Greece says ‘damp’ in British Museum is insult to Parthenon Sculptures
The culture minister’s comments came amid a new determination in Greece to get the artworks back.
Alleged damp in a section of the British Museum housing the Parthenon Sculptures is an “insult” to the 2,500-year-old works, Greece’s culture minister has said.
Lina Mendoni’s comments on Wednesday followed publication in Greek media of photos ostensibly showing damp and mould stains on the hall’s ceiling, which suffered a minor leak during a rainstorm last year.
Greece has pressed for a long time for the ancient works to be repatriated.
Ms Mendoni said the “picture of neglect” at the London museum “strengthens Greece’s just demand” for the sculptures’ return.
Greece says the marbles were illegally removed from the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis during the Ottoman Turkish occupation of Greece in the early 1800s.
The British Museum rejects that.