Do Greece’s ancient treasures really belong in London?

World Focus ^[1] have published four short videos on the Elgin Marbles and the various campaigns for their return to Athens. The video accompanying the second article includes coverage of the recent protest by Greek schoolchildren ^[2] outside the British Museum organised with the help of Marbles Reunited, along with some information on the leaflet distribution campaigns ^[3] and cartoons of the Parthenon Marbles ^[4], both organised by Marbles Reunited ^[5] member Lazaros Filippidis ^[6].

As the text on each page is only a brief introduction to the video, I strongly recommend that you visit all the linked pages to view the actual videos.

From:
World Focus ^[7]

September 15, 2009
Do Greece’s ancient treasures belong in London?

The opening of the Acropolis Museum in Greece this summer has reignited a controversy over some of the sculptures that adorned the Parthenon, the most famous monument of ancient Greece. A number of artifacts, including about half of the Parthenon Frieze, now reside in the British Museum — but many Greeks argue they should be returned to Athens.

Lynn Sherr speaks to a group of students at the American College of Greece, who believe passionately the sculptures should be returned to their homeland.

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Sherr also interviews Dimitris Plantzos of the University of Ioannina, who says that the issue is about Greek identity, not scholarship — and holds the view, unusual in Greece, that the sculptures don’t need to be returned.

From:
World Focus ^[8]

September 15, 2009
Greeks lobby for return of Parthenon marbles to Athens

Greece has been engaged in a long dispute over some of the world’s most famous sculptures. The sculptures were taken from the Parthenon almost 200 years ago and brought to Britain, and the Greeks argue they should be returned to Athens.

Worldfocus special correspondent Lynn Sherr and producer Megan Thompson report on Greece’s efforts to recover the precious statues.

Also, view extended interviews and an interactive tour of the Parthenon Frieze in the Acropolis Museum.

From:
World Focus ^[9]

September 15, 2009
Old and new at the Acropolis Museum in Greece

This summer, the new Acropolis Museum opened in Athens, Greece. It’s a state-of the-art, earthquake-resistant facility featuring sophisticated technology for climate control and surveillance. But one thing you won’t find here — many of the original Parthenon sculptures, now housed mostly in the British Museum.

In this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at the new museum, Director Dimitris Pantermalis shows Lynn Sherr the beauty of the original sculptures — and the modern plaster replicas that serve as stark reminders of what has been lost.