From 1801 to 1812, Elgin's agents removed about half the surviving Parthenon sculptures, as well as sculptures from the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Propylaia, sending them to Britain in efforts to establish a private museum. Elgin stated he removed the sculptures with permission of the Ottoman officials who exercised authority in Athens at the time.[4] The legality of Elgin's actions has been disputed.[5]

Their presence in the British Museum is the subject of longstanding international controversy. In Britain, the acquisition of the collection was supported by some,[6] while others, such as Lord Byron, likened Elgin's actions to vandalism or looting.[7] A UK parliamentary inquiry in 1816 concluded that Elgin had acquired the marbles legally.[8] Elgin sold them to the British government in that year, after which they passed into the trusteeship of the British Museum. In 1983, the Greek government formally asked the UK government to return them to Greece, and listed the dispute with UNESCO. The UK government and British Museum declined UNESCO's offer of mediation. In 2021, UNESCO called upon the UK government to resolve the issue at the intergovernmental level.[9]

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Here I was imagining little glass balls.

[–] MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 days ago

I pictured the Brits taking the statues and turning them into marble, well, marbles. Aka little glass balls but made from marble.

[–] Franconian_Nomad@feddit.org 6 points 3 days ago

Based Byron!