The Parthenon marbles

Built during the fifth century BC, the Parthenon frieze represents the Panathenaic procession, now located in the British Museum in London. You can explore all the scenes on this Columbia University website.

In Nashville, you can visit the replica of the original Parthenon, built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition. It takes place in the centerpiece of Centennial Park, Nashville's premier urban park.

For a long time, Greek government fights for the restitution of the Parthenon marbles. The New Acropolis Museum has been erected to receive all the Sculptures in Greece. In 2006, the first fragment of the Parthenon marbles was returned in Greece by the University of Heidelberg. "At the Exhibition Hall of the Parthenon, some specific window-cases
will remain unoccupied waiting for the restitution of the fragmented
Sculptures." That means the complete return of the Parthenon marbles settled in the Bristish Museum.

The British Museum provides also arguments on its website.

1. According to Georgios Voulgarakis, Minister of Culture, why is the marbles restitution an universal issue ?

2. Why has the marbles restitution become an european debate ?

3. Find out the official declaration of the european Parliament. What is its point of vue ?