London Dec 4 (U.S.): The British Museum has vowed not to dismantle its collection, following a report that the head of the institution had held secret talks with the prime minister of Greece about returning the Parthenon sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles.
The report by Greek newspaper Ta Nea is the latest development in the long-running dispute over ownership of the ancient sculptures, which were originally located on the Acropolis in Athens and have been the focus of the British Museum’s collection since 1816, the Associated Press reports.
The newspaper Ta Nea reported on Saturday that negotiations between museum chief George Osborne and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have been taking place since November 2021 and are at an advanced stage.
While the museum did not deny the talks were taking place, the spokesperson declined to discuss the details of Ta Nya’s story. The museum said it was ready to “talk to anyone, including the Greek government” about a new Parthenon “partnership”.
“As the Chief Trustee said last month, we operate within the law and will not dismantle our great collection because it tells a unique story of our common humanity,” the museum said in a statement released on Saturday. “But we seek new, long-term positive partnerships with countries and communities around the world, and that includes, of course, Greece.”
The Greek government did not comment on the report.
Although efforts to return the sculptures to Greece have been rejected by the British authorities since at least 1941, there has been a change in tone recently as museums around the world seek to address concerns about the way ancient artifacts were obtained during periods of imperial domination and colonial expansion.
In July, Jonathan Williams, deputy director of the British Museum, said the institution wanted to “change the temperature of the debate” over the marbles.
“What we are calling for is an active ‘Parthenon partnership’ with our friends and colleagues in Greece,” he told The Sunday Times. “I firmly believe that there is space for a really dynamic and positive conversation in which to find new ways of working together.”
The museum says on its website that it is willing to consider loaning the sculptures to Greece, but successive Greek governments have refused to acknowledge ownership of the museum. The museum says there are no current negotiations on the issue.
Speaking during a visit to London on November 28, Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis indicated that some talks had taken place.
“I don’t want to go public about the discussions we had,” he said. “But I think there is a better sense of understanding that perhaps a win-win solution can be found which will result in the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures in Greece, bearing in mind at the same time the concerns that the British Museum might have.”
The problem is complicated by an Act of Parliament that prohibits a museum from selling, giving away or disposing of any items in its collection unless they are duplicates or are not essential for study.
The marble is the remnant of a 160-meter (520-foot) frieze that once ran around the outer walls of the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Much was lost to 17th-century bombing, and nearly half of the remaining works were removed by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.
They ended up in the British Museum, which has repeatedly rejected Greek demands for their return.
Successive Greek governments have lobbied to restore the British Museum’s share of the works, which include statues from the Parthenon’s pediments – the gables of the building are entirely in marble.
They argue that Elgin cut the sculptures illegally, bypassing the terms of a questionable permit granted by the Turkish authorities while Greece was an unwilling part of the Ottoman Empire.
The British Museum rejects this position – despite indications that public opinion in the UK favors the Greek request – and has shown little willingness to return the works permanently.
The Parthenon was built between 447-432 BC and is considered the culmination of classical architecture. The frieze depicts a procession in honor of Athena. Some small pieces of it – and other Parthenon sculptures – are in other European museums.