Parthenon Day

Parthenon Day is an international day of action to demand the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles organized so the supporters of return of the marbles can express their opinion to the British government. Friday December 5th 1997 was Parthenon day, a day to acknowledge and request the return of the Parthenon marbles from around the world to the British Museum. Melina Mercouri, a Greek actress, singer and politician (Greek Minister of culture) was a strong advocate for the return of the marbles officially requested the return of the marbles giving voice to supporters around the world.

The Parthenon marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, are a collection of Greek marble sculptures formerly a part of the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens.

Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin attained a firman in 1801 from the local Ottoman Turkish authorities to remove pieces from the ruins of the Parthenon to conduct research while serving as an ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. In 1810, another permit was granted to take home the rest that he adequately took advantage of taking around half of what was surviving at the Parthenon at that time including predominant sculptures, friezes and the marbles, which he gathered for his private collection. To be exact Elgin acquired 17 figures from the statuary, 15 of original 92 metope panels and 75 m of an original 160 m of Parthenon friezes.

Reference

Online Sources

Parthenon. n.d. In Wikipedia. Retrieved August 2nd, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon
Swindale, I. (1997, February). Parthenon Day. Hellonic electronic center for (HEC) For the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. Retrieved from http://www.greece.org/parthenon/marbles/day.htm
Regula, D. (n.d.). Facts on the Parthenon and the Acropolis. Athena’s Jewel Crowns her City of Athens. Retrieved from http://gogreece.about.com/od/athenssightseeing1/a/parthenonathens.htm
Smith, H., Hooper, J. (2007, March). Greece talks tough on Parthenon marbles. The Guardian, World News UK. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/mar/30/artnews.parthenon
The Parthenon sculptures: Facts and Figures. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/news_and_press/statements/parthenon_sculptures/facts_and_figures.aspx
What are the ‘Elgin Marbles’?. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/articles/w/what_are_the_elgin_marbles.aspx
Kimmelman, M. (2009, June). Elgin Marble Argument in a New Light. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/arts/design/24abroad.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
The Elgin Marbles. (n.d.). (2009) Athens info Guild. Retrieved from http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtsacropelgin.htm
Rose-Greenland, F. (2014). Forthcoming, Nations and Nationalism [Abstract]. The Parthenon Marbles as Icons of Nationalism in 19th Century Britain. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/3672781/The_Parthenon_Marbles_as_Icons_of_Nationalism_in_19th_Century_Britain
Hellenic republic: Ministry of Culture and Sport. (1975). Acropolis Restoration Project. Athens, Greece. Department of antiquities. Retrieved from http://www.yppo.gr/4/e40.jsp?obj_id=123
Acropolis, Athens. (2012). United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/404
Venieri, I. (2012). Hellenic republic: Ministry of Culture and Sport. Parthenon Description. Retrieved from http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=912
Hellenic republic: Ministry of Culture and Sport. (2011). Restoration Project of the Temple of Athena Nike. Athens, Greece. Department of antiquities. Retrieved from http://www.yppo.gr/4/e4000.jsp?obj_id=123&lhmma_id=14434
Cluney, C. (2014, July). Museums, Nationalism & Colonialist Archaeology. Lecture. Conducted from McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Greece urges return of sculptures. BBC News UK. (2009, June). Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/arts

Printed Sources

Moore, Alison Lindsey, "Looted Art: The Case of the Parthenon Sculptures" (2007). All Volumes (2001-2008). Paper 34.
Lena, L. State of the Art: ‘Parthenon of Athens: A Challenge Throughout History’ (2014, June).