Parthenon Marbles

World News

UK signals openness to deal with Greece over Elgin Marbles

UK law prevents the British Museum from permanently returning the sculptures to Greece. Talks are reportedly underway about a long-term loan, but the government has said it will not change the law to enable their permanent removal.

03/12/2024

Culture news

German museum repatriates ancient marble head to Greece

Will the return of the sculpture, which will go on display in Thessaloniki, put extra pressure on the British Museum to return the Parthenon Marbles?

22/11/2024

Culture news

Is there any record of the legitimate sale of the Parthenon Marbles?

The British Museum has maintained that Ottoman authorities granted an imperial edict allowing the sculptures to be removed, but a Turkish official has cast doubt on the document’s existence.

06/06/2024

Culture news

UK museums to loan looted artefacts to Ghana

The UK is returning a selection of Asante Gold looted from Ghana over 100 years ago in a historic loan deal.

25/01/2024

United Kingdom

Rishi Sunak escalates his war of words with Greek PM over Marbles

The British prime minister said his Greek counterpart wanted to "grandstand and relitigate issues of the past" rather than focus on serious topics.

29/11/2023

United Kingdom

Diplomatic spat sees British PM snub Greek PM over Parthenon Marbles

The leaders had been due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the Israel-Hamas war, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the priceless antiquities which Athens wants back.

28/11/2023

Culture news

Augmented reality brings ancient Greece back to life

The app, called "Chronos" for the Greek god of time, means to entice visitors to learn more about Greece's most popular archaeological site.

12/10/2023

Culture news

Greece renews calls for artefact returns after British Museum thefts

Questions are being raised about the British Museum's security protocols, its handling of thefts, and how long senior management was aware before action was taken. Now, Greece is renewing its calls for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

23/08/2023

Culture news

Vatican returns Parthenon fragments to Greece

The ecumenical "donation" by the Vatican furthers a campaign to press the British Museum to hand back a collection of sculptures taken from the ancient site in Athens more than 200 years ago.

25/03/2023

Culture news

Vatican to return Parthenon Marbles to Greece end of March

This is the latest case of a Western museum bowing to demands for restitution.

07/03/2023

Culture news

UK Culture Secretary says Parthenon Sculptures belong in Britain

Arguing against the return to Greece of the Sculptures, the UK Culture Secretary said: “You would end up with so many amazing artefacts under question of whether they should go back to another country.”

12/01/2023

Culture news

Pressure mounts on British Museum as Pope returns Parthenon Marbles

Pope Francis termed the return by the Vatican as a spiritual donation.

21/12/2022

Culture news

British Museum reportedly in talks on Parthenon sculptures with Greece

The report by the Greek newspaper Ta Nea is the latest twist in the long-running dispute between London and Athens over ownership of the ancient sculptures.

04/12/2022

United Kingdom

UK body seeks return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece in 'win-win' deal

A new advisory board is confident of a breakthrough in the long-running row over the sculptures known in Britain as the "Elgin Marbles", in a potential exchange deal.

13/10/2022

Culture news

Greek statue loaned to Italy in goodwill gesture

The Greek government hopes that the return of a foot from the marble tableaux which adorned the Parthenon will prompt similar actions by the British.

10/02/2022

Culture news

Foot of ancient Greek goddess makes its way to Athens from Palermo

While only on loan, the fragment of the surviving Parthenon Marbles “paves the way” for the British Museum to return the rest, Greek officials say.

11/01/2022