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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Edward O'Hara (Labour), on Tuesday, 16 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 42 members in total.

SCULPTURES OF THE PARTHENON

That this House believes that the sculptures of the Parthenon belong not to the British Museum, nor to the British Government, nor even to Greece, but to the Parthenon from which they were hacked, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thus to the whole of humanity; notes that work has now started on the new Acropolis Museum in the shadow of the Parthenon, with glass fronted galleries designed for the display of the sculptures in their original configuration with the Parthenon visible behind them; considers that this is the best possible mode of display for the sculptures and is possible only in this location; is mindful of the Private Member's Bill of the honourable Member for Knowsley South which is framed to make possible more international co-operation in the display of cultural objects; is convinced that the display of the Parthenon sculptures offers a unique opportunity for such co-operation which would bring great credit to Britain; and thus urges the Government to begin preparations now, in partnership with the Greek Government, for the transfer of the sculptures to Athens for display in the Acropolis Museum in time for the opening of the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received 2 amendments.

1641A1
leave out 'sculptures of the Parthenon' and insert 'Elgin Marbles'.
1641A2
leave out from 'Greece' to end and add 'but to the whole of humanity and as such are best entrusted to the care of one of the world's great universal museums, namely the British Museum which has displayed them skilfully to the world for almost 200 years, and where they can be ideally studied in the context of the artistic development of mankind from prehistoric through classical times; congratulates the British Museum on attracting 5.5 million international visitors last year, free of charge, double the number visiting the Acropolis where admission charges have recently been increased by 50 per cent.; expresses concern that the 14 blocks of the west frieze of the Parthenon taken down by the Greek authorities in 1993 have not been displayed since; agrees with the 300 Greek academics who have signed a petition condemning the cultural vandalism resulting from the construction of the new Acropolis Museum which threatens to destroy remains of an ancient Christian city and prehistoric sites crucial to charting the continuous habitation of Athens; and calls on the honourable Member for Knowsley South to drop his Private Member's Bill and put the interests of the study of our international cultural heritage ahead of misguided politically-motivated attempts to curry favour with Greece.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
1641 
1641A1 
1641A2 
Session
2001-02
Registered interest declared
Yes
Subjects
Cultural heritage Artworks Greece Parthenon sculptures Museums and galleries Sculpture
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk