After the decision made last year by the Greek government to not legally pursuit forcing the UK to return the Parthenon Marbles to their rightful home in Athens atop the Acropolis, they have decided instead to offer an incentive of cultural exchange in diplomatic efforts to win back the marbles and have dared the UK government to fight the anti-democratic forces trying to seek “the dissolution of Europe” by returning the marbles.
The marbles, which were taken from Greece 200 years ago by Lord Elgin, reside at the British Museum in London.
According to the independent.co.uk, Greece has offered up the chance for UK museums to regularly have on display some of the most amazing artifacts from Ancient Greece. In exchange for the “loaning” of the Greek artifacts, Greece wants the Parthenon Marbles returned.
Pieces such as the “golden mask of Agamemnon” or the statue of Zeus/Poseidon might be some of the first items offered up as part of the on-loan program, the independent.co.uk says.
Upon hearing of this offer, the chairman of the British Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, Andrew George said that “Britain has nothing to lose and so much to gain from engaging with the Greek Government in this way,” adding that “a gracious act by the British would lift our reputation at the very moment our otherwise threadbare negotiating position with the EU appears so grubby and self-seeking.”
There is also the need to calm the political uprising of nationalism in Europe, Mr. George said. “Such a high level and deeply symbolic gesture of this kind would also help counteract the tide of growing right-wing intolerance that is taking hold across Europe.”
The cultural exchange that Greece has offered to the UK in exchange for the return of its Parthenon Marbles is one that would indeed enrich the museums across Great Britain.
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