Elgin Marbles
Walter C. Gwin Sr.
HUMN-B21
Elgin Marbles
I will take the position that the Elgin Marbles should remain in the British museum. Ancient artifacts are a means of understanding a culture’s value system, their beliefs and their worldview. It is important that these artifacts be preserved as much as possible. The Parthenon is “the greatest of all Greek temples. It was built in the old Doric order, even though it was built in the middle of the classical age when the Ionic style was coming into vogue” (Babcock, p82). The Parthenon had stood for over 2500 years and was well preserved. It was built as a gift to Athena the goddess of Athens. It was their way of showing their appreciation to Athena for her help in defeating the Persians. Lord Elgin removed the relics from the temple as a way of preserving them. After all they have been described as being among the greatest of all Greek art. After the battle between the Turks and the Venetians the inside of the Parthenon had been blown out and “the residents helped themselves to the ancient marble and used it for private building material” (Babcock, p82). It is clear that if the sculptures had not been removed to Brittan they probably would have perished by now through natural elements or vandalism. The artifacts helps to culturally link Greece with other great civilizations as wells display the contributions that ancient Greece has made in helping in the development of other cultural achievements in Rome, Europe and Asia, and other parts of the world.
Babcock, M. A. (2012, p.82). The Story of Western Culture (2nd ed.). HPS Publishing.
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HUMN-B21
Elgin Marbles
I will take the position that the Elgin Marbles should remain in the British museum. Ancient artifacts are a means of understanding a culture’s value system, their beliefs and their worldview. It is important that these artifacts be preserved as much as possible. The Parthenon is “the greatest of all Greek temples. It was built in the old Doric order, even though it was built in the middle of the classical age when the Ionic style was coming into vogue” (Babcock, p82). The Parthenon had stood for over 2500 years and was well preserved. It was built as a gift to Athena the goddess of Athens. It was their way of showing their appreciation to Athena for her help in defeating the Persians. Lord Elgin removed the relics from the temple as a way of preserving them. After all they have been described as being among the greatest of all Greek art. After the battle between the Turks and the Venetians the inside of the Parthenon had been blown out and “the residents helped themselves to the ancient marble and used it for private building material” (Babcock, p82). It is clear that if the sculptures had not been removed to Brittan they probably would have perished by now through natural elements or vandalism. The artifacts helps to culturally link Greece with other great civilizations as wells display the contributions that ancient Greece has made in helping in the development of other cultural achievements in Rome, Europe and Asia, and other parts of the world.
Babcock, M. A. (2012, p.82). The Story of Western Culture (2nd ed.). HPS Publishing.
(Words