Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-05-07
CONTENTS
[01] Parthenon Marbles - Pupils' protest - British embassy
[01] Parthenon Marbles - Pupils' protest - British embassy
07/05/2001 14:19:15
More than 400 pupils from an Athens suburb's primary and secondary
schools on Monday marched outside the British embassy in the Greek
capital to demand the return of the Parthenon Marbles by London's
British Museum.
Pupils, teachers and municipal officials from 16 grammar and middle
schools in the east Athens district of Vyronas -- named in honour of
renowned 19th century British poet and philhellene Lord Byron --
gathered outside the British embassy in downtown Athens holding olive
branches and torches to protest the British Museum's long-standing
refusal to return the 5th century BC friezes that once adorned
Acropolis' Parthenon.
"No one has the right to deny the Marbles of Greece's light, and only
Greece has the right to give them to humanity," representatives of the
pupils said.
The Classical-era friezes were removed from the Parthenon by the
British diplomat Elgin with the permission of the local Ottoman
authorities in the early 19th century. Elgin sliced off the priceless
marbles and other parts of the Parthenon, dedicated in antiquity to the
goddess Athena, before shipping them to England and eventually selling
them to the British Museum in 1816 -- where they remain ever since.
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