Turkish official says no record of legitimate sale of the Parthenon Marbles
A Turkish official has added fresh fuel to the fire over the Parthenon Marbles debate, questioning the existence of proof long cited by Britain that it had legally acquired the 2,500-year-old sculptures taken from the Acropolis in Athens. Also known as the Elgin Marbles, the sculptures were removed in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin, Britain’s ambassador to the Ottoman Empire which ruled Greece at the time. Much to Greece’s chagrin, they are currently housed in the British Museum in London. The museum argues that Elgin’s removal of the sculptures was legal, citing an imperial edict, or ‘f...