The story of the Elgin marbles tells us about the power and influence of Britain in the 19th century and subsequent changes. It would support history key stage 3, Item 4, Historical Enquiry and evaluation of evidence, and Unit 10, Britain 1750-1900.
Discuss: Did Lord Elgin (pictured above) commit a crime by taking the marble statues from the Parthenon - at the time? And by today’s standards? How did he get away with it? What does this tell you about the power and influence of Britain in the early 19th century? Why are the Elgin marbles so important to the modern Greek government? Why is the British government reluctant to hand the marbles back? The British Museum contains objects from all over the world: not only Greece, but Egypt, China, India and the Americas. Would it matter if all these objects were sent back to the place they were made? Does your local museum hold any objects from other cultures? Look at the agreement made between the Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow and the Lakota people of South Dakota. What kind of agreement would you suggest as part of returning your local museum’s objects to their owners?
Historical evidence:z The meaning of historical evidence can change according to the questions we ask.
* How can the Elgin marbles be evidence of:
* The skill of Pheidias and Athenian sculptors in the 4th century BC?
* Power and wealth of Britain in the 19th century?
* The interest in classical Greece in early 19th century Britain?
* The existence of a modern Greek state?
