UNESCO Urges British Museum to Return Parthenon Marbles to Athens

UNESCO has reiterated its call for the British Museum to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, citing poor display conditions and the colonial context of their removal. The marbles, taken from the Parthenon in Athens in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin, have been housed in the British Museum since 1816. The debate over restitution has resurfaced, with UNESCO arguing that the museum should repatriate the artifacts to their country of origin. The British Museum maintains that the marbles were legally acquired and are part of a universal collection. The Greek government has long campaigned for their return, and the issue remains a point of contention in cultural heritage discussions.