Elgin Marbles deal still some distance away, says museum chairman

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A deal to return the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece may not be as close as previously thought, according to the chairman of the British Museum. Despite a former adviser to the Greek government announcing earlier this week that “negotiations have gone forward” and a deal was “close,” George Osborne has since stated that any such deal is “still some distance away.”

The request to return the ancient antiquities, also known as the Elgin Marbles, has been made by Greece on the grounds that they were illegally removed from Athens’ acropolis, and the sculptures should be returned from the museum where they have been displayed since their acquisition.

It has been reported that the museum is exploring the possibility of a long-term loan of the sculptures rather than permanent return, an agreement that would require a rolling display of other Greek artefacts to be displayed in the museum. However, the British Museum is forbidden by law from giving away any of its artefacts, which has caused a political tension between the UK and Greece over the status of the sculptures.

The Greek Prime Minister has made securing the return of the Elgin Marbles a priority and tensions over the artefacts reportedly came to a head in November 2020, when then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled a meeting with the Greek PM. Despite concerns over a potential no-deal Brexit, new political leadership in the UK could signal greater willingness towards trans-European diplomacy.

The sculptures, crafted in the 5th century BC, were removed over 200 years ago by British aristocrat Lord Elgin while Athens was under Ottoman Empire rule. They were badly damaged en route to London, where they remain on display, and are considered among the most prized antiquities from the Ancient Greek period. Greece continues to assert that the sculptures were stolen, whereas the British Museum contends that they were legally obtained

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