CULTURE Reuniting the sculptural family of the Architectural treasure was broken apart 200 years ago.

Above right: A crane moves a 2.3-ton marble block part of the Parthenon frieze from the old in Athens Oct. 14. Thanassis Stavrakis lAP

Right: Still In the In London, this is part of a frieze that was taken from the Parthenon -the Temple of Athena - In Athens 200 years ago. photo Copynght by Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical AntiQuities. Greece.

in a museum 1,500' BYlo'lchael B. C05mopoulos parts of columns supporting the entablatute meant for exhibition -were taken by Elgin's agents and eventu· miles from their original setting. To the n Sunday, Oct. l4, three huge cranes ally deposited in the British Museum. contrary. they are architectural sculptutes, began to .move crates containing Greece eventually escaped Ottoman rule, and several of them serve a functional use e ' Opriceless sculptures from the 600- but demands for repatriation of its antiqui­ in the building. Removing them from th; feet high to a new ties - many ofwh ich. after centuries of monument stripped them of their mean­ museum on the plain below. The stare-of­ plunder, had ended up in European muse­ ing. importance and essence. Ifwe are to the-art museum, built in direct view of the ums - generally fell on deaf ears. conserve and preserve this unique building that Parthenon, will be home to the temple's Britain toyed with the idea of returning for future generations, we must ensure of the artistic treasures. the Parthenon marbles several times in the the original concept of the creators Dubbed "the move of the century," it last two centuries. She came very close to Parthenon is restored. has reopened- pedJaps more doing so after World Warn as a TUDeS have changed 1be 19th century vehemently than ever -the gesture of gratitude to the Greek imperialistic mentality that brought the re­ issue of the reunification of people for their heroic fight marbles to London is a thing of the past, the Parthenon marbles, previ­ against the Nazis. But it never placed by an ideal that prizes international public ously called the , happened. cooperation and good will Several in with the country, culture and In 1981. Greece officially pe­ opinion polls taken in the last 10 years that a large part of structure from which they Wt!l'e titioned the British government England have indicated British separated more than 200 years for the return of the marbles. the British public and the majority of ago. arguing that they are not just any members of parliament would like to see The temple of the goddess pieces of sculptures, but integnl the marbles returned to Greece. Athena, commonly known as parts of a unique monument Under the auspices of UNESCO, the the Parthenon, was built be­ Since then, international support Parthenon now is undergoing extensive res­ and latest tween 447 and 432 B.C.. at the for this request has been growing toration using the best materials hi8bpoint of the Greek Golden Michael B. steadily. techniques known to science; the museum exhibited prop­ Age. Designed by two brilliant cosmopoulos UNESCO and the European where the sculptures can be architects, Ictinus and Kal- Parliament have passed resolu­ erly is ready for them. r­ likrates. the building was conceived and tions asking Britain to return the marbles, The British Museum now has the oppo les constructed not only as the perfect archi­ and numerous committees have been tunity to align itself with the best princip in­ of our time. A gesture ofgood will towards t~ form but also as a universal symbol formed in countries around the world, community will reunite of humanity. Over the COW'Se of more than cluding the United States, in support of the the internatiooal 2;56o years, it has exercised a tremendous cause. the Parthenon with its exiled sculptures. is not iDft'Uence on western architecture and re­ Why should Americans care? Our society Understand: What is at stake here sculpture, things mains one of the highest expressions of the prides itself on morality and justice, and our the fate of a few pieces of issue human spirit nation has a long and outstanding tradition remote from us in time and space. The our at­ It is from this unique building that. in of defending those principles. There is no is our collective human conscience, of a unique 1801., Lord Elgin removed a large number of justification for us to avoid the issue of a titude towards the preservation of the architectural and structural pieces, taking unique part of world cultural heritage re­ monument and the cultural heritage advantage of his position as British ambas­ maining fragmented. world: our heritage. sador to the Ottoman Empire, which oc­ The importance of the Parthenon as a cupied Greece at the time. No fewer than universal symbol of humanity can be fully Mldlaei B.. CDsmopoulos, a professor ol ard1ileoloR holds -56 panels from the frieze. 15 metopes, and assessed only when the integrity of the the Hellenic GcM!f'Mient-«araacas Foundation endowed Missouri at St 19 pedimental sculptures-along with a building is restored. The pieces removed chair of Greek studies at the Univl!rslty of number of architectural members, including by Elgin are not free-standing works of art Louis.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2007 M1 C9