The Elgin Marbles: What to Know
TimeDEC 2023
Parthenon Row: Sunak Cancels Meeting with Greek PM
Image copyright: Leon Neal - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The position of the UK regarding the status of the marbles has always been crystal-clear: any agreement to loan the sculptures out will be between Greece and the British Museum alone. Sunak had every right to cancel his meeting with his Greek counterpart over his flagrant disregard for this status quo, instead insisting on stirring up nationalist tensions to score cheap points against the British.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Parthenon Marbles are an indelible part of Greece's cultural heritage and must be returned with due haste. The marbles were lifted from Greece thanks to an agreement with the occupying Ottoman Empire, with the arrangement never reflecting the will of the Greek people. Most Brits themselves believe the marbles should be returned to Greece, with a potential repatriation being the ultimate testament to the historically strong relationship between Greece and the UK.