The British Museum’s new trustees, including anti-restitution author Tiffany Jenkins, step into a heated debate over the Parthenon Marbles. As Greece pushes for their return, the appointments signal a firm stance on keeping the ancient sculptures in London.
Tag: cultural restitution
Proposed changes to the Charities Act 2022, intended to ease the transfer of objects like the Benin Bronzes and Parthenon Marbles, remain stalled under the Labour government, despite earlier plans for implementation. As the British Museum escapes media scrutiny amid delays and past scandals, the unresolved fate of these cultural artifacts highlights tensions over law, heritage, and accountability in the UK.
Stephen Fry has compared the removal of the Parthenon Marbles from Greece to Nazi Germany seizing the Arc de Triomphe. In an interview on the Australian TV series “Stuff the British Stole,” Fry argued for the British Museum to return the ancient sculptures to Greece, emphasizing that it would be a “classy” and meaningful gesture. He highlighted the deep cultural significance of the marbles to Athens and criticized historical justifications for their retention in London.
William Shakespeare’s famous line from Hamlet that something is not right comes to mind with…