Elgin Marbles

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Elgin Marbles A collection of Greek sculpture and architectural fragments from the Acropolis in Athens acquired by the British diplomat Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin (1766–1841), in 1801–3, when he was ambassador to the Sultan of Turkey, who at this time ruled Greece. The collection consists mainly of sculptures from the Parthenon (most of what had survived), but includes other pieces, notably a caryatid from the Erechtheum. They were shipped to Britain over a period of several years and part of the collection was first exhibited to selected visitors (including some of the most distinguished artists of the day) in 1807. Before this, original Greek sculpture of the Classical age had been virtually unknown in Britain (people had been familiar only with Roman and late Hellenistic copies) and they made an enormous impact. Flaxman was bowled over, declaring that compared with the figure of Theseus (now usually identified as Dionysus or Herakles) from the Parthenon the Apollo Belvedere was ‘a dancing master’, and Haydon wrote, ‘I consider it truly the greatest blessing that ever happened to this country their being brought here.’ When he was asked to restore them, Canova said that ‘it would be a sacrilege in him or any man to presume to touch them with a chisel’. Many other artists expressed similar opinions, but a dissenting voice came from Richard Payne Knight, who said, ‘You have lost your labour, my Lord Elgin. Your marbles are overrated: they are not Greek: they are Roman of the time of Hadrian.’ The enormous expense involved in buying and transporting the marbles left Elgin in debt and in 1811 he offered to sell them to the nation for what amounted to the price they had cost him. Eventually, after the deliberations of a special committee of the House of Commons, they were bought for the British Museum in 1816 for £35,000—about half the sum Elgin had spent. The committee rightly dismissed Payne Knight's objections and the sculptures have come to be universally recognized as one of the summits of ancient art. However, they have continued to be the subject of controversy on another count—that of the morality or legality of their removal when Greece was under the dominion of a foreign power. Byron wrote of them as ‘poor plunder from a bleeding land’ (Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, canto ii, 1812), and a campaign to have them restored to Greece is active today. See also Phidias.

Elgin marbles. These were part of the frieze and pediment of the Parthenon of Athens and other carvings from c.440 bc, sent to England by the 7th earl of Elgin. While British ambassador in Constantinople, he obtained authority from the Turks first to study, then to remove some of the antiquities, which were badly looked after. After an eventful journey during which some of the carvings were shipwrecked and the earl detained in France, the sculptures arrived in England to controversy about the wisdom and validity of their purchase by the government. Finally in 1816 Elgin received £35,000, much less than his expenses, and the marbles were placed in the British Museum. The Greek government has at times requested their return.

June Cochrane

Elgin Marbles , ancient sculptures taken from Athens to England in 1806 by Thomas Bruce, 7th earl of Elgin; other fragments exist in several European museums. Consisting of much of the surviving frieze and other sculptures from the Parthenon , a caryatid , and a column from the Erechtheum , they were sold to the British government in 1816 and are now on view in the British Museum. Since then, the Greek government has demanded the return of the marbles. Although British claims are based on Elgin's purchase of the sculptures, Greece has contested this, and its position has many supporters.

Bibliography: See T. Vrettos, The Elgin Affair (1997).

Elgin marbles These were part of the frieze and pediment of the Parthenon of Athens, sent to England by the 7th earl of Elgin. While British ambassador in Constantinople, he obtained authority from the Turks first to study, then to remove some of the antiquities. In 1816 Elgin received £35,000, much less than his expenses, and the marbles were placed in the British Museum. The Greek government has at times requested their return.