Visitors will see that the campaigning sections of this site have not been updated in recent years. I am now bringing this section of the site up to date. The site remains, as it always has, a major resource for information on the legal and political arguments for and against the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens. Ian Swindale, March 2012.

14 March 2012. I have updated the International Support page. There are over 16 organisations around the world now campaigning for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens. One of them, the International Organising Committee -- Australia, is launching its new website today. There is a link to this new website and to all the other organisations on the International Support page.

23 February 2004. Retired Dunfermline businessman Tom Minogue is today (Monday 23rd Feb) handing in a C.D. to the Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary alleging that the residents of Broomhall House, Charlestown, (family seat of the Elgins) and the British Museum, London are in possession of stolen goods. For more details go to the Campaign Update page. For the full submission to the police go to the Evidence to the Police page.

26 November 2002. We have been given permission to publish part of an important document on the Parthenon Marbles by the architect Matthew Taylor. The document is called Totemification and the Loss of Meaning. The parts of the document that we publish in our Documents section explain how the Parthenon would have appeared to those approaching it in the procession from below the Acropolis and what the architects were trying to achieve. Matthew Taylor then goes on to explain why the current display of the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum goes against the original concept of the architects. To view these pages click here.

24 November 2002. Four photos have been added to the site, showing the design of the New Acropolis Museum which is to be built in Athens at the foot of the Acropolis. A special glass gallery will be built on top of the museum to house the Parthenon Marbles. It will give a view of the Parthenon at the same time. To see the photos go to the New Acropolis Museum page.

21 November 2002. Yet another opinion poll shows that the majority of British people who have an opinion on the Parthenon Marbles support their return to Greece. Details of the latest poll can be found on the Campaign Update page.

13 November 2002. Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos this week visited London to pursue the Greek request for the Parthenon Marbles to be returned to Greece in time for the Olympic Games in 2004. The full story can be seen on the Greek Government page.

10 February 2002. A new campaign, Parthenon 2004, has been launched to support the return of the Parthenon Marbles. Full details on the Campaign Update page.

29 October 2001. The Greek government has announced the winner of the new competition to design the New Acropolis Museum. The architect says he believes the Museum can be finished in time for the 2004 Olympic Games which will be held in Athens. A special glass gallery at the top of the building will be called the Parthenon Hall and will remain empty until the Parthenon Marbles are returned by the British Museum and the British government. Visitors will then be able to view the Marbles and at the same time see the Parthenon itself from the glass gallery. Full story on the New Acropolis Museum page.

25 August 2001. The German government has agreed to return part of the structure of Ancient Olympia to Greece, even though they acquired the pieces legally. In return the Greek government will offer on a rotating loan important pieces of Ancient Greek art. This is the sort of arrangment that the Greek government is currently seeking with the British government and the British Museum over the Parthenon Marbles. Full story on the Campaign Update page.

12 May 2001 -- Canadian Committee launches campaign to collect 100,000 signatures.
May 7 saw the start of a campaign by the Canadian Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to raise 100,000 signatures throughout Canada in support of their demands. You can read more about the Canadian Committee on the Canada page.

11 January 2001 -- Submission of the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to the House of Commons Select Committee.
The British House of Commons set up a Select Committee to conduct hearings on the subject "Cultural Property: Return and Illicit Trade". The British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles made a submission to this Select Committee inquiry, relating to the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens. The submission is published in full in the documents section of this site. Click here to go directly to the submission.

10 January 2001 -- Ownership no longer the issue -- Greek government
The Greek government has developed a compromise position on the return of the Parthenon Marbles. They now say that ownership is not the important issue and they no longer intend to pursue the issue through international courts. Instead, they say that what is important is the location of the Parthenon Marbles and that it is time for these to be reunited in Athens. In return the Greek government has made generous offers to the British government if the Marbles are returned. These include a rotating exhibition of Greek art in the British Museum, the only museum in the world to be offered such an exhibition, and copies of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, paid for by the Greek government. Taken by surprise, the British government has so far failed to respond to these offers, even though they were made over six months ago.

On the Demands of the Greek government page you can now read a statement by the then Minister of Culture Theodoros Pangalos, outlining the new position. There is also a report of the Greek contribution to a seminar on the subject. The Greek delegation was led by Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

20 December 2000 -- Schools page
It has been apparent for some time that large numbers of children, especially in the 10-11 age range are doing projects on the Parthenon and are searching the Internet for information. I have received a number of letters from children asking for information and for material that is more accessible to their age group. The children's page which I have added to the site is a hurried attempt to fill that gap. I hope it will be greatly improved upon in the New Year. Any teachers who can offer advice on what is required to help these school children with their projects should email me. School children are welcome to download photos of the Parthenon Marbles from the web site and include them in their projects.

History of the Marbles. It is now possible to download the whole pamphlet by Vranopoulos either as a plain text zip file or an attractive html zip file which you can read in your browser. Click here to go to the download page.