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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Edward O'Hara (Labour), on Wednesday, 31 October 2001, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 110 members in total.

PARTHENON MARBLES AND THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

That this House is aware that the Parthenon Marbles, most of which are included in the Elgin Marbles collection in the British Museum, are integral architectural features of the Parthenon, itself a UNESCO world heritage site; notes with interest that the Greek Government has commissioned a new Acropolis Museum at a cost of twenty nine million pounds to be situated at the foot of the Acropolis and including a glass gallery facing the Parthenon and specifically intended to house the Parthenon Marbles; understands that this gallery will remain empty as long as the Parthenon Marbles are not available for display in it; is concerned that this will bring great discredit to the British Government and the British Museum in the eyes of the estimated three million visitors per annum to the Acropolis Museum from around the world; recognises that this location is unique as the only one in which it will be possible to view the Parthenon and its sculptures together in one experience; and calls upon the Government immediately to enter into discussions with the Greek Government with the purpose of returning the Parthenon Marbles to Athens for display in their gallery in the Acropolis Museum when it is opened at the time of the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

PARTHENON MARBLES AND THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM (336A1)
The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Lord Howarth of Newport (primary, Labour) and tabled on Thursday, 13 December 2001. It has been signed by 1 members in total.
delete from 'Marbles' to end and add 'were legitimately acquired and brought to Britain by Lord Elgin, were subsequently acquired for the British Museum with resources voted by Parliament, were vested in the ownership of the Trustees of the British Museum by Act of Parliament, are one of the glories of the collection of the British Museum, which is a great international collection, open to all free of charge and visited by some six million people from across the world every year and by their presence in London, in the British Museum, attest the diffusion and influence across the world of classical Greek civilisation; understands the view held by many in modern Greece that these sculptures are emblematic of Greece, but does not believe that there is a unique issue of principle in the case of the Parthenon Marbles which would justify exceptional treatment; rejects the nationalistic view that a great work of art should only properly be kept in the country where it was originally created, and believes that the principle of an encyclopaedic museum, from which much good has come and continues to come, would be undermined by removal of the Marbles for political reasons; and therefore says to the Government and people of Greece, in a spirit of cordiality, that it would be wrong for Parliament to agree to the transfer of the Marbles to Athens.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
336 
336A1 
Session
2001-02
Registered interest declared
Yes
Subjects
Cultural heritage Artworks International cooperation Greece Parthenon sculptures Museums and galleries Sculpture
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk