There is no lull in the Elgin Marbles crisis that broke out between Greece and England. The Parthenon statues, also known as the Elgin Marbles, which were built between 447-432 BC, caused an international crisis almost 2,500 years later.
Greek media included Turkey in the diplomatic conflict caused by the Elgin Marbles, which were smuggled to England during the Ottoman Empire and are currently on display in the British Museum.
The Parthenon, the temple of Athena located on the Acropolis, the symbol of Athens, the capital of Greece, and the structures surrounding it remained standing until the beginning of the nineteenth century. British diplomat Lord Elgin (Thomas Bruce) took the Elgin Marbles to London during the period when Greece was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
The works, which were transferred between 1801 and 1816, began to be displayed in the British Museum. The museum also has a 75-meter-long section of the temple’s wall decorations (frieze).
Greece, which submitted its first request for the permanent return of businesses to Greece in 1983, has yet to receive a response.
I likened it to the Mona Lisa
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who visited England last week, said on a BBC programme, that the Elgin Marbles should be returned to Athens. Mitsotakis likened the presence of the Elgin Marbles, some of which are in the Acropolis Museum, in different countries to “cutting the Mona Lisa in half and displaying it.”
It was canceled at the last minute
Accordingly, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled his appointment with his guest at the last minute. Sunak removing the meeting with Mitsotakis from his agenda caused lightning-laden clouds to collide between Athens and London.
Mitotakis refused
The Greek Prime Minister, who rejected Sunak’s offer to meet his deputy Oliver Dowden, did not hide his disappointment. The London administration announced that it had received assurances from Athens that Mitsotakis would not display the Parthenon statues during his visit to England, but the Greek side denied this statement.
“The altar… Erdogan’s Janissaries”
While Kyriakos Mitsotakis hastily returned to Greece, Greek media had been covering the crisis in headline news for days. A Greek political newspaper published the headline “Sunak…Erdogan’s Janissaries.”
Arguing that geopolitical games were being played against Greece under the pretext of Elgin Marbles, the newspaper wrote that canceling the appointment was unacceptable.
“Senseless diplomatic explosion”
Kathimerini newspaper published a news article entitled “The Parthenon statues: a new attack from Sunak and a new denial from Athens.” The newspaper pointed out that Greece is trying to ease tensions despite the British Prime Minister’s speech in Parliament.
In its news report, Ethnos newspaper, quoting the British newspaper The Guardian, chose the title “Senseless Diplomatic Explosion,” and stated that the Guardian strongly attacked Sunak, who dealt with Mitsotakis inappropriately.
“Eurofighter planes can be detected among the marble.”
The story published in the Greek newspaper SL Press during the week was headlined “Eurofighter planes can be seen between the marbles.” In the news article written by Michas Zakaria, it was said that Turkey was behind the crisis, and it was stated that it was only a matter of time before the Eurofighter fighter jet, which was still being negotiated between London and Ankara, was sold. realized. The news also said, “Rishi Sunak is of Indian origin. He is re-implementing the old policies of the British Empire, i.e. colonialism.”