Greek ancient sculptures at centre of diplomatic feud between Greece, UK

One of the world’s toughest cultural heritage disputes has been politely procrastinated and left untouched by Greece and Britain just to  errupt recently, involving some of the finest ancient Greek sculptures ever made, which have been displayed in London for more than 200 years, which Greece vocally wants back.

As reported by the BBC, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak abruptly called off a London meeting scheduled for November 28 with Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Only a day earlier, the Greek PM raised the issue of the 2,500-year-old masterpieces’ return to their makers in an interview on British television, which evidently hit a nerve in Downing Street.

The sculptures, commonly known as the Elgin Marbles or, as their original Greek title, Parthenon sculptures,  were carved in 447-432 B.C. to adorn the iconic Parthenon, a temple of the city’s patron goddess Athena, on the Acropolis hill. All survived mostly intact for more than 1,000 years, despite war, earthquakes, foreign invasions and the temple’s makeover first as a church and then a mosque until many were destroyed in 1687 when the Parthenon was blown up by a besieging Venetian army.

The survivors are now roughly split between the British Museum and the Acropolis Museum in Athens, while a small number are displayed in other European museums.