London correspondent for the Greek Daily Newspaper Ta Nea Yannis Andritsopoulos shared the article he wrote after attending the National Hellenic Society's annual Heritage Weekend & Classic in Nashville. Please find the English version of the article that appeared in Ta Nea below.
U.S. Congress Members in Favour of Parthenon Marbles’ Return to Greece
National Hellenic Society Hosts Major Event in Nashville - Parthenon Project Proposes Cultural Partnership for the Return of the Ancient Sculptures, Says Director Melissa Lefa - Desmond Child Says Removal of Sculptures is “Crime Against Humanity”
By Yannis Andritsopoulos, London Correspondent for the Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea (iandritsopoulos@gmail.com)
Two prominent members of the U.S. Congress have made a public call for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece.
Speaking to the Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea, on the occasion of a major event hosted by the Greek diaspora in Nashville, Tennessee, Representatives John Sarbanes and Chris Pappas, both active Greek-American lawmakers, urged the UK to allow the reunification of the masterpieces of classical antiquity in their birthplace.
“The Parthenon Sculptures are an essential part of Greece's history and cultural legacy,” said Sarbanes, a Democratic Representative from Maryland.
“Returning them to Athens would allow for the reunification of these magnificent works at their site of origin and in their appropriate cultural and historical context, where they can be viewed in all their glory,” added the member of the influential Hellenic Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“The Acropolis Museum, designed specifically for this purpose, is the perfect home for their preservation and display,” stressed the 62-year-old Greek-American politician, who, along with other Congressional members, has sent letters to two British prime ministers—Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak—urging them to initiate the permanent return of the ancient Greek artefacts.
“The reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures would properly honor the legacy of ancient Greece,” said Pappas, who co-chairs the Hellenic Caucus.
“Return them to their home city of Athens of which they were ripped away from, and allow visitors to view and appreciate them in totality as part of a greater whole in their historic and rightful environment,” added the 44-year-old Democratic Representative from New Hampshire.
Both lawmakers met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis last July during his visit to Washington, DC as part of the NATO Summit.
“Heritage Weekend” Highlights Global Push for Repatriation
Last week’s event, titled “Heritage Weekend,” was organized by the National Hellenic Society (NHS) in Nashville.
It hosted a panel discussion on the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, aligned with the event’s Homeward Bound theme, which focused on the ongoing campaign to repatriate the ancient artefacts.
Nashville, nicknamed the “Athens of the South” due to its many higher education institutions, boasts a unique connection to the Greek capital: it hosts a full-scale replica of the Parthenon.
This exact copy of the temple of Athena Parthenos, originally designed by Ictinus and Callicrates, was built in 1897 in Centennial Park, Nashville, under the direction of architect William Crawford Smith. The interior of the replica, now functioning as an art museum, features a massive 13-meter-tall statue of Athena.
“The removal of the Sculptures from the Parthenon is a crime against humanity and global culture,” Desmond Child, a fervent advocate for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, toldTa Nea.
The 71-year-old American songwriter, composer, and producer was part of the NHS’s panel. “The Parthenon is one of the wonders of the world. It belongs to humanity. We're just here as caretakers of the artistic heritage of the world,” he emphasized.
“This is certainly a wrong that needs to be corrected, because for it to be an art piece it has to be all one piece.”
Child, who has written some of the most iconic global hits (such as “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi and “Livin’ la Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin), is confident that the Marbles’ reunification will eventually happen.
“In London, the Sculptures are only on a brief vacation. They were created 2500 years ago. They’ve been in London for 200 years. Now it's time for them to come back from their vacation,” he said.
The famous artist, who has spent his summers in Greece for the past 16 years on the island of Folegandros, organized a concert at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in June 2022 in support of the Marbles’ reunification. He reveals plans to repeat this concert in London.
“It's a way of educating the world on the significance of it. I want to tell everyone: if you want to see the sculptures, come to Athens. Every British citizen is welcome to come and see them there. But also citizens of the entire world because, as I said, they belong to humanity.”
The Parthenon Project’s ‘win-win’ solution
Melissa Lefas, director of the Parthenon Project, spoke at the NHS event elaborating on the organization's proposal for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures:
“The Parthenon Project is a campaign to put forward an ambitious, forward-looking cultural partnership that would be mutually beneficial to Greece and the UK,” said the philanthropist, co-architect of the Parthenon Project, and daughter of the organization's founder, John Lefas, whose family has strong connections in North America.
“What we hope is that the content of our win-win solution will inspire the best deal for the two governments. It includes four core elements. First, the complete and permanent reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. Second, an agree-to-disagree principle on the question of ownership. Third, to support the cultural partnership, a joint Greek-British Foundation would be established to fund a long-term programme of scholarships, student exchanges, and wider educational and cultural activities to benefit young people in the UK and Greece. Finally, rotating exhibits from Greece to the British Museum, where the British Museum would have the opportunity to showcase Greek culture and art,” she said.
The organization also proposes renaming the Duveen Gallery, which currently houses the Sculptures, to “Prince Philip Hellenic Gallery.”
“We want to reimagine how Greek art is showcased in London. The British Museum is going to undertake a major renovation. This is an opportunity to reimagine. Of course, it's for the curators of the British Museum to decide how they want to showcase that Greek work. But we suggest that it be renamed the Prince Phillip Hellenic Gallery to pay homage to Prince Phillip and his Greek roots,” Lefas explained, expressing optimism that the Sculptures will be repatriated:
“We have to be optimistic. We have to be ambitious. We have seen positive signs from the current Labour government and we are ready to support those efforts.”
Desmond Child, who said he “loves the Parthenon Project’s proposal,” pointed out that “a fundraising campaign may be needed to cover the cost of transporting the Sculptures to Greece.”
Would the Greek-American community in the U.S. contribute to this cause? Yes, answer representatives of the NHS, an organization made up of influential members of the Greek-American community.
“The Greek-American community in the U.S. would be willing to help by making donations. If the proper structures are in place to advance this cultural partnership in an organized manner, of course, Greeks in the U.S. will contribute,” said NHS Chairman Drake Behrakis.
“It’s very important that there is support from Greek-American lawmakers. The reunification movement is very strong. I believe the Parthenon Sculptures will return home,” added Behrakis, who is also the president of Marwick Associates, a real estate investment and development company, and actively involved in philanthropy and supporting Greek causes through scholarships and donations.
“If a fundraising effort is needed, the Greek diaspora in the U.S. will help with donations. When there is a cause that resonates, when a campaign can inspire people, then they will donate for that cause. The Greek-American community will surely contribute,” emphasized NHS director Art Dimopoulos.
He then spoke about the Greek-American community. “In every field, you'll find Greeks at the top. We're blessed. We have an amazing community. It's a marriage of our tradition, and a country that gave us a shot and is still a meritocracy in many ways.”
The National Hellenic Society is an association of Greek American leaders dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and promoting Greek heritage.
The Parthenon panel was moderated by distinguished Greek-American political scientist Bill Antholis, CEO of the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.
The discussion featured contributions from Mario Erasmo, a professor of Classics at the University of Georgia, and Ambassador Theodoros Sotiropoulos, former Permanent Representative of Greece to the EU.
Published in the Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea (www.tanea.gr) on 19 October 2024
Original version in Greek (paywall): https://www.tanea.gr/print/2024/10/19/world/an-thelete-na-ta-deite-na-pate-stin-ellada/
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