Gothamist: Greek Art That Wasn't Stolen For A Change

Maria Leventis

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:00:10 -0500

I used to get really upset about the marbles in a very nationalistic way. I guess if the British had to acquire them so badly they obviously need them more than the Greeks. My current opinion is that they are beautiful and appreciated no matter where they are. While some say they've been taken out of Greece, I say Greece has been taken somewhere. In effect, Greek history seems to transcend the ownership of material artifacts.

les

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:01:29 -0500

Thank you for the info on this collection...looking forward to a greek art collection in a greek institution, not because of nationalism, but more so, because there is something to be said for looking at art through a cultural lens....for example, it was only because of foreign concepts of antiquity that greek marbles and the parthenon were later whitewashed by collectors. The originals were a myriad of lively hues. I want to see the spin a Greek cultural institution can put on this, how they see themselves as the legacy to Athenian-Spartan art. Keep up the good articles, agapimou.

Paul Forlani

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:16:13 -0500

We must remember, when the British 'acquired' the marbles, they were not to save them for humanity...they were to be built into Lord Elgin's private residence for personal viewing only. Only when he ran out of money and went bankrupt, he 'donated' them to the British Museum in return for a tax break. Lets be clear - these marbles belong in Greece. They are for a Greek to sell if anyone, not for a Turk to sell a couple of years before Greek independance.

Louis Nikolaou

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:44:01 -0500

The parthenon marbles and all other STOLEN Greek works of art and culture must be returned to Greece! Lord Elgin ripped and stole from the womb of civilization such pieces of art, culture and religion,and it baffles me why they have not been returned yet! These marbles were "bought" by paying some corrupt turkish conqueror for things that did not belong to him and the British museum thinks that that is reason enough to keep them....shame..shame. Return the stolen goods. We will prevail! Louis Nikolaou

jhoffman

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:26:26 -0500

The Met does not have a steep admissions price, as you suggest. It is a "pay what you wish" museum -- I have entered paying $0.01 at least ten times.

Hal2814

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:12:51 -0500

"Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here, obedient to their laws, we lie." Why spend time in a stuffy museum? Go see "300" and enjoy some rockin' Greek history on the big screen this weekend!

pd98004

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 14:55:35 -0500

The Greeks (and every other country in the world) didn't even appreciate their own artifacts until Victorians began collecting the items. Heck, an ancient temple in Greece was considered nothing more than potential building material up until the last century. And many of the most important artifacts of Greece (Elgin Marble, etc), China (Dunghuan scrollsm etc.) etc. that some people demand be returned wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for the foresight of the people that initally took them (and preserved the items) So NO! They items should not be returned. However, for items taken in contemporary times, and in the recent past, which were taken in violation of laws YES! They should be returned.