Greece could use Brexit to recover 'stolen' Parthenon art - Polidicks

[img]http://i.imgur.com/B7XkFL9.jpg[/img] [QUOTE]Before Brexit can be finalized, each EU member state must vote on the deal - meaning that any nation could stall the long-awaited pact if it disagrees with the results of the negotiations. For one activist group, this scenario gives Greece a rare negotiations advantage over the United Kingdom, which claims ownership of some of Greece's most treasured ancient art: the Parthenon marbles. It's possible that the current government will "go against the establishment" based on its current performance, Mantheakis said. "We're hoping the Greek government will do it. It's a unique opportunity." The Parthenon marbles used to be known as the Elgin Marbles, a name both revealing about the age in which they were acquired and about claims of ownership. At the turn of the 19th century, Lord Thomas Elgin followed the lead of other foreigners in Greece at the time: He chopped down war-scarred statues and friezes from the once grand Athenian temple and had them hauled off the craggy, steep bluff overlooking the ancient city and onto a ship bound for England. The British ambassador argued that they would receive better care in England than in Ottoman-ruled Greece. Elgin shipped more than 50 friezes depicting a mythical battle and marble statues of the deities to Britain. Following public uproar - including a scathing poem by Lord Byron - the British Parliament purchased the art for 35,000 pounds. Bildergalerie Parthenon Rückgabe (Reuters/Dylan Martinez) The British Museum currently houses roughly the same number of Parthenon marbles as Athens. Some are also displayed in museums in Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna, Würzburg, Munich and the Vatican Attempts by the Greek government to reunite the coveted statues with their brethren in the Acropolis Museum - which left space for the missing pieces in its latest renovations - have failed. As the British Museum sees it, Athens may borrow the art works, but further discussion on the issue is "virtually impossible" because of multiple Greek governments' refusal to "acknowledge the trustees' ownership of the Parthenon sculptures in their care." In a 2015 letter to UNESCO, the world-renowned museum also argued that its collection was "not only for the British people, but for the benefit of the world public, present and future."[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.dw.com/en/greece-could-use-brexit-to-recover-stolen-parthenon-art/a-40038439"]Source[/URL].

oh the irony. the sweet sweet irony of greece demanding concessions from britain who had a large hand in their massive austarity measures

The art has been nicked but if you're gonna take it from the UK take it from 'Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna, Würzburg, Munich and the Vatican' too. Besides Greece isn't the most stable country so surely spreading out unique pieces of history would preserve it for generations in the event of war. ISIS for example had the chance to destroy history in [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ9wvHq3eQ8"]Iraq and Syria[/URL]. Greece may not be as weak as Syria but these days anything can happen whether with bombs, insurgency or civil war.

Why? So the Greek government can pawn it and live in luxury like they've been doing for years on tax payer dollars at the expense of their entire country? Fucking top right there, I'm sure [I]this[/I] is the most pressing matter for the Greek people right now, yes sir, not that other thing I mentioned.

[QUOTE=F.X Clampazzo;52619984]Why? So the Greek government can pawn it and live in luxury like they've been doing for years on tax payer dollars at the expense of their entire country? Fucking top right there, I'm sure [I]this[/I] is the most pressing matter for the Greek people right now, yes sir, not that other thing I mentioned.[/QUOTE] Well, there can be multiple issues at any given time, just cause one problem is larger doesn't mean anything.This is a pretty big deal to greeks, its greek history Also, pawn the marbles? Live in luxury? what are you talking about? The marbles will go into the Acropolis Museum. Athens has a pretty new 'Acropolis museum' that is an absolutely awesome collection of artifacts from around the city, but especially of the Parthenon. Greece is well suited to take care of its artifacts. Also, Greece could really use more reasons for tourism, since that's been well on the decline for years. [QUOTE=Regzo;52619969]The art has been nicked but if you're gonna take it from the UK take it from 'Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna, Würzburg, Munich and the Vatican' too. Besides Greece isn't the most stable country so surely spreading out unique pieces of history would preserve it for generations in the event of war. ISIS for example had the chance to destroy history in [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ9wvHq3eQ8"]Iraq and Syria[/URL]. Greece may not be as weak as Syria but these days anything can happen whether with bombs, insurgency or civil war.[/QUOTE] Yes, it would be nice if other pieces were returned. But Greece doesnt have the political opportunity to demand any such thing from those places. Second, Greece's history is different than Iraq and Syria's history, ISIS was attacking [edit just did more research] ancient Muslim, Christian, and other shrines in empty areas to sell artifacts and draw attention. Even if it was, if you wanna follow with the argument that anything can happen, what makes London less dangerous? We haven't seen attacks on museums or any such thing. p.s. flagdog says czech, I'm actually greek american. I was just in athens last week too. Acropolis Museum was awesome.

I've always found the British argument for keeping the Parthenon marbles pretty weak, but at the same time I sincerely doubt the rest of the EU will allow Greece to stall the talks over this. They just don't have the sort of political capital to demand this sort of thing

[QUOTE=Apollo2947;52620039]Well, there can be multiple issues at any given time, just cause one problem is larger doesn't mean anything.This is a pretty big deal to greeks, its greek history Also, pawn the marbles? Live in luxury? what are you talking about? The marbles will go into the Acropolis Museum. Athens has a pretty new 'Acropolis museum' that is an absolutely awesome collection of artifacts from around the city, but especially of the Parthenon. Greece is well suited to take care of its artifacts. Also, Greece could really use more reasons for tourism, since that's been well on the decline for years. Yes, it would be nice if other pieces were returned. But Greece doesnt have the political opportunity to demand any such thing from those places. Second, Greece's history is different than Iraq and Syria's history, ISIS was attacking [edit just did more research] ancient Muslim, Christian, and other shrines in empty areas to sell artifacts and draw attention. Even if it was, if you wanna follow with the argument that anything can happen, what makes London less dangerous? We haven't seen attacks on museums or any such thing. p.s. flagdog says czech, I'm actually greek american. I was just in athens last week too. Acropolis Museum was awesome.[/QUOTE] It's pretty common knowledge that the greek economic crisis was largely exacerbated by rampant government corruption as the politicians lived in far greater excess on government funds than is possible for a functioning nation. And then there was that time that they got basically given a second chance and pocketed all that money too. Greece's government is the last group I'd trust to handle anything remotely expensive. It's like catching a janitor on tape stealing from work but then not firing them because what'd be the odds they're going to do that again?

[QUOTE=Lonestriper;52620312]I've always found the British argument for keeping the Parthenon marbles pretty weak, but at the same time I sincerely doubt the rest of the EU will allow Greece to stall the talks over this. They just don't have the sort of political capital to demand this sort of thing[/QUOTE] ya but doesn't the EU parlament have to approve of the deal?

[QUOTE=F.X Clampazzo;52620579]It's pretty common knowledge that the greek economic crisis was largely exacerbated by rampant government corruption as the politicians lived in far greater excess on government funds than is possible for a functioning nation. And then there was that time that they got basically given a second chance and pocketed all that money too. Greece's government is the last group I'd trust to handle anything remotely expensive. It's like catching a janitor on tape stealing from work but then not firing them because what'd be the odds they're going to do that again?[/QUOTE] But the political body of many countries is not the same as the national historical museums. If Greece got the marbles, they would go to the museum. Actually, if political body was the same thing as the country's museums, then the marbles might be returned sooner, considering that 37% of Brits already believe they should be returned. [URL]https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/10/18/british-people-tend-want-elgin-marbles-returned/[/URL]

Too bad Greece is in a state where the goverment cant ask for the marbles as the parliament is too busy with internal affairs.And even then there are not many people in position of power to support our claim.

[QUOTE=Sableye;52620796]ya but doesn't the EU parlament have to approve of the deal?[/QUOTE] They could stall it, but that'd be at their own peril. I sincerely doubt it would happen

[QUOTE=Big Snake Bos;52621358]Too bad Greece is in a state where the goverment cant ask for the marbles as the parliament is too busy with internal affairs.And even then there are not many people in position of power to support our claim.[/QUOTE] true, any country with internal affairs has no personnel available to pursue foreign policy