Archie_tect
Active Member
No, the Anderson reverse isn't in Nip.
Elgin Marbles return or retain?
- Thread starter Beebo
- Start date
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mudsticks
Squire
Archie_tect
Active Member
Monopoly... you get double rent on the Acropolis with a hotel.
mudsticks
Squire
newfhouse
pleb
They're not our marbles.
mudsticks
Squire
I considered putting in a (their)
But somehow, i felt it flowed less elegantly as a sentence..
I really should get on with my work shouldn't I..
Fab Foodie
Guru
The technology exists to make perfect replicas for the BM - maybe part-funded by Greece? Then send the originals back.
These are not one-off pieces, they're part of a set of pieces and to my mind should be seen in that context.
In a perfect world, great antiquities could be shared (by moving them around) for the greater public good, but it's hard to see how that could be managed right now. I don't see the benefit to returning everything of antiquity to it's 'rightful place' for safe keeping is an answer either.
These are not one-off pieces, they're part of a set of pieces and to my mind should be seen in that context.
In a perfect world, great antiquities could be shared (by moving them around) for the greater public good, but it's hard to see how that could be managed right now. I don't see the benefit to returning everything of antiquity to it's 'rightful place' for safe keeping is an answer either.
AuroraSaab
Legendary Member
Greece have loads of stuff in their museums so it's not like they are short of stuff, but ultimately they need to go back because they are more than just fairly common antiquities that there are thousands of examples of. They're pretty special. Maybe a well publicised return in a few years so people know they are going and can make sure they see them before they go.
Regarding other antiquities, it would depend where they are going back to. No point returning stuff to a volatile region where groups might destroy them, as happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Regarding other antiquities, it would depend where they are going back to. No point returning stuff to a volatile region where groups might destroy them, as happened in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Moodyman
Member
What a strange position. Greece has “loads of stuff”, so you imply it would be ok for the UK to keep stolen artefacts.
Most artefacts were not destroyed by volatile groups. They were stolen and sold to wealthy western buyers. Those opportunities only arose because the US attacked the countries mentioned and created a vacuum and lawlessness.
The artefacts had been in those countries for centuries. In fact, the US has had the good grace to locate and return over 17,000 artefacts to Iraq. Maybe the UK should follow, like it follows everything else the US does.
matticus
Guru
AuroraSaab
Legendary Member
I was referring to the photo that showed an empty Greek museum. You've made an assumption.
Isis famously destroyed exhibits and antiquities that were considered unislamic and murdered the director of a Syrian museum outside his museum. The Taliban have destroyed ancient Buddha monuments with rockets and shell fire.
Should we return all the pre Islamic antiquities in UK museums to Afghanistan? How would that pan out for those precious artefacts? Better to keep them for the Afghan people to be returned at a time when they can enjoy them.
I've said they should be returned. Whether they were sold by their governments or looted, it's better that antiquities, especially rare or important ones, are kept in their country of origin than abroad. Provided it's safe to return them.
What we should do immediately is return all those human remains. It's awful that those haven't been repatriated.
OP
OP
Beebo
Veteran
Just heard a British historian give quite a compelling argument about why we shouldn’t rush to return them.
He alleges that the money used by Athens to build the Parthenon and the marbles was actually stolen in the first place.
Nothing is ever black and white. And the clock can’t be turned back on every wrong that’s ever been committed.
He alleges that the money used by Athens to build the Parthenon and the marbles was actually stolen in the first place.
Nothing is ever black and white. And the clock can’t be turned back on every wrong that’s ever been committed.
newfhouse
pleb
How about starting with the easy wins and see where we go after that?
