In 1800, a team of artists and painters were sent to Athens, Greece by Lord Elgin, British Ambassador in Constantinople, to draw its monuments and make casts for the decoration of his home in Scotland. However, the Turkish commandant would only allow the artists to make drawings. One year later, Lord Elgin obtained permission from the Sultan to take any sculptures or inscriptions that did not interfere with the works or walls of the citidel.
The Parthenon was visited by Elgin and his team quickly. Sculptures were taken from the temple and transported on a gun carriage by British sailors. Fearing the French would hinder his work, Elgin ordered the immediate shipment of sculptures aboard the ship “Mentor,” a ship he'd brought specifically for this purpose. In 1806, one of the Caryatids was removed, along with a corner of the Erechtheum, part of the frieze of the Parthenon. Many inscription, and hundreds of vases were also taken. Elgin has gotten most of the blame for taking Greek artifacts away from Greece and letting them deteriorate, though many joined in the looting afterwards. In 1810, Elgin loaded his last ship with his treasures.
The first 65 cases of artifacts arrived in London in 1804 where they remained for two years due to Elgin's imprisonment in France. The “Marbles,” as the artifacts are called, suffered maltreatment by Elgin. They were placed in a dirty, damp shed on the grounds of Elgin’s Park Lane house. They remained there for years decaying, while Elgin looked for a buyer. He tried to sell them to the British government, but he was asking too high a price, and Britain refused. In a letter written by Elgin in 1815, he admitted the marbles still laid decaying in his shed. In 1816, the Marbles were finally sold to the British government, and put in the British Museum. There is still a large controversy on whether the Marbles should remain in Britain, or be returned to their home in Athens, Greece.
For more information on the Parthenon, or Lord Elgin, search these web sites:
www.greece.org/parthenon/marbles/history3.htm
“A Review of the Seizure” Hellenistic Ministry of culture, www.culture.gr/6/68/682/e68201.html, 1998
Swindale, Ian “ The Stripping of the
Parthenon” The Parthenon Marbles,
www.greece.org/parthenon/marbles/history2.htm
Written by: Students in an Introduction to Anthropology Class, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota