chair of Classics at Melbourne University, Professor Tim Parkin; as well as Dr Roslynne Bell, Professor Lieve Donnellan and Professor Andonis Piperoglou from the University of Melbourne. The President of Hellenic Writers, Roma Siachos, and members of AHEPA also attended the event.
After a warm introduction by the Pallaconian Brotherhood President, Miltiadis Paikopoulos, Mr Comino stepped on stage and gave an impressive and passionate lecture about the Parthenon marbles – starting from their creation to the moment they were stolen by Lord Elgin. He also gave insights into the latest situation with the British Museum, where the Parthenon Marbles are currently.
The 90-year-old first started the international campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. He is the founder and Chairman of the International Organising Committee – Australia – For the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures (IOC-A-RPM) and is also the Vice-Chairman of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours List in 1985.
His life-long contribution to the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece is considered to be admirable and the lecture which took place on Wednesday evening, showcased exactly that. His devotion to his goal is still there and louder than ever.
*All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / Giorgos Psomiadis.
