British Museum’s Parthenon Marbles deal with Greece ‘still some distance’ away

·

The head of the British Museum, George Osborne, has said a deal to return the Parthenon Marbles to Athens is still far from being reached. While discussions are ongoing with Greek officials, Osborne confirmed the museum is exploring an agreement where some sculptures might return to Athens in exchange for Greek treasures being displayed in London.

Speaking on the Political Currency podcast, Osborne cautioned that an agreement is not imminent. “We’re still some distance from any kind of agreement,” he said, noting that any resolution would involve some of the marbles being returned to Athens, where they originated from, while Greece would lend treasures to the British Museum.

Photo: Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA.

The Parthenon Marbles, which form part of a 2,500-year-old frieze, were stolen from the Acropolis by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.

Osborne also praised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s approach to the issue, noting that Starmer is more open to the return of the marbles than his predecessor, Rishi Sunak. Osborne said Starmer had emphasised that the decision rests with the British Museum’s trustees, independent of the government.

Discussions about a potential “Parthenon Partnership” are described by both sides as “constructive,” with a British Museum spokesperson suggesting it could balance global access to the collection while maintaining its integrity.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Brisbane Olympics chief Andrew Liveris backs new stadium at Victoria Park

Andrew Liveris, President of Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Games Organising Committee, has called for a new stadium to be built at Victoria Park.

Christodoulides and Trump commit to strengthening Cyprus-US relations

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and US President-elect Donald Trump have discussed the strategic partnership between Cyprus and the US

St Andrew’s Grammar in WA brings Christmas to life with Kindergarten nativity

St Andrew's Grammar's Kindergarten class brought the story of Christmas to life in a beautiful nativity performance.

New chapter for the Greek Consulate in Queensland

The Greek Consul General of Queensland celebrated a significant milestone with the official opening and blessing of its new offices.

Ambassador of Greece in Australia visits offices of the Brisbane Diocese

Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, visited the Diocesan Offices of Brisbane on a diplomatic visit.

You May Also Like

Free TAFE courses on offer in NSW to up-skill people during coronavirus crisis

People in New South Wales will be able to up-skill during the coronavirus pandemic, with 21 fee-free TAFE NSW short courses now available online.

Greece launches online platform to register for postal voting

A platform for Greek citizens to register in the electoral roll for postal voting launched on Monday, February 19.

Masks, local lockdowns loom as COVID-19 infections rise in Greece

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis requested that COVID-19 measures be implemented more strictly to prevent any further outbreaks of the disease in Greece.