• PugJesus@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
    21·
    2 days ago

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Marbles

    From 1801 to 1812, Elgin’s agents removed about half the surviving Parthenon sculptures, as well as sculptures from the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Propylaia, sending them to Britain in efforts to establish a private museum. Elgin stated he removed the sculptures with permission of the Ottoman officials who exercised authority in Athens at the time.[4] The legality of Elgin’s actions has been disputed.[5]

    Their presence in the British Museum is the subject of longstanding international controversy. In Britain, the acquisition of the collection was supported by some,[6] while others, such as Lord Byron, likened Elgin’s actions to vandalism or looting.[7] A UK parliamentary inquiry in 1816 concluded that Elgin had acquired the marbles legally.[8] Elgin sold them to the British government in that year, after which they passed into the trusteeship of the British Museum. In 1983, the Greek government formally asked the UK government to return them to Greece, and listed the dispute with UNESCO. The UK government and British Museum declined UNESCO’s offer of mediation. In 2021, UNESCO called upon the UK government to resolve the issue at the intergovernmental level.[9]

  • 1rre@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    61·
    2 days ago

    It’s worth mentioning that Greece at the time was ruled by a foreign power who were more than happy to sell Britain the marbles, they were just planning on grinding them up to make concrete anyway.

    It’s little different to if IS or the Taliban had allowed Americans to take significant parts of Palmyra or the Buddhas of Bamiyan before they blew them up - the ruling authority didn’t represent the people, but were still planning on destroying their history. Better to have it safe elsewhere than destroyed.

    That said, there’s little reason for the British museum to still be keeping them.

  • duhbasser@lemm.eeEnglish
    10·
    2 days ago

    I really gotta set some time aside and get into history more. These memes seem like 🔥 and I have no idea what they’re talking about. I do love history and going to museums but there’s SO much I have no idea how I would start a hobby like this. Like, I’m not sure what parts of history I enjoy more. I use to listen to Dan Carlin back in the day and each podcast (or series) was incredibly fascinating that I couldn’t say I like one part of history better than the next. If anyone has reading or podcast recommendations for someone starting out, I’m all ears.

    • PugJesus@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
      12·
      2 days ago

      I really gotta set some time aside and get into history more. These memes seem like 🔥 and I have no idea what they’re talking about.

      I usually try to include explanations or links in the comments!

      If anyone has reading or podcast recommendations for someone starting out, I’m all ears.

      I’m not much of a podcast person, but I can give you a scattershot list of various non-specialist books!

      • Caesar, Life of a Colossus on the the main man, Julius Caesar! Well-written and detailed, putting into perspective the political environment Caesar existed and interacted in through the course of his life.

      • Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World may challenge some of your preconceptions about Genghis and the Mongol Empire (though at times it veers into a touch too apologetic) while inspiring interest in just how a minor tribal leader from a backwoods nomad clan managed to create a vast and surprisingly loyal empire in a handful of decades.

      • Ataturk: The Rebirth of a Nation is an excellent resource on the birth of the Turkish Republic and the life of its founder, a man both ruthless and idealistic. Very gripping read.

      • The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England is a very light and fun book that nonetheless is very much about real historical details, backing its claims with sources while giving a ‘ground eye’ view of everyday medieval life and law.

      If you’re looking for something heavier or more specific, but still not inaccessible to beginners, I might recommend:

      • Imperial Ideology and Provincial Loyalty in the Roman Empire - despite the specific title, the book is very friendly to those without a strong background in Roman history. It takes time to explain common Roman institutions before elaborating on their relation to local cultures, rather than assuming that the reader already understands such things.
  • CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    And adding insult to injury, these marbles are most commonly known by the name of the englishman who stole them.

  • taulover@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    9·
    2 days ago

    The Acropolis Museum in Athens communicates this theft very effectively and poignantly. The top floor is 1:1 scale to the original Parthenon. All the marbles are shown, including both the ones Greece has and the stolen marbles reconstructed in a bright white plaster. Just walking through and looking at it all you can feel the sense of loss and injustice.