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The sculptures, often referred to internationally as the Parthenon Marbles<\/strong> or Elgin Marbles<\/strong>, were removed from the Parthenon in Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin while Greece was under Ottoman rule.<\/p>\n Greek Health Minister and New Democracy Vice President Adonis Georgiadis<\/strong> said that helping return the sculptures could allow Trump to leave a lasting legacy in the history of civilisation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Parthenon was the biggest symbol of its era and of their democracy,\u201d Georgiadis said, describing the monument as one of humanity\u2019s greatest achievements.<\/p>\n The Parthenon was constructed in the fifth century BC during Athens\u2019 Golden Age and stood for almost 2,000 years through successive civilisations, including the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Venetian rule and Ottoman rule.<\/p>\n According to Georgiadis, the monument was respected by the different powers that controlled Athens for centuries until it suffered major damage during the 17th-century conflict between the Venetians and the Ottomans.<\/p>\n At the time, Ottoman forces were using the Parthenon to store ammunition. During an attack by Venetian forces in 1687, a cannon strike caused a massive explosion inside the temple, severely damaging the structure and destroying many of its sculptures.<\/p>\n \u201cFor almost 2,000 years, the Parthenon wasn\u2019t attacked. You could go and see almost the original Parthenon,\u201d Georgiadis said.<\/p>\n The most controversial chapter came more than a century later when Lord Elgin, Britain\u2019s ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, obtained a document from Ottoman authorities allowing him to study the monument.<\/p>\n According to Georgiadis, Elgin exceeded that permission by removing significant sections of the Parthenon\u2019s sculptural decoration and transporting them to Britain.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had permission only to study the Parthenon,\u201d Georgiadis said. \u201cBut he cut the marbles, removed them and took them to the United Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the sculptures were lost at sea when one of Elgin\u2019s ships sank during the journey, while the surviving pieces were eventually acquired by the British Museum in London, where they remain today.<\/p>\n Greece argues that the sculptures were removed without legitimate authority and should be reunited with the remaining Parthenon Sculptures displayed at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.<\/p>\n The British Museum maintains that the sculptures were legally acquired under the laws of the period and form part of a collection representing global cultures.<\/p>\n Source:<\/strong> Breitbart News<\/a><\/p>\n