ACROPOLIS NEW MUSEUM

THE NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM AND THE MARBLES OF PARTHENON

1821. Greece fully conquered by the Turkish Empire decides to begin the Revolution against the Turks. imewIt was a very bloody and hopeless fight because the Turkish side was stronger and bigger in number of armies.

However the first and second years were successful for the Greek side. The war lasted nearly 9 years.

During the war years a dominating figure was watching the facts closely. Lord Byron. He even gave money for weapons to the Greek side. With his speeches to the house of Lords he informed the English people about the struggle of the Greeks for their freedom and also for the danger of the Antiquities ,as Acropolis . For Historical reason we should mention that Lord Byron died in Greece and was buried here until the British government asked for the transportation of his remains to THE WESTMINSTER. Another lord called ELGIN was the Ambassador of Great Britain in Athens during the Revolution years. Being inspired by the Ancient classical Art he had the idea of transporting part of the sculptured marbles of Parthenon in ENGLAND to decorate part of his new home. The Turks never giving a steady answer ,said they could but....never really authorising such an act.A great part of the marbles were taken down from the temple and had to be cut by saw in order to be transported.

For many years the marbles were rotting in the warehouse of the Lord together with the coals,he was using to heat his house. His intention was to sell them to the British Government but the price was too high and so they remained buried to his warehouse.Finally they were sold to the British museum in London.Since then, 1816 they decorate the British museum. Many times the Government was asked for the repatriation

of the marbles but the answer was negative.According to the British constitution they are property of Great Britain,according to the Greek contitution they are property of Greece.