Table of ContentsCauses and Characteristics of the Parthenon Marbles Debate ConclusionReferencesThe Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, are a collection of classic Greek marble sculptures that were created in honor of the Greek goddess, Athena by the sculptor Phidias. There is an urgent dispute over the Parthenon marbles. I am going to explore this debate in an essay using a few articles and reflections from professionals. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Causes and Characteristics of the Parthenon Marbles Debate Parts of the Parthenon Marbles were originally part of the Parthenon, which is an ancient temple built in 447 BC on the Athenian Acropolis in Greece. “Between 1801 and 1805, Lord Elgin was in Athens as a diplomat and was an admirer of ancient Greece and its artifacts. He therefore decided to “take” the sculptures with him by bringing them back to Britain by sea. In 1816 the sculptures were purchased by the British Parliament from Lord Elgin. They were then presented by Parliament to the British Museum, where they are still on display. Some people believed that Elgin stole the artifacts, but according to the British Museum, "Lord Elgin took the pieces because he had permission from the Ottoman authorities." With the sculptures still on display at the British Museum, there have been several controversies over whether or not they should remain in the museum or return to their home country in Greece. For example, Robert Browning cites cultural property as a reason for repatriation and refutes several British claims. Browning says: “Ethically, you cannot deny modern Greeks objects that symbolize their rich and ancient past. Ancient Greece invented democracy, the Olympic Games, and perhaps perfected the representation of the human form in sculpture.” I think the Parthenon was the genesis of their creation and to rob a nation of its pride and cultural identity is tragic. In the article, Browning asked, "Why take marbles from one museum only to put them in another?" Browning also said, "It would be a different story if they could be replaced on the building." The reason the balls cannot be replaced is that when they were removed they were damaged. Browning believed that the artifacts would be better understood and appreciated near their original site, so the Greek government declared its intention to build a new museum at the foot of the Acropolis, equipped with all modern aids to the conservation. In contrast, John Henry Merryman asserts that the Greeks would have no legal, moral or ethical argument for the return of the Marbles to Greece. Merryman's article clearly states that "the marbles can never be restored to their original form on the Parthenon and that there is no value in moving them from one museum to another" because they are well maintained and easily accessible to the British Museum. Another argument put forward by Merryman is that the Marbles are "the cultural heritage of all humanity". Merryman has the impression that the Greeks think that since it was made in Athens, it is only for their culture and that they should be the ones to have it. The Hague Convention of 1954 is the charter of cultural internationalism. The charter stipulates that “cultural property belonging to any people whatsoever” constitutes the “cultural heritage of all humanity”. Merryman's dichotomy to materialize is that of the internationalists