Elgin Marbles dispute The Elgin Marbles at the British Museum are at the heart of a 200-year-old dispute between Britain and Greece, which is calling for their return ELGIN MARBLES Sculptures taken from ruined Parthenon between 1801-05 by Lord Elgin, British ambassador to Ottoman Empire Marbles contain sculptures from pediments, metopes and frieze Sculptures from east pediment Horse of Selene 1PEDIMENTS: Include 17 life-sized figures. Most impressive, on east pediment, depict birth of goddess Athena 2METOPES: High relief panels above colonnade, illustrate battles between Centaurs and legendary Lapith people. Elgin Marbles contain 15 of original 92 metopes PARTHENON: Temple to goddess Athena built on Acropolis of Athens in 5th century BC by sculptor Phidias West pediment Depicts contest between Athena and Poseidon for supremacy over Athens Athena Parthenos Large statue covered in gold and ivory in inner chamber Roof Dressed in marble tiles East pediment Metopes 3 FRIEZE: Carved in low relief around temple inside colonnade – shows Athenians in festival procession Elgin Marbles contain 75 metres of original 160m frieze 450-430 BC Perikles, leading statesman of Athens, commissions reconstruction of Acropolis 1458: Ottomans capture Athens – Parthenon becomes mosque 1801: Ottoman Sultan grants permission for Lord Elgin to remove sculptures 1807: Elgin Marbles first exhibited in London 1817: Acquired by British Museum 1961: Marbles moved to Duveen Gallery, where they remain 500 BC AD 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 404 BC: Athens’ Golden Age ends after defeat to rival city Sparta AD 500-600: Parthenon becomes church under Roman Emperor Justinian. Many sculptures destroyed 1687: Parthenon heavily damaged when Venetians bombard Ottoman garrison, igniting gunpowder stored inside temple 2009: Acropolis Museum opens, with Parthenon Gallery built specifically to house sculptures Source: British Museum Pictures: Getty Images, Newscom, Francesco Fanelli, Jastrow, Broomhall House, Trustees of British Museum © GRAPHIC NEWS