[CPProt.net] FW: parthenon marbles-secret documents revelations

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

 From Museum-L
_________________________
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:MUSEUM-L at HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On Behalf
Of christina gova
Sent: 16 May 2005 03:25
To: MUSEUM-L at HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: parthenon marbles-secret documents revelations


I have just read the e-mail that Chris Hastings sent on the 15/05/2005
regarding the Parthenon Marbles and I am frankly infuriated by those
revelations. If the mentioned incidents are facts I can only feel fury and
sadness for the future of such world heritage.

Such "Museum Professionals" should disguise their deeply ignorant and
nationalistic attitudes behind the security of their institution -The
British Museum- and avoid in the future statements such as: "This is a
creative and living achievement of the Enlightenment. The Parthenon, on the
other hand, is a ruin that can never now be restored." or: "There is no
evidence that the early 19th-century Greeks actually had any real sense of
the archaeological or artistic importance of the sculptures." It is scary
knowing that people in such vital positions can act with so much arrogance
and indifference to the past/present history and desires of a whole nation.

Enough with the same old story that if the British Museum returns the
Parthenon Marbles there will be an issue of repatriation from other
countries as well!!! Greece has generously filled the collection of
hundred's British or not Museums with ancient Greek artefacts and this is an
undeniable truth. When refering to the Perthenon Marbles though we are
refering to a UNIQUE piece of art work that was conceptualised, designed and
made for the Greeks. It is a landmark and symbol of a whole civilisation.The
Greek nation has started stabilising its political and financial situation
only the last 40 years and therefore could thank in that sense the British
for looking after the Marbles -even though with those recent revelations
they heve not done their best after all.It is though their very duty to
return something that was obviously stolen -during the Othomanic
occupation-if their best interest is the preservation of the World Heritage,
as they claim.

At this point I wonder whether it has to do anymore with any of the above
"sincere" excuses or whether it is all about the visitor numbers going
through the door of the British Museum and the prestige that the Parthenon
Marbles offer to the collection of the Museum.

I am convinced that Pathenon Marbles will return where they belong sooner or
later, but it is worthwhile taking into consideration such revelations and
statements by "respectable" citizens such as Sir John's Boyd and Chris's
Smith and condemn them for the sake of World Culture and Heritage.

regards,
C.G.