Worksheet #2 will familiarize you with the famous (and constantly evolving) controversy surrounding the so-called ‘Elgin marbles’ in advance of our in-class debate. At minimum, you need to engage with the required source material and answer questions 1-9 below, but if this topic piques your interest, I’ve included a range of materials at the end you can peruse at your leisure.
Begin with the required source material:
Read both articles:
KIMMELMAN, ELGIN MARBLES NEW LIGHTDownload KIMMELMAN, ELGIN MARBLES NEW LIGHT
HAMILAKIS, ELGIN MARBLES, 1999Download HAMILAKIS, ELGIN MARBLES, 1999
You will also need to “visit” the Acropolis Museum to get a sense of the display for the Parthenon marbles. Click the link below and use “Museum View” to explore!
https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/u/0/collection/acropolis-museumLinks to an external site.
Then, answer the following questions:
Yannis Hamilakis, “Stories from exile: fragments from the cultural biography of the Parthenon (or ‘Elgin’) marbles,” World Archeology 31 (1999): 303–320.
What was the Parthenon’s original function (i.e., how was it used/what did it symbolize)? Did the building’s function change over time, and if so, how? (pg. 305–306)
How do the so-called “Elgin Marbles” become a part of the British Museum’s collection, and what is their subsequent impact in British society? (pg. 307–308)
What arguments have been made for the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece? Which do you find most compelling? (pg. 310– 312)
What is Hamilakis’ position on this issue and how does he defend his stance? (pg. 313–317) Michael Kimmelman, “Elgin Marble Argument in a New Light,” The New York Times (June 24, 2009): 1–3.
Why is the construction of the new Acropolis Museum perhaps “the death of an argument”? (pg. 1)
How might the issue of returning the Parthenon marbles be “ethical” and “cultural”? (pg. 2)
Kimmelman suggests some reasons why the British Museum continues to deny Greece’s demands for the return of the marbles. List two. (pg. 2–3) “Visit” the Acropolis Museum and tour the galleries where the Parthenon marbles are displayed.
How does the design of the Acropolis Museum and its exhibit attempt to visually link the artworks and artifacts in its collection with the city of Athens and its monuments?
How does the Acropolis Museum visually differentiate originals vs. copies in the display of the Parthenon Frieze sculptures?
Format:
Answers to questions #1-9 should be typed – no hand written work will be accepted – Times New Roman, 12 pt font, and submitted as an attachment to this assignment (.doc, .docx, .pdf files). When appropriate, you can bullet point/list responses, but you should still use clear grammar and accurate spelling. (If needed, use this template Word documentDownload use this template Word document to directly respond to the questions.)
Food for thought [not required readings, but interesting nonetheless]:
So, you’ve visited the Acropolis Museum in Athens. What about the marbles in London?
You can virtually tour the British Museum’s display of the Parthenon sculptures. Links to an external site.In a very interesting–and, quite unusual–measure, you can even read about the issue and the museum’s justification for ownership Links to an external site.on their website.
…and more justifications from the museum, in this fascinating videoLinks to an external site. narrated by a British Museum Trustee.
Lord Elgin’s name has also since become synonymous with looting and restitution debates.
“Elginism, the taking of cultural treasures, often from one country to another (usually to a wealthier one). It is commonly associated with debates over “cultural patrimony,” “cultural property,” and related international agreements, such as the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970), designed to protect cultural artifacts. The term is sometimes applied to any looting of cultural heritage for personal gain.” (Source: Encyclopedia BritannicaLinks to an external site.)
Still think this is all “ancient history”? (Ha!) Check these out.
In January 2015, hundreds of Greeks came together for a candlelight vigilLinks to an external site. to protest the British Museum’s continued ownership of the Parthenon sculptures.
Watch PBS News hour’s video Rescued or Seized? Greece’s long fight with UK over Parthenon MarblesLinks to an external site. released in 2018.
That same year, the marbles were positioned as a political bargaining chip in Brexit discussions. Read the Independent’s article, “How Brexit has revived controversy over the Elgin Marbles in BritainLinks to an external site..”
Even Chinese President Xi Jinping weighed in about the debate during a state visit to Athens in 2019.
