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The History of the Parthenon Marbles Parthenon Frieze What are the Parthenon Marbles? The Parthenon Marbles are beautifully crafted sculptures, including friezes and metopes, which are integral architectural members of the Parthenon in Athens. They are not freestanding works of art, but are part of the building itself. The Parthenon was completed in 432 B.C. and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Parthenon is also recognised as a cultural treasure, historic monument and a universal symbol of democracy, freedom and architectural splendour. The Parthenon frieze was originally 1.61 metres long, 129 metres of which have survived. 60% of these are in the British Museum and 40% in Athens. Of the Parthenon Metopes, 15 whole panels are in the British Museum. Many of the artefacts are totally dismembered with some body parts in the British Museum and remaining segments still in Athens. How did they come to be removed from the Parthenon? Between 1801 – 1804 Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, and British Ambassador to the Sublime Porte of Constantinople (Ottoman Empire) in Athens, gave instructions that parts of the Parthenon should be sawn off and shipped to England. He initially intended them to decorate his Scottish mansion, but was forced to sell them to the British Government to recover his debts. Where are they now? They are currently in the Duveen Gallery in the British Museum, London. Check that you understand what these words mean in this document To craft: to make or produce with care and/or skill. Sculpture: an image of usually somebody or something made out of stone or metal, usually bronze. Frieze: an area of decoration along a wall. Integral: a necessary part of. Splendour: magnificence. Artefact: an object that is made by a person, such as a tool or a decoration, especially one that is of historical interest. Dismember: to break up or tear into pieces. Segment: any of the part into which something can be divided or into which it is naturally divided. Mansion: the house of a lord, a large house. For further information visit: Hellenic Republic - Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Acropolis Restoration Project Virtual Museum of the Parthenon