Greek PM pressures UK counterpart to permanently return Elgin Marbles

Greece's prime minister has renewed calls for the permanent return of the Elgin Marbles, urging Britain's leader to hand over the ancient Greek sculptures housed in the British Museum.

The appeal follows statements made by the British prime minister in 2023, when he indicated the marble friezes and other antiquities should be repatriated to Greece with "no strings attached." His remarks marked a notable shift in the British government's traditional resistance to returning the disputed cultural artifacts.

The Elgin Marbles, officially known as the Parthenon Sculptures, have been held at the British Museum since the early 19th century. Greece has long campaigned for their return, arguing they were removed during Ottoman occupation and belong in Athens as integral components of the Parthenon monument.

The sculptures remain one of the most contentious issues in cultural heritage repatriation debates globally. While several nations have returned contested artifacts in recent years, Britain has been among the most resistant to such demands, citing the universal nature of major museums.

Greece's renewed diplomatic push reflects broader momentum in repatriation efforts worldwide, with museums increasingly reconsidering their holdings of colonial-era acquisitions and artifacts removed under disputed circumstances.