The Parthenon Marbles Dispute: Heritage, Law, Politics

Why are we still arguing over the Parthenon Marbles? This book provides a new take on the history of those famous pieces of ancient sculpture removed from the Acropolis in Athens by Lord Elgin's men in the early 19th century, explaining how they became the cause célèbre of the larger debate around cultural heritage and restitution now taking place. The subject is one that is currently embroiling museums, governments, universities, and the public at large. The book offers a balanced and thorough account of the history of the Marbles from a critical perspective, while considering the legalities of their initial removal and the ethics of their retention by the British Museum. It incorporates the views of curators, museum directors, lawyers, archaeologists, politicians and others in both London and Athens. It explains why this particular dispute has not been satisfactorily resolved, and suggests new ways of seeking resolution – for the Parthenon Marbles, as well as for the many other cultural treasures held in museum collections outside their countries of origin. Importantly, the book offers a way forward for these disputes based on evidence of past practice, legal rules around the transfer of cultural objects and the role of museums in negotiating outcomes on the basis of international exchanges.