Greece’s archaeological council does not support loan of Parthenon sculptures to Frankfurt museum
Greece’s Central Archaeological Council recommended not approving the temporary loan of 12 Parthenon sculptures from three Greek museums to the Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection in Frankfurt. The council considered the request on September 1 and voted against it after learning that the exhibits were to be displayed alongside two sculptures provided by the British Museum, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Exhibition in Frankfurt
The sculptures were planned to be presented at the exhibition “Athena, Yours the Stage: The Parthenon Puzzle,” which is scheduled to open at the Liebieghaus in November. The project is dedicated to the sculptures of the Parthenon pediments. The museum’s website states that the exhibition is intended to present, for the first time, an archaeologically substantiated proposal for a complete reconstruction of the sculptures of the eastern pediment.
Liebieghaus director Philipp Demandt said in an August press release that the new findings are changing perceptions of one of the most famous ancient monuments and demonstrate the connection between scientific precision and museum education. In the museum’s statement, published before the Greek council’s position was announced, the Acropolis Museum was named among the exhibition’s participants alongside the British Museum, without specifying particular exhibits.
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Dispute over the sculptures
The Parthenon sculptures have been the subject of a long-running dispute between Greece and the British Museum. Between 1801 and 1812, Thomas Bruce, known as Lord Elgin, who was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, removed the sculptures from Greece to England together with his team.
According to the Greek newspaper To Vima, the Greek government considers the sculptures not to be separate objects for lending, but parts of an integral ensemble that should be displayed together. Transferring individual fragments to Frankfurt, in the newspaper’s view, would contradict this position and could mean recognition of the possibility of lending them separately.
British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan explained in an interview with Le Monde that the permanent return of exhibits is restricted by the British Museum Act 1963, which prohibits national museums from disposing of items in their collections. For a loan to be considered, Greece must recognize the ownership rights of the British Museum’s trustees to the sculptures, but Greek governments have refused such a condition.
