Decolonizing Museums and the Case of the Elgin Marbles

Learn more about the Elgin Marbles and why they matter in the larger discussion of museums and the treasures of the world.

Join Art Historian Dr. Elizabeth Marlowe of Colgate University for a discussion of the so-called Elgin Marbles—one of the best known cases of contested cultural objects in museums.

The Elgin Marbles refer to a large group of sculptures and reliefs that were removed from the Parthenon temple in Athens by a British lord in the early 19th century. Today they reside in the British Museum.

Greece has been actively seeking their return since the 1980s, and many international organizations—including some in Britain—have advocated on Greece's behalf. This talk will examine the arguments that have been made in support of the Greek case and how these arguments have changed over time. In particular, we will focus on long-standing assertions about the alleged “exceptionalism” of the Parthenon sculptures and whether or not such arguments help or harm the larger cause of the decolonization of museums.

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