Who owns the past? The case of the Parthenon marbles
Background
In July1801, the British ambassador in Constantinopel, the seventh Earl of Elgin, instructed his men in Athens – at that time under Ottoman rule – to start a systematic removal from the Parthenon of its sculptural adornment. The sculptures which were of exceptional beauty, were originally intended to decorate Lord Elgins private estate in England. Financial reasons, however, led him to offer them for sale to the British government. After debating the issue, Parliament voted to buy the sculptures, which in 1816 were put in the care of the Trustees of the newly established British Museum.
Complaining that the Parthenon sculptures had been removed while Athens was under Turkish rule, Greek claims for repatriation began already in 1898, and in 1983 the Greek government issued the first official request for the return of the marbles. Their request have since then gained increasing support from international organizations like Unesco and ICOM and from the general public.
The issue, however, is not a simple one. The British Museum regards the Parthenon sculptures (often referred to as the ”Elgin marbles”) as part of British cultural heritage as the ”marbles” ever since their display in 1817 have influenced generation after generation of artists, poets and architects. Also the mission of the British Museum has always been and still is to exhibit world civilizations.
Moreover, many museums in the Western world, USA and Australia housing collections from ancient Mediterranean civilizations fear a ”snowball effect” if the ”Elgin marbles” are returned hereby disrupting the very foundation of many old museum institutions.
Therefore, once raised, the issue of the ”Elgin Marbles”, no matter how it develops, is bound to effect all museums with foreign collections.
On the whole, the case of the Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum is intimately connected to the current international debate on the future role of museums and cultural heritage organizations, many of which came into existance more than hundred years ago. And questions such as how these institutions can stay in keeping with modern ethics surrounding cultural heritage and even be ahead of cultural-political developments in a continuously changing world naturally arise.
On this background, the Greek claims for repatriation of the ”Elgin marbles” is of concern to the Medelhavsmuseet as well, and to Sweden in general, since Sweden signed the Unesco convention in 2002.
We emphasize the importance of a seminar and a debate which views the Greek claims for repatriation of the Elgin marbles from all sides. The debate should provide the audience with a deepened insight into the highly complex character of the issue both historically, philosophically, morally and ethically. In addition to scholars and others concerned with the fate of the Elgin marbles, we also welcome the opinion of museum people who are more directly affected by the issue.
Preliminary list of invited speakers
· Actress Bibi Andersson reads selected poems by Seferis
· Historical summary of the issue of the ”Elgin Marbles”, Museumdirector Hans Henrik Brummer, Waldemarsudde, (precise title to be announced)
· Prof. A. Snodgrass, British Committee for the restitution of the Elgin marbles
· Dr. Mary Beard, University of Cambridge (title to be announced)
· Ambassador Krister Kumlin, Swedish Committee for the restitution of the Elgin marbles
· Eleni Korka, Unesco
The seminar will be followed by a dinner.