Remembering Sean Connery and his call for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece

"Oh God! What a place. Why did I come so late?” Those were the words Sean Connery exclaimed the first time he saw the Acropolis up close in person.

The man best known as Bond, James Bond, visited the Acropolis accompanied by Greek musician Vangelis Papathanassiou and French director Jules Dassen.

The Scottish actor was in Greece on the occasion of the opening of his wife, Micheline Roquebrune's exhibition at the “Athinais” art center.

His first visit was enough to make him fall in love with the country, its history, its ancient monuments and natural, unique beauty.

And of course '007' could not help but be unpleasantly surprised by the sculptures missing from the Parthenon. After learning about the story of their removal, he promised that he would do whatever he could for the cause. “The return of the Parthenon Sculptures should be a common goal of all countries that will participate in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. Until the Games begin, they must be in their place, where they belong. The British had the Sculptures for two centuries. Now they have to return them,” Connery told reporters.

It was no secret that the great actor fell in love with Greece. He had a luxurious house on the ‘Greek Riviera’ of Porto Heli and often visited the holiday house.

James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery passed away in 2020 at the age of 90.

He died peacefully in his sleep in the Bahamas after being "unwell for some time", his son Jason told BBC.

Connery is best known for starring in seven Bond films, including every film from Dr. No to You Only Live Twice, plus Diamonds Are Forever and Never Say Never Again, between 1962 and 1983.