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Greek buys 1811 letter A letter from the British ambassador to Constantinople (Istanbul), Robert Adair, in 1811 to Lord Elgin was sold on November 6, 2002, at a London auction for £7,000 (seven thousand pounds). Written by the British ambassador in 1811 to the seventh Earl of Elgin, the letter said that Elgin had no right to buy the fifth-century B.C. artefacts. The marble sculptures, which were part of the frieze of the front of the Parthenon, were taken from Athens to England by Elgin 10 years before the war of Greek independence and are now on display at the British Museum. The letter was expected to raise up to £700, but instead went for £7,000. The Greek who purchased the letter wished to remain anonymous. Source: Athens News Agency 06/11/2002 Check that you understand what these words mean in this document Auction: a sale in which things are sold to the person who offers the most money. Pound: the currency or money used in Great Britain. Also called sterling. Artefact: an old object, usually of historical interest. Frieze: an area of decoration along a wall. Anonymous: a person whose identity is not known.