Displaying items by tag: parthenon sculptures

An academic expert who opposes the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece is among the new trustees appointed to the British Museum.

British actor and author Stephen Fry added his voice to the growing calls for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures during a visit to Athens this week.

Fry, a well-known philhellene, presented his latest book, "Odyssey," at a special event hosted by Greece's Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organization at the Acropolis Museum.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni praised Fry for his longstanding support of the sculptures' return.

"Your advocacy for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures is not just a gesture of friendship but an act of respect for history, art, and humanity’s cultural heritage," Ms. Kefalogianni said, emphasizing that the sculptures' reunification is a matter of global justice.

The event highlighted Greece's commitment to cultural tourism, with Ms. Kefalogianni noting recent progress towards the sculptures' return, such as the repatriation of the Fagan fragment and the Vatican's donation of sculptures.

She thanked Mr. Fry for his unwavering support, calling his work an inspiration that connects the past with the future. Fry's visit and his support for the sculptures' return add to the growing international momentum for the reunification of these iconic artifacts.

Sky News reported on three “private meetings” between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and the chairman and three members of the board of directors of the British Museum regarding the return of the Parthenon Sculptures n Monday morning, a day before the Greek Prime Minister’s meeting with his British counterpart.