Elgin Marbles – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Marbles )
The Elgin Marbles, known also as the Parthenon Marbles, are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures, inscriptions and architectural members that originally were part of the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens. Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 17991803, had obtained a controversial permission from the Ottoman authorities to remove pieces from the Acropolis. There is controversy as to whether the removed pieces were purchased from the ruling government of the time or not . From 1801 to 1812 Elgin’s agents removed about half of the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon, as well as architectural members and sculpture from the Propylaea and Erechtheum. The Marbles were transported by sea to Britain. In Britain, the acquisition of the collection was supported by some, while many critics compared Elgin’s actions to vandalism or looting. Following a public debate in Parliament and subsequent exoneration of Elgin’s actions, the marbles were purchased by the British Government in 1816 and placed on display in the British Museum, where they stand now on view in the purpose-built Duveen Gallery. The legality of the removal has been questioned and the debate continues as to whether the Marbles should remain in the British Museum or be returned to Athens.
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George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron-From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gordon_Byron,_6th_Baron_Byron )
Cold is the heart, fair Greece, that looks on thee,
Nor feels as lovers oer the dust they loved;
Dull is the eye that will not weep to see
Thy walls defaced, thy mouldering shrines removed
By British hands, which it had best behovd
To guard those relics neer to be restored.
Curst be the hour when their isle they roved,
And once again thy hapless bosom gored,
And snatchd thy shrinking Gods to northern climes abhorrd!
Canto XV from ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ by Lord Byron, 1812
( Lord Byron, Poetry on the Elgin Marbles – http://heritage-key.com/blogs/ann/lord-byron-poetry-elgin-marbles )
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First music theme : ” Urartu Ubud ” with the folklore Armenian musician Gevorg Dabaghian( he plays the Armenian wind instrument ”duduk” , see :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL9ciT6jQn8&feature=related )
Second music theme from :”Movement 1″ from Mythodea – Vangelis Papathanasiou ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Tg0PaWaNM&feature=related )
Some photos from ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Marbles & http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/
Τhe main body of this video is composed from scenes that ”otaspis” recorded during his visit at British Museum.
Duration : 0:9:46
[youtube VlhVhLmSDYo]