The Prime Minister of Greece asked the 2500-year-old man Parthenon MarbleHe accused Britain of stealing, sent it back to Greece, and even offered to lend some treasures from his country to the British Museum in an attempt to facilitate the transaction.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the Daily Telegraph that these sculptures, also known as Elgin Marble, belong to the Acropolis Museum.
However, Boris Johnson previously Exclude return them The reason is that they were obtained legally.
Mizotakis said: “Our position is very clear. The marbles were stolen in the 19th century; they belonged to the Acropolis Museum, and we need to discuss this issue seriously.
“I am sure that if the government is willing to take action, we can British Museum For example, we lend foreign cultural treasures that have never been abroad. “
More than 200 years ago, Lord Elgin removed the marble from the Acropolis. The situation at that time triggered one of the most famous cultural rankings in the world and has long been the subject of controversy.
Mizotakis said that he will raise this issue with Johnson when the two meet next week, and the discussion may affect the future relationship between the two countries.
“In my opinion, refusing to discuss this topic, considering what has happened in the return of cultural treasures, is an out-of-date approach,” he added.
“If Boris calls it the global UK, and they will move on and see it through a completely different perspective, that would be a brilliant statement.”
but Johnson rejected their call to return to Greece earlier this year, Told the Greek newspaper Ta Nea: “I understand the strong feelings of the Greek people—actually Prime Minister Mizotakis—on this issue.
“But the British government has a firm and long-term stance on these sculptures that they were legally acquired by Lord Elgin in accordance with the appropriate laws at the time and have been legally owned by the trustee of the British Museum since the acquisition.”
Greece has long called for the unification of sculptures exhibited in museums everywhere Europe But mainly in London, and said that understanding the artwork in the context of the Acropolis is indispensable.
