Elgin Marbles

The imposing marble sculptures that once decorated the exterior of the Parthenon, in Athens, were made in the 5th century bc. They are known today as the Elgin Marbles, after Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin. While working as a diplomat to the Ottoman Empire, Lord Elgin obtained permission from the Turkish occupiers ruling Athens to remove stone carvings from the site. (Several parts of the Acropolis had suffered greatly from war damage and neglect in the preceding period, and Lord Elgin was later to defend his actions arguing that his intention had been to save the masterpieces from further destruction.) The sculptures were transported to London and can be seen at the British Museum.

Susan McCartney/Photo Researchers, Inc.

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Elgin Marbles

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