Monuments, Memories and Decay

  The previous blog gave a very brief history of the Elgin marbles or sculpture and the debate around them. The key arguments for their restitution rest upon notions of fairness of ethical and moral rights of the country from which artefacts are extracted. As important is the role of such artefacts in establishing or maintaining the cultural heritage and so cultural identity of the country. Set against these are usually the arguments below: They artefacts were legally acquired and so part of legally binding concepts of property and ownership enforced by international law Taking the artefacts has ensured that they are protected which the host country would not have done and so the British should keep them to protect them Having these artefacts displayed in the context of all the other artefacts Britain has provides more of a a contextual global overview of different cultures and so increases the appreciation of the public able to see them If every artefact everywhere was subject to ...

  On the evening of Monday 27th November 2023, Rishi Sunak, the British PM, cancelled a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, citing the Greek PM raising of the issue of the Elgin Marbles or Parthenon Sculptures beforehand as an unacceptable breach of an agreement. The ensuing storm in a teacup in both Greece and the UK, highlighted by the ambiguous wearing of a ‘Greek’ tie by King Charles at COP28 illustrated the lasting impact of monuments on the identity of a country.  But what is the controversy over and is there a clear solution to the issue? This first blog looks at the history of the Elgin marbles, their acquisition by the Earl of Elgin and subsequent history. A second blog will deal with the issues surrounding restitution in general and for the marbles in particular.  The Earl of Elgin, the 7th Earl of Elgin, was appointed as ‘Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Britannic Majesty to the Sublime Porte of Selim II, Sultana...

  In this blog I will identify, discuss and, hopefully, entertain about all issues related to monuments and memorials and their decay and conservation.  Monuments and memorials have a vital place in the history and identity of both communities and individuals. They can act as a focus for bringing people together as well as being divisive. Monuments and memorials can be large, grand, requiring large sums of money for their upkeep as well as small and highly personal. From public war memorials to mementos of loved ones. They all serve a purpose of allowing collective or individual remembrance of an event. They solidify a moment in time and space for communities and individuals potentially greatly removed from the original event. Understanding why monuments and memorials are so important, how their significance varies with communities and individuals, how their interpretation can vary and why they can generate such heated debates will be an important aspect for this blog. Monumen...