Stories 1,2

Imagine the UK lost against Germany during the second world war and got its full independence some years later, while Greece was not taking part in that war.
There are two scenarios that are considered during these troubled times:

-The Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum were under threat during the war and they were secretly transported from London to Athens to save them from German invasion. After the UK got its independence the British Museum Trustees requested the Parthenon sculptures to be returned to London. What would the Greek government decide?

-Following occupation of London by the Germans the Greek ambassador to the German Empire, acting with the full knowledge and permission of the legal authorities of the day in both Athens and London (being the German authorities) transported the whole collection of the British Museum to Athens. He also asked for permission to remove some stones from Stonehenge which was verbally confirmed by the legal authorities of the day, together with one of the cliffs of the seven sisters of Dover as he could not afford to take them all for his summer house in a Greek island. These collections are being displayed today, free of charge, in Athens Metropolitan Museum for all world visitors. Collections are kept in safety, conserved, curated, researched and exhibited in order to deepen our understanding of their significance within this complex world cultural history.

Story 3

Imagine Pheidias (the sculptor of the Parthenon Sculptures) travelling in time and seeing his work being removed in Athens in 1800s and then meeting Elgin. What would Elgin tell him? Would he be apologetic? Why did Elgin remove the marbles? To save them or to possess them?

Pheidias then travels again and comes to today’s world. What would he feel like for the sculptures? At his times museums did not exist yet, so he would have to understand their purpose.

According to the Museums Association 'Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society.' The question of which museum can safeguard them better is of no concern. They can both take care of them. But please keep in mind the holding in trust for society. We live in the 21st century where society is not the UK. It is the world.
The British Museum by free admission to all 'studious and curious persons' has six million visitors a year. The Acropolis Museum has definitely less. But is it matter of exhibition efficiency of how many eyes can see it per day? This is what makes the Marbles iconic and universal? No, this is what makes a museum universal. The Marbles are Universal anyway. They don’t need the British Museum or any other museum for that. What do the Marbles mean for the British society? According to recent UK polls not much as they would prefer them to return to Greece. What do they hold for the Greek society? Ask any Greek what the privileged symbol of a whole Greek culture is, and you will get the same answer: The Acropolis!

Would the United Kingdom’s or the world’s arts and cultural society including six million British Museum visitors feel poorer culturally if these marbles were returned to Greece and were replaced by perfect casts in the British Museum? Well, they would not feel culturally poorer at all. They would just miss the “WOW” moment when they would see what Pheidias himself has created 2,500 years ago. The magic moment that makes every human that admires art, history, culture and beauty to be thrilled and astonished when he is standing next to the Marbles. This is what the British Museum possesses at the moment. The access to this magic moment. It belongs to its Trustees and only to them. Not to the whole world.

So what would Pheidias do when visiting the present? He would go first to the Acropolis Museum in Athens and then take a plane to London and visit the British Museum. I challenge you to do the same. Would he be proud that at least in the last one he has more world exposure? Would he be more appreciated in the British Museum than the Acropolis Museum? Would he like to see his work united? I don't know. Ask yourself if you were Pheidias. If you are an artist break something apart and see how it looks better apart or together. But if it was very good work, I am sure you would not even think of breaking it apart at the first place. Right?

Pheidias continues his travels in 2100. He visits Athens again. The continuation of this story is yours.