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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Time to return the marbles ASAP 😠

37 replies

Gaballout · 26/01/2019 14:11

The British museum director has just said they aren't legally owned by Greece and won't be giving them back.

It's a national embracement that they are still there, Greece has a beautiful Musium with space jusy waiting to have them returned

OP posts:
JasperRising · 26/01/2019 14:13

It might help to be clear that you mean the Elgin marbles! I was thinking of some kind of marble run Grin

Original poster
Gaballout · 26/01/2019 14:14

I'm not calling them by that name!

The Parthenon marbles!

OP posts:
Burlea · 26/01/2019 14:15

If there not legally owned by Greece. Why

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 26/01/2019 14:15

They are beautiful.

twirlbabytwirl · 26/01/2019 14:16

You've seriously made a thread about this. Thank the lord for the hide button!

PippilottaLongstocking · 26/01/2019 14:16

I lost my marbles a while ago, if anyone can return them that would be great!

worridmum · 26/01/2019 14:17

By that arguement we need to return every ever collected item from every country they were legally obtained just because the greek government at the time was the ottomans does not make it less legal.

The British did not steal them they had permission from the goverment at the time aka Otteman Governer.

supernerd · 26/01/2019 14:17

Legally it’s not up to the British Museum though, right? The law says that they can’t give anything away even if they wanted to.

PippilottaLongstocking · 26/01/2019 14:17

(On a more serious note, I agree with you)

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 26/01/2019 14:17

Is that you, Amal?

moanaschicken · 26/01/2019 14:17

Are we all to embrace in turn or all together?

Spudlet · 26/01/2019 14:18

The British Museum should make a copy for themselves and send the originals back. The display could include information on how they ended up in London in the first place. You can't tell me it wouldn't be possible to do that in this day and age.

We have some amazing history and archaeology in this country, we have no need to be pinching other people's. Just give them back, ffs.

CarolDanvers · 26/01/2019 14:19

When I was a bit younger I used to think the marbles were actually, you know, big round marbles like we used to play with at school? Anyone else? Blush

Original poster
Gaballout · 26/01/2019 14:19

One good thing is Jeremy has promised to return them if he becomes pm. This I think will be a promise he can keep.

Yes I beleive all things looted during times of conflict should return to their owners.

OP posts:
supernerd · 26/01/2019 14:20

Just give them back, ffs.

You do realise it’s not that simple though right?

theredjellybean · 26/01/2019 14:20

@pippalottaLongstocking

i too sadly have lost mine...do you think we could go and see if they are in the British Museum ?

NaiceHamPlease · 26/01/2019 14:22

I think most of the contents of The British Museum should be given back to where is was looted from. I've only visited once and most of the exhibits made me uncomfortable. Mummies in glass cases to look at, I don't want someone digging up me or my relatives in years to come to stare at.

Surely in this digital age there are plenty of ways we can still look at and learn about these things whilst respectfully returning these spoils to their rightful owners...

worridmum · 26/01/2019 14:24

They were legally obtained so they do NOT have to give them back. If we use that arguement to its final conculsion i sell you my house legally 50 / 100 / 150 down the line my decendants come cliaming i stole there house and i should return it despite the fact it was all above board etc.

supernerd · 26/01/2019 14:24

I’m biased because I have a relative who works in a museum with similar stuff to the British Museum and they get so much abuse about this when a) they had nothing to do with the stuff coming here in the first place and b) they literally can’t give it back even if they want to. No one seems to get that though, they seem to think some curator could just hop on a plane and hand it all over if they felt like it and they’re just not doing it because they’re big meanies Hmm

AloneLonelyLoner · 26/01/2019 14:27

It is a lot more complex than the OP suggests. It’s not as simple as giving them back. And the Greeks have admitted in the past that if they’d kept the marbles then they wouldn’t even have been looked after. They may not even have still existed by now!

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 26/01/2019 14:28

AIBU to not give this any head space and also have the temerity to think 99% of other Greeks don't either ?

Original poster
Gaballout · 26/01/2019 14:28

How is it so complicated?

Greece is stable and secure and has a space for them. Logistically it must be possible 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
Gaballout · 26/01/2019 14:29

I don't believe for a second that 99% Greeks don't care about one of their most beautiful collections.

OP posts:
Onceupontwotimes · 26/01/2019 14:30

Well if they give back the marbles, they'll have to give back most of the museum I imagine!

PinkOboe · 26/01/2019 14:30

When I was young and studying conservation one of my lectures said they are in such an appalling state following decades of experimental (detrimental) conservation attempts that they’d likely fall to bits if moved

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