In one of my stays in Athens this year, I had the honour to visit the Acropolis with Engineer Zannis (here with me in the photos). Being an Archeologist and working on the restoration of the Parthenon I had the privileged to hear directly from him, the progress of the restoration work, as well as the insightful stories that surraund the situ. I could see and fully understand the damages and vandalism that Lord Elgin perpetraited in 1801. He removed and cut 1/2 of the frieze metopes and pedimental sculpture, plus a caryatid and a column from the Erechtheion. He use these antiquities to decorate his mansion first and later sold them to the British Museum to repay his debts. It was the British Parliament that bought them for £35,000 and deposited in the British Museum.
Recently we watched on the TV News the ISIS (Islamic State) "soldiers" smashing artworks some more than 3000 year old. This recent events have been condemned as barbarian and inhuman and we all agree. But if we look at the stones that "lord" Elgin left on the ground after cutting the parts of his own interests, it is not too hard to make some similarities between these two barbarian acts. The only difference is that one was made for profit and leisure, the other for ignorance, fanaticism and primitivism.
Let's hope that soon someone will lead by example and return what was taken for pure greediness as Lord Byron said publicly numerous time!
Greece Needs Love
A wonderful post about our Parthenon Sculptures. I cannot bring my self calling them "Marbles" because Elgin treated them as such. I was in the Acropolis Museum the summer it opened. Oh, the pride for the Greek Spirit! Joy and amazement, also, with a strong dose of anger. Took me a while to deal with the indignation that raised for all the stolen and broken treasures! I write my experience in my book, Sailing to Ithaca, ...the joy and the sadness of that visit. I also conclude with the hope that sooner of later the Sculptures will be ours again.
ReplyDeleteDear Katina, thank you for the lovely message! we are with you! I would love to be able to read your book: Sailing to Ithaca.
ReplyDeleteWe have to continue the work of Melina till the sculptures return to Athens.
lots of love,
Luca
My pleasure, Luca. Anything we do to make the dream of restitution come true is an honor and a responsibility!
DeleteI appreciate your fervor and love for Greece. A while yet for my book to be published. Thank you for your interest.
Wishing you and Greece all the best. We all can make the world a better place, step by step, one thought, word, or deed at a time.
Blessings of abundant love and light!
Katina
Thank you for this lovely post! I am also very passionate about this cause, this injustice has to end some time, the wrong to be put to right. Just last week, I blogged again about the cause, bringing to light the despicable acts of Lord Elgin. You can find the link here below if you're interested. The abysmal greed of the man was simply legendary. https://effrosinimoss.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/why-is-lord-elgin-an-abomination-to-the-greeks/
ReplyDeleteEffrosyni, wonderful seeing you here. I loved your post. Glad you shared with Luca. All best,
DeleteKatina