Early Day Motions

RETURN OF PARTHENON SCULPTURES TO ATHENS

EDM (Early Day Motion) 425A1: tabled on 15 January 2004

Tabled in the 2003-04 session.

This motion has been signed by 15 Members. It is an amendment to an existing motion.

As this motion is using historical data, we may not have the record of the original ordering, in which case signatories are listed alphabetically.

This is an amendment to an existing motion

This motion was originally tabled by Mr Andrew Dismore on 14 January 2004. This is amendment number 1.

View details of the original motion

Suggested amendment

Line 3, delete from 'currently' to end and insert 'held in Athens and have not been properly displayed to the public there for many years; notes that there are no plans to display these marbles or the Elgin Marbles in the proper context of other artistic and architectural masterpieces illustrating the development of culture in the Mediterranean and Near East before and after the Classical period; further notes that, unlike the British Museum, visitors to the marbles in Athens will be charged for entry; asserts that the Elgin Marbles are of international cultural value and this consideration should be paramount over political gestures and short term deals; and regrets that the slick and well-funded campaign by 'Marbles Reunited' has sought to denude the British Museum of one of its central attractions for 200 years on the grounds of promoting London's Olympic bid and taking advantage of current funding shortfalls of the Museum despite its own research showing that far fewer people visit the Parthenon than the British Museum where the Marbles are the second most visited exhibit.

Original motion text

That this House recognises that the building of the New Acropolis Museum offers an unprecedented opportunity to display the major parts of the Parthenon Marbles that are currently divided between London and Athens together, in the context of the Parthenon building for which they were designed; believes that such a display would be welcomed by a majority of British people; further believes that a solution to any legal issues is possible if the transfer occurs on the basis of a long-term loan; welcomes the Greek Government's offer to ensure that exhibitions of high quality Greek material would be brought to national and regional museums in the UK once the Marbles issues has been resolved; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to work with the British Museum and the Greek authorities to this end, in the spirit of co-operation and friendship so apt for any Olympic year.