Media: British Museum says talking deal to loan Greece Parthenon Marbles

While denied by the New Democracy government, The British Museum said it’s closing in on a deal with Greek officials which would see some of the stolen Parthenon Marbles loaned back for display.

The agreement is still being worked out, said the British newspaper The Telegraph, which reported that museum officials said there were “constructive discussions” going on.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, facing a tough re-election campaign, and museum Chairman George Osborne earlier was said to have been holding secret negotiations for a year about a plan for a return of the treasures.

Facing a tough re-election campaign in the coming months, the return of the marbles would be a coup for Mitsotakis although if he agrees to a loan he earlier said he would reject it could bring blowback from critics if Greece gives up ownership of the 2500-year-old artifacts.

The museum has steadfastly insisted it’s the rightful owner of the Marbles that were ripped off the Parthenon 200 years earlier by a Scottish diplomat, Lord Elgin, who said he had the permission of the ruling Ottoman Empire, which didn’t own them.

The Greek government said earlier it was dealing for the return of the marbles and the Telegraph said the agreement had already been drawn up but it wasn’t said who on Greece’s side was negotiating.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni in late 2022 worked out an agreement for the partial and gradual return over a series of decades of Cycladic treasures owned by a New York businessman despite concerns they had been looted.

The report, also cited by Reuters, would require Greece put up collateral in return for the loan in the form of other artifacts that could be on display in the British Museum despite concerns its galleries are susceptible to water damage.

The paper reported such an arrangement, which would in effect be a loan arrangement, could be concluded soon. However, Greek officials have said discussions were at a preliminary stage while denying a return was imminent.

“We’ve said publicly, we’re actively seeking a new Parthenon partnership with our friends in Greece and as we enter a new year constructive discussions are ongoing,” the British Museum said in a statement.

The museum said the treasures – which it calls The Elgin Marbles to further strip them of any identity with Greece – were legally acquired and British law prevents it from breaking up collections.

In the meanwhile, the Parthenon Marbles long held at the British Museum in London could be “homeward bound” according to a lead article in the newspaper “The Times” on Thursday, which reported “signs” that the museum’s director George Osborne may be close to announcing a compromise that will allow the sculptures to return to Athens as an open-ended loan. In exchange, it said, other exhibits stored in the Acropolis Museum will be given for “rather shorter loans”.
This proposal, according to the article, “would circumvent the obstacle presented by the fact that the trustees of the British Museum own the friezes and are prevented by law from giving them away.”