British museum vows to fight off any attempt by the eu to take back the elgin marbles as it says they were acquired completely legally eu negotiating mandate suggests there could be a demand for.
British museum marbles.
The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas.
Ian jenkins the parthenon sculptures in the british museum british museum press 2007 ian jenkins greek architecture and its sculpture in the british museum british museum press 2006 mary beard the parthenon profile 2002 william st clair lord elgin and the marbles 3rd edition oxford university press 1998.
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When the marbles were shipped to england they were an instant success among many who admired the sculptures and supported their arrival but both the sculptures and elgin also received criticism from detractors.
They have been displayed at the british museum in london since 1817 when elgin sold the marbles to the british government.
Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures.
The director of the british museum has provoked anger by suggesting the removal of the parthenon marbles from greece in the 19th century could be seen as a creative act.
Lord elgin began negotiations for the sale of the collection to the british museum in 1811 but negotiations failed despite the support of british artists after the government.
The british museum is again refusing to return the parthenon marbles to their country of origin claiming it has no intention of removing controversial objects from public display according to uk media reports.
In a leaked letter uk culture secretary oliver dowden said that government funded museums and galleries risk losing taxpayer support if they remove artefacts.
She said the elgin marbles were acquired legally with the approval of the ottoman.
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Learn how colonial relationships shaped the british museum s collection in our new trail collecting and empire.