Send them back: The Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Athens

Ғылым және технология

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This debate took place at Cadogan Hall on 11th June 2012.
Event info:
What's all this nonsense about sending the Parthenon Marbles back to Greece? If Lord Elgin hadn't rescued them from the Parthenon in Athens and presented them to the British Museum almost 200 years ago, these exquisite sculptures -- the finest embodiment of the classical ideal of beauty and harmony -- would have been lost to the ravages of pollution and time. So we have every right to keep them: indeed, returning them would set a dangerous precedent, setting off a clamour for every Egyptian mummy and Grecian urn to be wrenched from the world's museums and sent back to its country of origin. It is great institutions like the British Museum that have established such artefacts as items of world significance: more people see the Marbles in the BM than visit Athens every year. Why send them back to relative obscurity?
But aren't such arguments a little too imperialistic? All this talk of visitor numbers and dangerous precedents -- doesn't it just sound like an excuse for Britain to hold on to dubiously acquired treasures that were removed without the consent of the Greek people to whom they culturally and historically belong? That's what Lord Byron thought, and now Stephen Fry is taking up the cause. We should return the Marbles as a gesture of solidarity with Greece in its financial distress, says Fry, and as a mark of respect for the cradle of democracy and the birthplace of rational thought.

Пікірлер: 2 200

  • @jerramy
    @jerramy Жыл бұрын

    I don't understand why people keep saying that Elgin saved the marbles from destruction as if his motive was honorable. He cherry-picked the bits and pieces he liked for his own use, and when he found he couldn't afford to transport all of those he had pillaged, he simply dumped the excess off in Italy. If he truly respected the marbles, he wouldn't have hacked off heads and torsos and left the Parthenon in such a deplorable state. His motive was personal gain, not preservation.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    2 ай бұрын

    What a load of rubbish. If he HADN’T done that they’d be dust now. The Marbles were not protected by the Greeks themselves, they should be grateful they still exist unlike all the other ones that were destroyed by the Ottoman invaders

  • @alekdaniels
    @alekdaniels2 жыл бұрын

    I'm not even Greek or British. I'm from the Philippines, a country who suffered 3 occupations (Spanish, Japanese, and American) and I'm so moved by the decency, the gentleness, and the ethics of Stephen Fry. It's not merely an appeal to emotion, as people may point out, but an appeal to ethics and human conscience which, when considered, could touch the hearts of many. Stephen Fry is an amazing soul.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    I would be ok with it if the Greeks weren’t so aggressively rude and insulting about British people while making their demands

  • @alekdaniels

    @alekdaniels

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz If those are legitimate demands of which they have been denied for so long, I think I could forgive their rudeness.

  • @psijicassassin7166

    @psijicassassin7166

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz The British pillaged every nation their empire they could oppress with arms. They give white people a bad name. They need a debate to even see the wrong they have done.

  • @Nemesis-pe7mw

    @Nemesis-pe7mw

    11 ай бұрын

    Yes, regrettably one of the last vestiges of decency in the world it seems. The other 99.99999% seem to only be concerned with how rich and/or influential they can get. It's a shame to see a Professor get up on stage and blather on about the intellectual superiority of his side. Ignoring the origin of the subject and instead praising the British have taken care of what they basically stole. WELL THEY BETTER BE! But let's do what the Professor suggest: We make the British museum international territory and put it under the direction of an internationally elected group. Entry to the museum will be free and travel to and from paid by the British government. Britain's responsibility will be to perpetually fund the museum, travel and accomodations. It's for the people of the world of course or do the poor not count? If this is the argument "It's for the good of the world at the cost of the British." then let's actually make that so! O and pulling another Brexit isn't an option, you want this? Then commit or shut up!

  • @mckenzie.latham91

    @mckenzie.latham91

    10 ай бұрын

    Stephen Fry is the universal rebuttal to the religion based claim that all homosexuality and homosexuals are immoral degenerates.

  • @1ironmikeoc
    @1ironmikeoc5 жыл бұрын

    I really hope I live to see the marbles returned to Greece. And I live 2.5 miles from the British museum.

  • @arismouzakis3952

    @arismouzakis3952

    3 жыл бұрын

    @Parker Murry and who won?

  • @kristinaandoni1889

    @kristinaandoni1889

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hats off to you sir!!

  • @digenis5203

    @digenis5203

    3 жыл бұрын

    Εύγε φίλε!

  • @michellelekas211

    @michellelekas211

    Жыл бұрын

    échete díkio!

  • @Oakleaf700

    @Oakleaf700

    Жыл бұрын

    I do, too...Love the Horse of Selene, but would so happily see her galloping across the skies in a plane to her rightful Home in Athens.

  • @user-mm8tp8fl3p
    @user-mm8tp8fl3p3 жыл бұрын

    I am Bulgarian and Stephen Fry almost made me cry. I can only imagine how much that speech would mean to people from Greece. SEND THEM BACK!

  • @kreb7

    @kreb7

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hi neighbour

  • @michellelekas211

    @michellelekas211

    Жыл бұрын

    You said it!

  • @ApaleutosMits

    @ApaleutosMits

    Жыл бұрын

    @@edwardd652 Modern Greeks arrived with spaceship,they speak a language that a crazy man would say it is ancient Greek evolved in 2500 but no this is crazy it is Martian,and Greeks look like Turkish so they are Turks,but the crazy man would again note that the Turkish don't look like the original Turks in central Asia where they came from like Uzbekistan,so your logic would be olive oil and Mediterranean breeze changed their DNA in a few centuries.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes - virtue signalling based on emotion and historical revisionism is always a big seller

  • @user-mm8tp8fl3p

    @user-mm8tp8fl3p

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz I don't get the point. I mean how would you think about it if russia dismatled Big Ben and sent it Moscow... or did the same to Stonehenge

  • @eminedilek7525
    @eminedilek75259 жыл бұрын

    As a Turkish person, maybe I should not open my mouth on this subject, but I find this appalling. Another Ottoman A-holery, basically. It is clear who the artifacts are belong to. They should be returned. If the British cares so much about them, they can help the Greek government to care for them. Although my direct ancestors were not related to Ottoman family, I personally apologize from this horrible situation, and if I was in Turkish Government, I would have tried to pressure the British for their return. Again, I am so sorry. This is terrible. I hope it will be return to their rightful place one day.

  • @Ozymandias88

    @Ozymandias88

    8 жыл бұрын

    Emine Dilek Respect for your comment and your way of thinking my friend.

  • @kokalos64

    @kokalos64

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Emine Dilek You are one of the smart progressive Turks. But you have to know, Greece lost its glory and progres, thanks to the Turkish occupation for 400 years. I'm sorry if this offends you but the Greeks are now suffering thanks to your then Barbarick Country.

  • @natinfocus

    @natinfocus

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Emine Dilek I am greek, and I really find your opinion touching :) And the how turkish managed those ages doesnt mean that he should be told that ... There will always be some hard feelings between turkish and greeks, but there are always smart and not so smart people in both sides.

  • @natinfocus

    @natinfocus

    8 жыл бұрын

    No, greeks are now suffering because every fucking president is a selfish basdard! :P The war with Turkey was a problem that kept Greeks out of the picture and damaged its progress but it's not the reason why Greece is suffering today.

  • @natinfocus

    @natinfocus

    8 жыл бұрын

    Yeh, I think so too... :P

  • @chrissidiras
    @chrissidiras10 жыл бұрын

    As a Greek, I was really moved by Stephen Fry

  • @FiveLiver

    @FiveLiver

    5 жыл бұрын

    Were you born in Greece and live in Greece? Or are you abroad too?

  • @DranPan

    @DranPan

    4 жыл бұрын

    Anyone who doubts the safety of the Parthenon marbles is wellcome to visit the Acropolis museum and see by him/her-self how this ancient monuments are being taken care of and how empty the sacred temple of Athena is without them!

  • @mustplay7212

    @mustplay7212

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@DranPan Been there. Absolutely loved the museum.

  • @herodotus6235

    @herodotus6235

    4 жыл бұрын

    Well, that shows you are not that intelligent.

  • @herodotus6235

    @herodotus6235

    4 жыл бұрын

    Pan Dran, perhaps a little gratitude to the people who saved them from destruction is in order? What do you want to do, sell them to pay for your economic crisis?

  • @inabambina1338
    @inabambina13389 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry has my absolute respect! What a perfect speech that was! The Parthenon marbles will sooner or later return to their birthplace, to Athens, their place of origin.

  • @TheRealBarbDwyer

    @TheRealBarbDwyer

    2 жыл бұрын

    i'd love to read some day they were 'stolen back' in the dead of night

  • @zjjohnson3827

    @zjjohnson3827

    2 жыл бұрын

    Fun fact: I know about these marbles because of an Alex Rider novel with a plot where a dying Greek billionaire hires a terrorist organization to blackmail the British into sending the Elgin Marbles back to Greece

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@TheRealBarbDwyer They weren’t stolen they were bought legally to save them from destruction by the Ottomans. This myth needs to stop- the Greeks should be fecking grateful they still exist and have been preserved so well. Maybe they could buy them back - I wonder what Elgin paid for them and what that would be in todays money? 🤔

  • @psijicassassin7166

    @psijicassassin7166

    Жыл бұрын

    The British pillaged every nation their empire they could oppress with arms. They give white people a bad name. They need a debate to even see the wrong they have done.

  • @bri5490
    @bri54903 жыл бұрын

    I am British and patriotic, but I firmly believe that the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to their original home on the Acropolis. Wouldn’t they look better, restored to their former glory?

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    I agree but it’s the lack of gratitude and the historical illiteracy that pisses me off. The Ottomans would have destroyed the marbles, Elgin recognised their importance and struck a deal to let him take them to Britain. They would not exist today if Elgin hadn’t done what he did. The lack of gratitude from Greeks makes me not want to give them back.

  • @msanna9365

    @msanna9365

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz I urge you to make a parallel comparison to you , as a Brit would feel if we Greeks had a piece of Stonehenge and wouldn’t give it back. These sculptures are part of our soul. Our heritage. It’s who we are. It’s our identity. And you must understand that the temple still stands, even after Lord Elgin left .

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@msanna9365 London Bridge, a part of our heritage, was sold to an American and is now in Arizona. That move is now part of our history and you won’t hear any Brit whining about it.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@msanna9365 Elgin saved the marbles from almost certain destruction. I think Elgin should have left them there and let them be destroyed so that you would now have nothing to whine about . The Taliban destroyed the Buddhist statues of Barniyan. If that destruction had been prevented by moving the statues to Germany would you have preferred they stay in Germany or that they had never been moved? . . .

  • @msanna9365

    @msanna9365

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz under which rule?

  • @Lily2Anna
    @Lily2Anna7 жыл бұрын

    I am so touched to see people, British people like the young man in the audience who spoke in the end, that care and want the restoration of marbles.. It's truly amazing and heartwarming, thank you so much! Love from a Greek who lives in Bonny Scotland!

  • @claraticianeli

    @claraticianeli

    4 жыл бұрын

    Actually that young man comment made me emotional, Yes! I would rather see all the pieces together, and it be replaced with cast copies, and see greeks restore their culture, than keeping them just because of legalities

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    I have no issue with putting them back but I do take issue with this narrative that they were stolen. They weren’t. They were bought legally by Elgin in order to save them from destruction by the Ottomans. The Greeks should be damn well grateful that the British understood their importance and preserved them so beautifully for all to see.

  • @angrybird-oc4rg

    @angrybird-oc4rg

    5 ай бұрын

    That young man gave an extra solid reason! The friendship of the Greeks!

  • @RankinMsP
    @RankinMsP5 ай бұрын

    11 years later and Sunak saw this as a reason to not meet the Greek PM. Speechless.

  • @kappataf7143
    @kappataf71435 жыл бұрын

    Interesting discussion. As a Greek who believes that the Parthenon Marbles should be in Parthenon I would like to thank the turkish woman from the audience who clarified that Greece was under occupation when the marbles were taken.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    They weren’t taken, they were sold to Britain legally. If the ottomans had not agreed to this they would no longer exist for the Greeks to whine about it. Show some gratitude ffs that Elgin understood the importance of the marbles and took steps to preserve them before it was too late.

  • @Motorhead538

    @Motorhead538

    Жыл бұрын

    Τι τραγικο να ζηταν πισω πραγματα που εχουν αγοραστει απο αγγλους και οχι κλεμενα !!!! Ας πληρωσουν να τα παρουν αλλιως δεν εχει κουφετο μαγκες ...

  • @johnioannou7578

    @johnioannou7578

    5 ай бұрын

    @@mogznwaz By your logic to quote Stephen Fry, when the Netherlands were under Nazi occupation then it would have been legitimate for an English ambassador to go and ''purchase'' a painting of Rembrandt from the Nazi authority in Amsterdam. We both know it doesn't stand. As for your argument that Elgin took them to save them, it is also false. The true reason he removed the sculptures was for personal profit. They were brutally sawn off and transported to the UK. Also bear in mind that during their initial preservation process in the British Museum, they were brushed with metal wire resulting in irreversible damage on their surface. The main reason the British Museum is refusing to give them back is because they are a major attraction. We can argue all day with superficial statements, but the fact of the matter is that the British Museum is holding artefacts that are simply not theirs and not of their cultural heritage. The descent thing to do is to return them to their rightful owners.

  • @joeyjojojrshabadoo7462

    @joeyjojojrshabadoo7462

    5 ай бұрын

    ​@@johnioannou7578The Ottoman Empire had stood for over 400 years, to compare them to the Nazis especially consuming out of blood Britain shed liberate Greece in world war II I think is more than little insulting.

  • @richienolan660

    @richienolan660

    5 ай бұрын

    you cant in law sell something that not yours @@mogznwaz

  • @thessaloniki4606
    @thessaloniki46069 жыл бұрын

    The head of a statue is in London and the rest of the statue in Athens. Imagine "Mona Lisa" being half in Paris and half in Rome. All the pieces of the statues must be reunited and since Parthenon is in Athens and these marbles are part of the Greek history, the British have to do what's morally right and return them.

  • @efstathioszavvos4878

    @efstathioszavvos4878

    9 жыл бұрын

    ***** Elgin only wanted the marbles to decorate his estate. He sold them to the BM to pay his debts. Instead of selling his family's heritage he sold the Greek's.

  • @efstathioszavvos4878

    @efstathioszavvos4878

    9 жыл бұрын

    Yeah there exists one slight problem though. There exists no record that says Elgin took them lawfully. He claims he had permission from the sultan, but the firman he claimed doesn't exist, nor Britain has some sort of proof of ownership or any sort of transaction by Elgin. Furthermore, even British eye witnesses that were with him, had written back then that he had been given permission to go up the hill in order to paint and get casts of them to recreate them. They freaked out when he started hacking them and were calling him a vandal and the troops he ordered to hack them away disagreed with this action. Moreover, Elgin didn't excavate and find them, but removed them from the Parthenon itself, damaging the monument irreparably. Finally, the debate is not about whether Britain or Greece should own them, but whether they should be where they were made. If you look at what Greece says, they don't want the ownership of the marbles. They just want them to be displayed there, with the BM retaining the ownership of the marbles. What they propose is a long-term loan and a coalition between the museums and there is a proposal for other antiquities to be lent from Greece to the BM so that they are displayed there.

  • @ilkinond

    @ilkinond

    9 жыл бұрын

    I totally agree. I belong to a large group of British people who want the Marbles returned to the Hellenic Republic.

  • @herodotus6235

    @herodotus6235

    4 жыл бұрын

    That’s more a reflection of Greek failings than British ones, wouldn’t you say?

  • @erichnk

    @erichnk

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@herodotus6235 Might is right?

  • @SurrealScotsman
    @SurrealScotsman5 жыл бұрын

    If Stephen Fry says we should send them back - Send them back.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    No. The Greeks should be grateful to Elgin and the British for rescuing the marbles from the Ottomans before they were destroyed. In the BM they have been seen and appreciated by millions of people who now understand that the British inherited the mantle of western civilisation from Ancient Greece, understood its importance and took action at a time when the Greeks themselves could not

  • @edmund184

    @edmund184

    3 ай бұрын

    you are obviously a Fryist

  • @67claudius
    @67claudius9 жыл бұрын

    "We will never, ever be able to repay the debt we owe Greece" Bring them back!

  • @speedepitomised

    @speedepitomised

    6 жыл бұрын

    So true. By holding the marbles back and attempting to make excuses for why they "borrowed" the marbles and the "problems" they face if they return them they are only worsening the situation they are in and causing more tension between themselves and Greece. #BringThemBack!

  • @worldforum1062

    @worldforum1062

    5 жыл бұрын

    yes!!!!

  • @roundhousetrainspotting

    @roundhousetrainspotting

    5 жыл бұрын

    And Greece will never ever be able to repay it's debts to Germany.

  • @astrid2885

    @astrid2885

    5 жыл бұрын

    The Jedi Train Spotter Weeeell... that's debatable. Greece is one of the countries that didn't seek compensation for WWII deaths and destruction from.... Germany, so that the country could start from scratch. Otherwise Germany would not exist today, because it should have paid tons of money in many countries after WWII. So, you could say that Greece owes absolutely nothing to Germany, because Germany was always on the other side every time Greece took part in a war and despite that Greece agreed to let Germany stand back on its feet after WWII.

  • @JasTheKariol

    @JasTheKariol

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@roundhousetrainspotting Talking about Greek debt to Germany, one could also consider the number of executions and the amount of destroyed industry, buildings, ports, bridges, roads, forests, etc etc inflicted by Nazi Germany to Greece, contrasted to the petty amount of reparations Germany paid Greece for this destruction. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_reparations

  • @CaptainHarlock-kv4zt
    @CaptainHarlock-kv4zt5 жыл бұрын

    As a Greek I respect the fact that they conducted a debate about the marbles. Stephen Fry is the best face of Britain. He belongs to all of us !!!

  • @Stelios.Posantzis

    @Stelios.Posantzis

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, return Stephen Fry! - or no, hang on, he wasn't stolen from us...

  • @jacoblehrer4198

    @jacoblehrer4198

    2 жыл бұрын

    oh the irony of your statement

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    The marbles were NOT STOLEN. Elgin recognised their importance and struck a deal to rescue them from destruction by the Ottomans - at great personal cost. The historical illiteracy is staggering. Even Stephen Fry is coming from a place of pure virtue signalling emotion, shame on him as he is an educated man and should know better.

  • @ennui9745

    @ennui9745

    9 ай бұрын

    I also respect you for having Captain Harlock as your profile.

  • @ennui9745

    @ennui9745

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@jacoblehrer4198 Cut him some slack, he also said in the previous sentence that Stephen Fry is the best representative of Britain.

  • @Wowowowowowowowowowowowow
    @Wowowowowowowowowowowowow3 жыл бұрын

    Ive been to both museums, i spent 10-15 looking at the marbles in Britain and don’t remember a single thing the plaques said. I spent a full day at the acropolis/museum and learned every year of their history. To say they have better context in london as opposed to looking up at Parthenon behind them is pathetic.

  • @marctempler3250

    @marctempler3250

    Жыл бұрын

    Just because you were too obtuse to get anything out of your viewing is hardly an argument and says a lot more about and your virtue signaling than the merits of the case.

  • @Wowowowowowowowowowowowow

    @Wowowowowowowowowowowowow

    Жыл бұрын

    @@marctempler3250 it’s a personal anecdote that is very relevant to the topic. I was 13 when I visited and 14 when I visited Athens. So I was very ignorant. Much like other kids that visit these places. But that’s exactly the point. Where is the best place for ignorant people to go to view the marbles and learn.

  • @Oakleaf700

    @Oakleaf700

    Жыл бұрын

    @@marctempler3250 That's a very weak argument. I too saw the Parthenon sculptures as a young child on a school trip, and as a Londoner, one who loves especially the Horse of Selene, I think they need to be returned to their rightful home in Greece. Nothing about 'Virtue signalling', but by doing what is right. Greece was stripped of them illegally, and they need returning.

  • @Oakleaf700

    @Oakleaf700

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Wowowowowowowowowowowowow I was about 10 when I first saw the Marbles, on a school trip. Loved the Horse of Selene, bought a postcard of that magnificent wild equine head, straining against it's bridle, but agree 100% that they need to go Home, to Athens.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Oakleaf700 They weren’t stripped or stolen - Elgin bought them legally and saved them from destruction. The Greeks should be GRATEFUL.

  • @LadyOboro
    @LadyOboro10 жыл бұрын

    Elgin didn't respect such a unique monument. Taking pieces out of the Parthenon was an act of adventurism not an act of respect towards an ancient civilization and definitely not an effort to preserve, keep safe and use the marbles as the cornerstone of international interchange of ideas....Elgin's son , James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine was the one who ordered the destruction and looting of the Summer Palace in China during the opium war. It's a historical fact that this family indeed respected human civilization, I guess destruction of ancient monuments runs in the Elgin family.

  • @TheDrownedEarth

    @TheDrownedEarth

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@harrier331 With respect, he did leave some behind. They were left in the rain and sun for 200 years and are in terrible condition. There is NO debate that he, intentionally or not, saved them by taking them. That is a fact. That said, you are absolutely correct: it's entirely irrelevant. Whether they were saved by taking them or whether they would have been neglected otherwise- neither of these is an argument for or against their return.

  • @tomvalveede6808

    @tomvalveede6808

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@harrier331 The Greeks Would Have Never Been and Have Never Been in a Position to Preserve the Elgin marbles! Safe inside of a world - Class Museum, more people have viewed them in England than if they were left in place. Reproductions instead should be Installed made of a weather resistant material. But if returned, they Could be Vandalized, Destroyed by the Salty Winds.

  • @nektargill5370

    @nektargill5370

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@tomvalveede6808 This isnt even an argument. By the same logic i can steal your house and your property if you don't take care of it. What you are doing is basically dropping out speculations only and nothing else . No one knows what would happen and no one will ever know, since you are plain thieves and will never return them.

  • @seanfaherty

    @seanfaherty

    2 жыл бұрын

    I was told the Turks were going to destroy the marbles to break Greek culture. Suddenly the Ottomen had great respect for Greek culture... revisionist history just never stops revising

  • @LadyOboro

    @LadyOboro

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@tomvalveede6808 It is true that common Greeks of that time didn’t care about ancient monuments. Elgin might have saved them then. The British museum, however, damaged the marbles in 1930’s when they tried to bleach them to make them whiter, having forgotten that this specific type of marble is tawny. Also, reports have been made (and myself I also witnessed that when I visited the museum in 2010) that the ceiling of the room where the marbles are exhibited is leaking after heavy rain. Since 2009 Greece has built an amazing world-class museum equipped with the best technology where the marbles can be preserved and presented there at their natural environment. Greece is also way advanced in antiquity preservation. You can’t compare Greece nowadays with that of 50/100 years ago. The preservation argument has thus lost its meaning.

  • @LoveBeholder1992
    @LoveBeholder199210 жыл бұрын

    Regardless of the fact that I am Greek I have always admired Stephen Fry! He is an amazing human being and I love his way of thinking, his wit, his intelligence, his logic.....Thank you Mr. Fry!

  • @pseudonayme7717

    @pseudonayme7717

    6 жыл бұрын

    He's a little more Greek than many Greeks, and far more English than your average Englishman. A gem of a man, our national treasure, defending your national treasure :D

  • @gblake5560

    @gblake5560

    5 жыл бұрын

    You should watch his talk on ancsestry.

  • @L-mo

    @L-mo

    2 жыл бұрын

    Why _regardless_ of being Greek? Surely _because_ of being Greek would be a more appropriate statement.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Why would being Greek preclude you from admiring another human being? What a weird way of thinking.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@pseudonayme7717 Elgin defended Greece’s national heritage by saving it from destruction by the Ottomans - at considerable personal difficulty and cost . Greece is so effing ungrateful it makes me want to puke

  • @TheyWillCallYou
    @TheyWillCallYou10 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry is amazing. A simple man with a brilliant mind, a true philhellen, a talented actor and speecher... Make him Prime Minister of England. Or Greece for thst matter (for although he's British, he's a 1000+ times better than any Greek politician out there).

  • @Lily2Anna

    @Lily2Anna

    7 жыл бұрын

    YES! Wouldn't that be a dream come true? Let me milk this in my imagination :)

  • @herodotus6235

    @herodotus6235

    4 жыл бұрын

    The only thing is Silver Doe, we really want someone who looks after British interests as Prime minister, not some popular leftist who will help to destroy our identity.

  • @herodotus6235

    @herodotus6235

    4 жыл бұрын

    And look after every other country except our own. That will not help us.

  • @baroutes
    @baroutes6 ай бұрын

    I really can’t understand how is this possible the most British are positive to return the marbles and marbles are still there.

  • @konkard1
    @konkard13 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry put tears in my eyes. Thank you for your support sir. Come on England, be classy, be proud and courageous, give them back to us , let them come back to where they belong.

  • @leebirchenough8890

    @leebirchenough8890

    2 жыл бұрын

    everything your country has was gained legally and morally right?

  • @kingy002

    @kingy002

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@leebirchenough8890 Don't quite get it do you.

  • @leebirchenough8890

    @leebirchenough8890

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@kingy002 what don’t I get mark? Enlighten me

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    The marbles only exist because Elgin legally acquired them from the Ottomans before they DESTROYED THEM. If the Greeks expressed more gratitude for that fact I’d be more disposed to sending them back .

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kingy002 Your arrogant virtue signalling is only matched by your historical illiteracy

  • @badman2130
    @badman21302 жыл бұрын

    Why are they called Elgin"s marbles ? Did he make them ? They were part of the acropolis for over 2000 years.He came along took them and now they are refered as Elgin's marbles? Ridicule...A side note: In the Greek war of independence, the Turkish garrisons on the acropolis, ran out of cannon balls & started firing pieces of marble instead. When the Greeks found out they made a deal with the Turkish garrisons that they would supply canon balls in the morning for the Turks to be able to fire them !!! This is the importance the Greeks place on the acropolis, and still do today....

  • @Irene-iu9sj

    @Irene-iu9sj

    2 жыл бұрын

    No,not pieces of marble. They took apart the columns, and they stole the led reinforcement that were between the " spondylee" ,to make balls for canons. They broke many columns....the Greek captens offered to give Tham balls, as not to destroy the temple........then, here comes count Morosini he bombarded Parthenon the black powder stocks blu up to the sky,and it's a real miracle that most of the monument is still standing.

  • @MC-bu6ez

    @MC-bu6ez

    Жыл бұрын

    Lord Elgin was looking for ornaments to decorate his garden as was fashionable at the time, so he obtained authority to remove some, in doing so he became bankrupt and sold them to the British museum. The British should do the decent thing and send them back to Greece.

  • @Motorhead538

    @Motorhead538

    Жыл бұрын

    Greek orthodox destroyed parthenon and morozini the italian not elgin !!!! British they just bought some parts of this ruins....

  • @stellapetridis2548
    @stellapetridis254810 жыл бұрын

    "We will never ever EVER be able to repay the debt that we owe Greece " THANK YOU AND ALL MY RESPECT TO YOU STEPHAN FRY

  • @NotDanMartineau

    @NotDanMartineau

    10 жыл бұрын

    It was beautifully put and absolutely spot on.

  • @Ellasellinonchrist

    @Ellasellinonchrist

    5 жыл бұрын

    The Zionist Brits (Rothschilds, Soros) are the architects of the destruction of Greece and they have planted every​ corrupt Greek Government for the past one hundred years.

  • @FiveLiver

    @FiveLiver

    5 жыл бұрын

    He was talking about Ancient Greece, like Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome, a nation that no longer exists.

  • @michaeledwards3578

    @michaeledwards3578

    4 жыл бұрын

    It was stolen

  • @michaeledwards3578

    @michaeledwards3578

    4 жыл бұрын

    It was stolen

  • @ChrisMacheras
    @ChrisMacheras10 жыл бұрын

    This was a fantastic debate, absolutely loved the passionate speech given by Mr. Fry. Made me feel so proud to be of Greek heritage. The Parthenon really is the centrepiece of Athens and when you stand in Athens and look up at it, it takes you back thousands of years. I think the integrity of the building and the culture it represents demands the respect of everybody enjoying the wonders of Western Civilisation today!

  • @catinthehat906

    @catinthehat906

    2 жыл бұрын

    It raises the wider question of whether all items held in museums should be returned to their place of origin. Should the Ishtar Gate be returned from Berlin to Iraq, should the Codex Gigas be returned from Stockholm to Prague.... the list is endless and both impractical and impossible. That is why the British Museum is under no moral obligation because huge amounts of the content of the rest of the worlds museums would have to be repatriated.

  • @TS-gh3xv

    @TS-gh3xv

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@catinthehat906 if it was stolen, it should be send back!

  • @edwardm1326

    @edwardm1326

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@catinthehat906 If it’s safe to return them then yes.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    So you should be grateful for the cost and work involved in Elgin rescuing them from destruction by the Ottomans

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@TS-gh3xv They weren’t stolen. Elgin bought them legally from the ottomans who at that time were in charge in Greece in order to preserve them from inevitable destruction. You should be GRATEFUL to him

  • @1stQueenOfHearts
    @1stQueenOfHearts10 жыл бұрын

    I am so pleased to have come across this video and to hear a discussion like this taking place in London. Of course it is time to send them back, they should have never been removed in the first place.... what a savage deed that was. On moral and artistic grounds and in the name of 'Cultural Heritage' The British Museum must do the right thing... the marbles must be reunited with the Parthenon. I believe this is the popular outcry world wide.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    The marbles were rescued from destruction by the Ottomans. The Ottomans sold the marbles to Elgin legally and thank goodness they didn’t care much about them and just took the money - but Elgin recognised their importance and wanted to save them. The lack of gratitude for this is staggering and extremely bad mannered

  • @graceygrumble
    @graceygrumble10 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry. Now THERE is a national treasure! Legally, the Parthenon marbles belong to the British Museum. But, the law is an ass! Morally, they belong to Greece. Send them home!

  • @herodotus6235

    @herodotus6235

    4 жыл бұрын

    I would think “morally” gracey they should stay here. Greece has not been a good parent.

  • @graceygrumble

    @graceygrumble

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@herodotus6235 It was the Ottoman Empire which was in control of Greece and which didn't care for the historical treasures of Greece. Elgin paid the Turks to take the treasures. It's like paying someone who has broken into a house for its contents! If you think that's 'moral' there's no hope for you!

  • @marius7098

    @marius7098

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@graceygrumble What if history repeats again? These marbles are safer in London from Turkish attacks.

  • @graceygrumble

    @graceygrumble

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@marius7098 That's true. Most things are 'safer' when looked after by us (The British), rather than Johnny Foreigner. We're just more... British! However, The Elgin Marbles 'fell off the back of a lorry'; we can't pretend otherwise - although, we've endeavoured to do so for the last 200 years and rather successfully. Get them 3-D printed; display the copies and send the originals back where they belong. Put a condition on the return. ie if you're holding a British passport, entrance to view the originals, once they're back where they belong, is free. National museums are free in the UK, after all, whereas Johnny Foreigner charges people to be culturally enriched. Philistines!

  • @graceygrumble

    @graceygrumble

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@harrier331 They weren't 'stolen'. I don't think Elgin was a bad guy. Umpteen people had mapped the site of the Acropolis and each new survey found that antiquities were disappearing, goodness knows where. I think he did the right thing - protecting the antiquities of Greece. At least, that was his excuse, at the time, when everyone was appalled by their acquisition. Greece is capable of protecting them, now. To keep them is morally indefensible.

  • @JennyGSS
    @JennyGSS10 жыл бұрын

    I would also like to express my respect for Mr Andrew George! People like Mr Adrew George and Mr Stephen Fry honor their country and the society in general.

  • @bbbalino
    @bbbalino3 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry’s argument was vivid and human while Armesto’s one arrogant was so full of the glory of the British Museum that I honestly feel sorry for the guy 🙁

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Fry’s argument was full of emotional virtue signalling. The fact is if Elgin had not struck a deal with the Ottomans the marbles would no longer exist for you to whine about them.

  • @Mr.Agateophile.

    @Mr.Agateophile.

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz 🤦

  • @marigoulini1210
    @marigoulini12105 жыл бұрын

    26:00 his reasoning why the marbles shouldn't return is that HE personally didn't like the architecture of the Akropolis museum. Nobody asked you, Patrice!

  • @sennerombaut850

    @sennerombaut850

    3 жыл бұрын

    @BRIAN WONG Lol really ? That's not the point here. And it could refer to Kappa

  • @lgndry03

    @lgndry03

    3 жыл бұрын

    @BRIAN WONG Well there aren't "c's" in Greek so he's technically correct...

  • @abhishekmhatre1554

    @abhishekmhatre1554

    3 жыл бұрын

    @BRIAN WONG That's actually closer to the correct transliteration of the word. The Greek word Ἀκρόπολις is usually rendered in the Latin script as 'Acropolis', but a more accurate transliteration would be 'Akrópolis'.

  • @nickxenikakis2724

    @nickxenikakis2724

    3 жыл бұрын

    @BRIAN WONG They are actually both equally correct as forms so your argument that this is is not the propert way to be spelled is foiled. It can be spelled both ways as it happens to be possible with many latin languages, english included.

  • @funnyepicexploits79

    @funnyepicexploits79

    3 жыл бұрын

    @BRIAN WONG because thtas how they spell this word in greeklish and he propably got confused. It happrens to me many times

  • @robabob1001
    @robabob10015 ай бұрын

    The kid at the end made the best argument for it out of them all. Its a like art in a rich persons house, anyone coming over couldn't care less if its an original... they just look and think that's nice. In a natural history museum I can still appreciate the replica dinosaur sculptures.

  • @RODOSARTPARK
    @RODOSARTPARK10 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry . MY RESPECT

  • @andrewcarson5850

    @andrewcarson5850

    5 жыл бұрын

    Why? He makes no valid argument.

  • @evilscotsman495

    @evilscotsman495

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@andrewcarson5850 Explain?

  • @xdx2653

    @xdx2653

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@andrewcarson5850 for u maybe yes.

  • @herodotus6235

    @herodotus6235

    4 жыл бұрын

    Evil Scotsman he is a popular leftist gay who everyone jumps to agree with whenever he opens his mouth. Do not confuse that with making a truly valid argument.

  • @user-sw2se7pf2s
    @user-sw2se7pf2s5 жыл бұрын

    To the gentleman who compared the new Acropolis museum to Stansted airport : of course the British Museum might be more pleasing to the eye. After all it was built in the GREEK Revival style with features from classical GREEK architecture.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Ancient Greece is the progenitor of Western civilisation and Britain was the inheritor. That historical understanding is what made Elgin recognise the importance of the marbles and he struck a deal with the ottomans to remove them before they were destroyed. Perhaps he should have just let them be destroyed. You are so ungrateful, historically ignorant and bad mannered towards the people who saved your historical artefacts from destruction it’s disturbing

  • @tonybrown3705
    @tonybrown3705 Жыл бұрын

    Several years ago I was strolling through a narrow street in the fascination mountain village of Karpathos and as I passed a local lady she stared at me and said 'When will you return our marbles?' I felt ashamed.

  • @NickAlpha_
    @NickAlpha_10 жыл бұрын

    Elgin did an act of Vandalism by looting Parthenon , so this action cannot be justified by any argument of denying the cosmopolitan image of the British museum or denying the spread of historic knowledge . Elgin actually Destroyed one Caryatid in order to remove and stole the Caryatid that is in British museum nowdays . Elgin put in its place a huge stone in order the monument not fall down . Such acts of Vandalism and Barbarism cannot be justified by anything .

  • @MichalisRbw
    @MichalisRbw2 жыл бұрын

    I never really listened to arguements about the return of the Parthenon Marbles, I always thought they should be returned, but listening to the British Museum's perspective just showed an arrogance and a sense of privilege and colonialism thinking that belongs in the past

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Wrong. Elgin rescued the marbles from destruction by the Ottomans. Perhaps he should have just let them be destroyed. I note that the anger is at Britain for rescuing and preserving the marbles for the world to see, rather than at the Turks for selling them and destroying so much else when they were in Greece. Why is that?!

  • @DeveusBelkan

    @DeveusBelkan

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz Well as we saw in the video, even a Turkish woman claimed the marbles should be returned. Notably, many Greeks appreciate the support of people like Mr Fry and Mr. George, Mr Fry making a case that the British museum could open an extraordinary exhibit, classy as he described it, that would show how the marbles were preserved and then returned to where they belonged. I have not seen a single comment that contest this idea of the exhibit, how it would be an outrageous notion, so as to your claim that people would be angered at Britain, well.. that's just nonsense.

  • @JoannP127
    @JoannP1275 жыл бұрын

    To the lady that said the Ottomans ruled with a light hand unlike the nazis, I would recommend she studies some history! Her statement is as ignorant and insulting as the claims of a holocaust denier!

  • @nemamodgeddi5338

    @nemamodgeddi5338

    Жыл бұрын

    They even no worse than any other empures such as Russian and Austro-Hungarian. The west has demonized the Ottoman Empire too much. Does not matter what Greek nationalists say.

  • @r91976
    @r919769 жыл бұрын

    Bring the marbles back to where they belong. The new Acropolis museum is their Home, there is special place waiting for them. Please do the right thing, it's our Heritage that was taken from us.

  • @michellegruber4187

    @michellegruber4187

    4 жыл бұрын

    r91976 Bravo the Greeks !

  • @sc-iu8jq

    @sc-iu8jq

    4 жыл бұрын

    Never they are now British 🤣🤣

  • @s.p.4965

    @s.p.4965

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@sc-iu8jq You? Barbarians.... Barbarian is a Greek ancient word that means the language that sounds to our ears like bar.. bar.. bar.. bar..🗣 ( ΒΑΡΒΑΡΟΣ ) 😵 😵😵😵

  • @giorgosx5838

    @giorgosx5838

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@sc-iu8jq Is that what you say about every artifact displayed in the british museums that was stolen?

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    No your heritage was treated like crap for centuries then rescued by the British who spent money time and effort saving what they could before the Ottomans destroyed everything. A bit more gratitude should be shown frankly.

  • @mikedamkas
    @mikedamkas10 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Stephen Fry.

  • @oenrn
    @oenrn9 жыл бұрын

    I fail to understand why anyone would even agree to debate against Stephen Fry. You know he'll wipe the floor with you.

  • @andrewcarson5850

    @andrewcarson5850

    5 жыл бұрын

    Fry is an idiot's impression of what intelligence is.

  • @jayjay-dr9pr

    @jayjay-dr9pr

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@andrewcarson5850 Are you serious?

  • @andrewcarson5850

    @andrewcarson5850

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@jayjay-dr9pr Yes.

  • @jayjay-dr9pr

    @jayjay-dr9pr

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@andrewcarson5850 you must be quite stupid then

  • @andrewcarson5850

    @andrewcarson5850

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@jayjay-dr9pr How so?

  • @apcris451
    @apcris45110 жыл бұрын

    Greeks did care about the marbles. When our forfathers sarrounded the Turcks at the acropolis they started to break the marbels to get lead in order to make bullets. The Greeks offer the Turcks buletts to stop them from destroying the marbles. So they cared, they cared about them more than they lives!

  • @aeg2486

    @aeg2486

    5 жыл бұрын

    Ap Cris bullshit

  • @srfrg9707
    @srfrg97074 жыл бұрын

    What excavation? The marbles were taken from the building. It was not an excavation. Elgin's workers climbed on the top of the Parthenon and hammered them off. One sculpture even felt down from the hight and smashed into tiny marble pieces.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    How do you know, were you there? And besides, time was of the essence - the Ottomans were a military force intent on destroying any ‘idolatrous’ artefacts. If Elgin had not moved fast none of the marbles would have survived at all. Greece should be GRATEFUL that Elgin preserved an artefact when the Greeks were in no position to.

  • @srfrg9707

    @srfrg9707

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz I know it because Elgin documented the entire operation. The ottomans conquered Athens in 1458. They had plenty time to destroy those "idols" before Elgin was even born. And they did not destroy what Elgin left behind either such as the remaining metopes of the Parthenon or the caryatides of the nearby temple. We are not grateful. Thanks.

  • @chm5750

    @chm5750

    19 күн бұрын

    ​@@mogznwaz ok, so now GIVE THEM BACK!

  • @papupopeye1925
    @papupopeye19259 жыл бұрын

    As far as I know when Elgin (he was nor is not my Lord) was given the marbles he pried them off their place and many of them fell from the the friezes to the ground many meters below and were damaged, and even more so than the ones left there… Many were lost and some abandoned to their fate in Italy.. How can anybody argue "responsibility" ? Pillage rather… Then there is the question of price. How much did he bribe the Turk who was in charge of Athens. The argument that this was a legitimate purchase is as well utterly ridiculous. If the Greek revolution and liberation from the Turks was recognized and applauded by the whole world it was not a legitimate occupation therefore there can be no legitimate sale..During the Nazi occupation of France there was a French Vichi government. Had they sold part of the Tuilleries would that be legitimate? A piece of art was broken in pieces not by an accident, not by a war but by a pillaging act by Elgin. He was not stupid. He knew perfectly well that the Turks were not the legal owners nor did they care for the Parthenon… He did not go there to save the marbles else he would have taken good care of them. He was an opportunist as was Colonialism minded England at the time. The professor and the historian should go back to school and learn Ethics and Logic and History. They lack dramatically in that respect.

  • @Irene-iu9sj

    @Irene-iu9sj

    2 жыл бұрын

    That was the exact way he pried the sculptures off the wall. No respect for the art,or the age of the sculptures....

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    You weren’t there so you are speaking from a position of ignorance based on tittle tattle. The fact is that Elgin struck a deal with the Ottomans which allowed him to rescue as much of the marbles as he could before they were destroyed. The Ottomans were known to destroy anything they considered idolatrous- just like the Taliban who destroyed the Buddha statues in Afghanistan

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    The Ottomans were the ones in power therefore were in the position to allow or deny the sale. The fact is if Elgin had not removed as much as he could they would have been destroyed. The Ottomans conquered Greece, modern definitions of legal or illegal ‘occupation’ did not apply - and even if they did Elgin could not strike a deal with the Greeks who were in no position to deny or grant such a request. The historical revisionism and arguing from emotion are signs of low IQ and brainwashing by leftist universities.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    The fact that you think an actor with a posh voice knows more than a professor and an historian says a lot about you

  • @msanna9365

    @msanna9365

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz huh? The ottomans agreed to let lord Elgin rescue what they didn’t care about? Oxymoron here

  • @frederickbowdler8169
    @frederickbowdler81696 ай бұрын

    It's a part work of art and should be restored for that fact alone.

  • @callumtaylor4132
    @callumtaylor41328 жыл бұрын

    Send the marbles back to Athens

  • @sheenasapunkrocker
    @sheenasapunkrocker12 жыл бұрын

    I am Greek myself, and also an internationalist. Therefore, I am in favour of institutions like the British Museum exhibiting various national treasures of the world to international audiences. However, I still fail to see why it is so vital for them to legally "own" the marbles of the parthenon. I don't believe they should be permanently displayed in the Acropolis museum, they can certainly be loaned to any major museum, but the opposite strikes me as strange to say the least.

  • @SgtMacska

    @SgtMacska

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes, this was on my mind too. What a strange position to defend with genuine conviction, that Greece should be happy to have the marbles loaned to them by the British Museum

  • @ComradeHellas

    @ComradeHellas

    6 ай бұрын

    agreed

  • @yiannoulakyriakoudis62

    @yiannoulakyriakoudis62

    6 ай бұрын

    Λυπάμαι που θέλεις να λέγεσαι Έλληνας; η μήπως τελικά δεν είσαι; η προπαγάνδα υπάρχει παντού

  • @thesynthfloyd
    @thesynthfloyd7 жыл бұрын

    Why a debate? They belong to Greece.

  • @xandercorp6175

    @xandercorp6175

    5 жыл бұрын

    They were sold. You don't get to beg for their return.

  • @4gazofonias

    @4gazofonias

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@xandercorp6175 They were stolen*. and then sold by Elgin to the british government... so yeah they were sold

  • @xandercorp6175

    @xandercorp6175

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@4gazofonias Countries aren't people, my poor deluded man. England is no more beholden to return the marbles to Greece than Greece is beholden to give Macedonia reparations - that is to say, not at all.

  • @Proud2bGreek1

    @Proud2bGreek1

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@xandercorp6175 Macedonia? You call Vardarska Banovina, as it was known 80 years ago to the Bulgarians and Albanians that populate it, "Macedonia"? By what right? Since when are the made up, propagandist stories of the Yugoslavian and Soviet communists who created the fake Macedonian nation to cut off the influence of the Bulgarian state to the ethnic Bulgarians living in FYROM, something that we ought to accept as the truth? Modern historians teaching in American and English universities like Yale and Oxford teach that ancient Macedonians were a Hellenic (Greek) people, and therefore have nothing to do with modern "Macedonians" or ethnic brainwashed Bulgarians of FYROM. So yes, the marbles belong to Greece because they were stolen, and no Greece does not owe reparations to the Bulgarian people of FYROM because nothing was stolen from them, dear uneducated and ignorant fellow.

  • @xandercorp6175

    @xandercorp6175

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@Proud2bGreek1 I refer to _Macedonia_ as Macedonia, as you do - though you would rather hide it behind an acronym. By what right do I refer to a country by its chosen name? I am not sure what right a free person needs to refer to a country by the name it uses, so you will have to educate me there. But you present no arguments, merely make empty points about what a country was called 80 years ago, or whether or not the Hellenics are related to the modern Balkans (you and I both know the answer to that). But please, if it makes you feel superior to do so, feel free to assume that I don't know what I'm talking about and to "support" your assertions with red herrings. Its banal, but you seem to need the diversion and I would never deny an idiot his simple pleasures.

  • @Dazbog373
    @Dazbog3739 жыл бұрын

    Felipe sounds like a caricature of an 18th century powdered wig. Can't take him seriously.

  • @PapagiannisWoW

    @PapagiannisWoW

    8 жыл бұрын

    DarKool81 Imagine this guy being your teacher at uni... my god some people have to have him every day

  • @marigoulini1210

    @marigoulini1210

    5 жыл бұрын

    Felipe looks and sounds drunk

  • @TheDrownedEarth

    @TheDrownedEarth

    3 жыл бұрын

    casual class snobbery isn't ok just because you've reversed the usual direction.

  • @chriscooke109

    @chriscooke109

    3 жыл бұрын

    Listening to his voice for any length of time would be (for me anyway) a test of endurance.

  • @chriscooke109

    @chriscooke109

    3 жыл бұрын

    Listening to his voice for any length of time would be (for me anyway) a test of endurance.

  • @dimitrisdimitriadis4913
    @dimitrisdimitriadis49135 ай бұрын

    Greek here. Lots of audacity from the "against" side, but the one at 36:50 ish from the snake oil selling sounding gentleman takes the cake. "Every culture thinks their own cultural artefacts are of supreme importance". The audacity! I'm speechless. If you don't think they are important, *return them to those who think they are!*

  • @tinkfashin86isback
    @tinkfashin86isback10 жыл бұрын

    Mr. Fry's speech was incredible! He didn't even take a sneak peek at any papers, he just KNEW what was right and and couldn't do otherwise but just argue with the true facts.

  • @seanfaherty

    @seanfaherty

    2 жыл бұрын

    He didn't refer to facts because this is an argument based on emotion. Facts say if you send back one thing you will have to send back everything. I'll be waiting for my fiver

  • @Infinite_Jester

    @Infinite_Jester

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@seanfaherty Yeah, I think his speech was oratorically very good, but there's very little argument of substance in it. It's emotion dressed up in words. He doesn't do it to as an extreme degree such as some of the people in the audience (e.g. the lady), but I was surprised to see how many commenters were actually convinced by him.

  • @user-oz3vl4xd1k

    @user-oz3vl4xd1k

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@seanfaherty Είσαι Μαλάκας.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    I’m so glad other commenters recognise Fry’s speech for what it is - emotionally incontinent, historically illiterate virtue signalling. The marbles would not exist today if Elgin hadn’t recognised their importance and struck a deal with the Ottomans to remove them before they were DESTROYED. The Greeks should be grateful to Britain for preserving their history when they themselves could not.

  • @franknwalters
    @franknwalters9 жыл бұрын

    Today in Amphipolis a Royal Macedon tomb is being excavated. On top of this tomb there was a statue of a Lion, which at some point in time it was moved to another place, near the tomb. During the 2st Balkan Wars, Greek soldiers caught a group of British soldiers *who were trying* to load the staute of the Lion on a British ship, with destination a Museum in Great Britain. Most possibly the British Museum. *This is how historically the British Empire treated CULTURALLY* those who were in their darkest moments. This policy and way of thinking can't be *justified nor continue* in the 21st century...

  • @Xeniadimi

    @Xeniadimi

    9 жыл бұрын

    franknwalters WELL SAID!

  • @Ellasellinonchrist

    @Ellasellinonchrist

    5 жыл бұрын

    Brits have always made up their own rules of theft and this is why they lost their country to the Arabs, Afghanis, Africans, Pakistanis,​ the same ones they once occupied and now they are not occupying they just took over of what is left of England.

  • @FiveLiver

    @FiveLiver

    5 жыл бұрын

    The British have excavated more sites and translated more documents and inscriptions than anybody - you wouldn't know who anyone was before George Washington without them.

  • @laceyfairchild2463
    @laceyfairchild24637 жыл бұрын

    I think the "slippery slope" they're all so afraid of should be a very serious consideration. The Rosetta stone does in fact belong in Egypt, and all the other items that were procured during colonialism belong to their regions of origin. If the artifacts were treated morally, the British Museum would definitely lose a huge portion of the works inside (and other museums around the world.) Eventually though, these actions would inspire better relationships and dialogues between cultures, and once moral ownership was reestablished, the topics of loaning and touring could be addressed. I'm absolutely in favour of a cosmopolitan, encyclopedic museum concept... and I think that there are a huge amount of artworks and artifacts around the world that can lend to this concept. These museums need to be less clingy to what's in their collections right now. There's a very shortsighted mentality that just seems to scream "mine mine mine" like they're so desperate not to lose these things. In order to support the cosmopolitan museum concept, there MUST be a positive relationship established between all the cultures that the works originate from. Once the relationship is there, then the proper and morally legal transactions of selling or loaning the works can take place. Trying to keep such works that are in such a shady situation is just going to make you look bad. I agree with Stephen Fry, that the act of returning the marbles (and other works) would make the British Museum look very good. And, like seriously... people these days can make such good replicas, there could still be a "Parthenon Marbles" display for people to view, and then just a disclaimer that the originals are back in Athens. Hell, most of the pieces you see in the museums aren't even the real thing anyways! The real works are usually tucked in the back so they won't get damaged.... So what's the point of keeping the originals? It's just a stupid ego issue that doesn't serve anyone.

  • @SgtMacska

    @SgtMacska

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes! How does this not get discussed more in the comments? The Benin Bronzes clearly belong back in Nigeria too

  • @JJONNYREPP

    @JJONNYREPP

    5 ай бұрын

    Send them back: The Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Athens 0859am 5.12.23 indeed. this situation is enough to bring various academics to the brink of nervous exhaustion and/or a mental breakdown... i bet a few high-minded chaps have died worrying about them going back...

  • @NICKPAPAGEORGIOU
    @NICKPAPAGEORGIOU7 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry : Thanks mate ... You're right 100% ! P.S. From a Greek citizen ...

  • @Alkiviadis_
    @Alkiviadis_3 жыл бұрын

    26:12 Is this man really claiming, that the Acropolis meseum, that has been globaly awarded for its design and its treatment of our precious works of art that once plated the Parthenon and the rest of the Acropolis, that has been ranked in the top 10 museums in the world consistantly since 2012, isn't fit enough to handle OUR marbles, cause he didn't like the architecture?

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Not your marbles. Sold legally to Elgin by the Ottomans who ruled Greece at the time then rescued and preserved in Britain to prevent them being destroyed forever and giving you nothing to whine about. You’re welcome.

  • @alexanderthegreat2
    @alexanderthegreat210 жыл бұрын

    at 41:01. Then Mr. Hunt please share the Crown Jewels with the rest of the world so we can enlighten the world by exchanging these artifacts...

  • @Stella1112

    @Stella1112

    10 жыл бұрын

    Well said!

  • @FiveLiver

    @FiveLiver

    5 жыл бұрын

    He's a leftist he probably would.

  • @iz723

    @iz723

    3 жыл бұрын

    Also stolen from India

  • @ze89412

    @ze89412

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@iz723 “stolen” it’s had various owners

  • @kevincarrigan6348

    @kevincarrigan6348

    3 жыл бұрын

    AMEN !!! See how the Royals, & their supporters like that !!!!!

  • @stefanosgr1234567
    @stefanosgr123456710 жыл бұрын

    respect to Stephen Fry.This is the all truth and more many more.greece was occupied from turkey for 400 years.But he survive.But nothing were finished there, germany and franch attack to greece and then germany occupied greece for years.Now greece is in economic crisis but he will survive like at old ages.THIS IS GREECE and i say it only with respect.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Greece has had its fair share of upheaval. All the more reason to acknowledge that Elgin bought the marbles from the Ottomans before they were destroyed. The Greeks should be very grateful

  • @joberry3201
    @joberry32015 жыл бұрын

    Having been to the acropolis I felt a deep sense of shame that my country denies Greece these cultural important sculptures. Send then back now.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    They should have protected them better. Neglected for centuries, let the Ottomans destroy loads, the only way they survived was because Elgin recognised their importance and saved them before they were gone forever by holding his nose and buying them from the Ottoman rulers when the Greeks were in no position to . The Greeks should be showing far more gratitude for that frankly. If they did I think conversations about returning them would get a better reception. Calling us thieves and colonisers is just simply insulting untrue and not how to influence the outcome. If you want them either pay for them or come and get them if you dare .

  • @kickass527ify
    @kickass527ify9 жыл бұрын

    When u steal something u should have to give it back.

  • @jamescarr4662

    @jamescarr4662

    3 жыл бұрын

    Tell Israel that...

  • @judasseispuertos4163

    @judasseispuertos4163

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@jamescarr4662 Funny one.

  • @jedibjj5488

    @jedibjj5488

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@jamescarr4662 lol

  • @nicoangel690

    @nicoangel690

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@jamescarr4662 Tell me what Israel stole. When you win land in War.....it's yours....from the dawn of Time !

  • @Pelucine

    @Pelucine

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@nicoangel690 What may have been true at the dawn of time may no longer be. Today, wars of aggression and expansion are illegal under international law. As you surely know, the occupations of Gaza and the West Bank have also been declared violations of international law.

  • @lenr0c89
    @lenr0c893 жыл бұрын

    "I urge you to be moved by the marbles" is literately the most amazing quote ever

  • @seanfaherty

    @seanfaherty

    2 жыл бұрын

    a good quote has been known to get people to accept ideas with unintended consequences. So if the marbles go back what are you going to do with everything on the British Museum ? Or the Commonwealth... How about Northern Ireland ? You see where this is going ? How many things have Englishmen sold from their colonies ? Do the current owners now have to return them ? Sounds good on paper but as soon as you go down that road, by your own admission of historical guilt over an act you had nothing to do with, you now owe me money. Indians want their gems, Canadians want their beaver pelts and a million Irishmen want their lives back. We will drive ourselves insane trying to right the wrongs of the past. The only way forward is to forgive and forget. Live in the past if you want but I will expect my payment if everybody else is getting one.

  • @randomstuff1315

    @randomstuff1315

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@seanfaherty I say that the EU blockades the UK until they give the marbles back and they stop occ*pying part of Cyprus. The British are the reason why Turkey inv*ded Cyprus in the first place.

  • @user-oz3vl4xd1k

    @user-oz3vl4xd1k

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@seanfaherty Είσαι Μαλάκας.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Emotionally incontinent virtue signalling. Elgin bought the marbles legally from the Ottomans and prevented their destruction. You can only whine about the marbles today BECAUSE ELGIN SAVED THEM

  • @user-dd1ud1tu2r

    @user-dd1ud1tu2r

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz They would also most likely exist today without Elgin just like the Parthenon. Look at the rest of the Parthenon which wasn’t taken by Elgin, it still exists

  • @JasTheKariol
    @JasTheKariol5 жыл бұрын

    Today, the only argument for keeping the Greek Marbles in the British Museum lies inside an excel sheet, the one for tourism, where you can see numbers with a £ symbol next to them.

  • @andrewmurray5542
    @andrewmurray55426 ай бұрын

    I'm British and have been o the British museum a couple of time in my life. I can't remember seeing the marbles. I'm sure they're fantastic and very important but to the average Brit it would make absolutely no difference if they were moved back to Greece.

  • @AkisTheBlessed
    @AkisTheBlessed2 жыл бұрын

    "Oh look at me I'm coming down to speak among the people--I'm one of you not one of them" This Armesto Professor is like a wannabe politician. Stephen Fry's expressions perfectly mirrored mine.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    He was a poor representative. Perhaps deliberately so, so strong is the need to virtue signal in academia

  • @convanjo
    @convanjo7 жыл бұрын

    The real thing is money. If the Greek and Egyptian collections are gone. Do you know how many tourists they will lose?

  • @Uppernorwood976

    @Uppernorwood976

    4 жыл бұрын

    FJ Kong the museums are free

  • @giorgosx5838

    @giorgosx5838

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Uppernorwood976 The museums are free but travelling and staying in the country isn't. Even if the museum is free, those who travel to see artifacts and the like will stay in England and spend money. Tourism equals money

  • @havocgr1976

    @havocgr1976

    2 ай бұрын

    @@giorgosx5838Its not just tourism, museums get huge wealthy donors, hell the British museum has a please donate box almost like every 10 meters for the visitors.

  • @jamesdenton6370
    @jamesdenton63705 ай бұрын

    As a Brit, it’s obvious to see why Stephen is a much treasured national hero here

  • @billchristoforou7793
    @billchristoforou77939 ай бұрын

    Stephen Fry is amazing. His passion and his candour about Ancient Greek civilisation brought a tear to my eye.

  • @darkryder13
    @darkryder1310 жыл бұрын

    Holy cow, Stephen Fry dominated the other side.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry is an actor arguing from emotion. Don’t confuse that with actual argument.

  • @darkryder13

    @darkryder13

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz No, the emotional non-argument comes from the pointless British nationalist side that refuses to send back artifacts to their countries of origin. We know your museums would be near empty without those ill-gotten gains, but that's not our problem.

  • @bobnewmanknott3433
    @bobnewmanknott34335 ай бұрын

    Before I watched this debate an an Englishman I felt that we were in the right to continue our guardianship of the Parthenon Marbles However having heard the argument by Philippe Fernandes for retaining them, my sense of shame grew I am now an ardent "Send them backer "! more so now that we are not even in Europe !!!

  • @yannistath
    @yannistath10 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry nailed it!!!

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    THE GREEKS HAD A FECKING EMPIRE TOO. The marbles represent the colonial wealth and grandeur of the Greek empire. How does that figure in your virtue signalling? The Parthenon was built by slaves - pretty much like everything else in the ancient world. And the only reason you think that was bad is BECAUSE THE BRITISH EMPIRE WAS THE FIRST IN HISTORY TO MAKE THAT PROFOUNDLY MORAL LEAP. The ingratitude and historical illiteracy is staggering.

  • @yannistath

    @yannistath

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz are you freaking serious? Should we thank you that you STOLE our stuff??? GTFO , you should embarrased, you thieves. But i see you dont mention the colinazation by british. Did those countries had prosperity under your boot or they were just slaves to british empire and stole their natural resources (see India). Get lost because i have so much more to tell and roast your beer drunk arse. THIEEEVES.....

  • @Siggerou1993
    @Siggerou19939 жыл бұрын

    Well, let's split Stonehenge to many different museums in different countries. It would be safer and also would serve the international ideas that were mentioned by the side which was against the return of the Parhtenon marbles.

  • @garywood97

    @garywood97

    6 жыл бұрын

    If Stonehenge had been sold by the Romans to another country, now that would be an actual proper analogy.

  • @mikeman91
    @mikeman9110 жыл бұрын

    Parthenon is a building and a building it is not meant to be moved. You can't move the Stonehenge or the Big Ben to an another country it was build for the British and the rest of the world to adore them in Great Britain and so was the Parthenon, it was build by the Greeks for the Greeks and the rest of the world to adore it on top of the Acropolis hill in Greece.

  • @omnipitous4648

    @omnipitous4648

    5 жыл бұрын

    London Bridge is in Arizona.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    If the Romans had moved Stonehenge from Britain to Rome it would now be part of Roman history as much as ours - and you know it

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@omnipitous4648 And as a Brit I think that’s a hilarious and interesting story from history - we don’t need it back thanks

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    It was built for the glory of the GREEK EMPIRE and built by slaves

  • @KhanivoreQniba
    @KhanivoreQniba5 жыл бұрын

    Give EVERYTHING back.

  • @Uppernorwood976

    @Uppernorwood976

    4 жыл бұрын

    Arguments like this make it less likely for anything to be ‘given back’. You’re advocating for the slippery slope argument which Stephen Fry says doesn’t exist,

  • @toddbates444
    @toddbates4448 жыл бұрын

    the elgin marbles should be returned for further restoration of the parthenon

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    If the Greeks asked nicely I think we’d be open to it. But telling lies and calling us thieves when we are not, makes us not want to do it.

  • @DignaMercedes1
    @DignaMercedes13 жыл бұрын

    The Pathernon marble sculptures belong to Greece 🇬🇷, return them!

  • @lucasbailey-thomas9518
    @lucasbailey-thomas95183 жыл бұрын

    To a civilisation we owe so much, it would indeed be a fine tip of the hat and show of respect to the ancients to return these items back. Athena was goddess of many things, olives being one of them. So how apt it would be for Britain to hand out an olive branch and be done with this dispute 👍

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Britain inherited the mantle of western civilisation from the Greeks and the Romans. If not for the British the marbles would have been destroyed by the forces of Islam. Elgin recognised the importance of the marbles because we in Britain are well aware of the historical context - perhaps we should have just let them rot and saved ourselves a lot of hassle

  • @lucasbailey-thomas9518

    @lucasbailey-thomas9518

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz If we were to agree they would have been damaged... I would still ask you, if you were to take something (that doesn't belong to you) from possible destruction, does that thing then belong to you? If you dropped your phone in the middle of a busy road, and I was able to dodge traffic and pick the phone up, taking it safely to the path, I would feel an obligation still to return it

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    @@lucasbailey-thomas9518 Sure. I would have no problem with that. My issue is with the attitude of the Greeks that Britain is a thieving nation, an evil colonialist empire that ‘stole’ everything, throwing insults and making demands simply because it’s cool at the moment to do so. The Greek Empire itself was created by far worse violence and the Parthenon could be seen as an arrogant temple celebrating its own ruthless conquering of the ancient world - or ‘theft’ as wokeists now call it. So to be fair why should THAT be celebrated? It’s hypocrisy.

  • @DrMongoloid
    @DrMongoloid7 жыл бұрын

    The argument about having obtained the marbles 'legally' is flimsy as it chooses to apply a false notion of 'sovereignty' to the Ottoman sultan. The sultan who sold these marbles was only in the 'sovereign' position to sell them because his forebears had invaded, conquered and subjugated the Greek people by force 350 years before. He was not in any way a legal representative of the people, the culture, or the peoples' will - he was their oppressor. Ask yourself this. Would the sultan have ever sold marbles from the Blue Mosque or Topkapi to a visiting Englishman? Would a sovereign Greek ruler have ever sold the Parthenon marbles?

  • @MrJm323

    @MrJm323

    7 жыл бұрын

    "Would a sovereign Greek ruler have ever sold the Parthenon Marbles?" Do you mean a Greek CHRISTIAN ruler whose government had seized a pagan temple? ...That's like asking whether the prime minister of Italy can sell pieces of the Vatican, or whether an Indian Mughal ruler can sell bits and sculpture work of Hindu temples. So, what if a Communist government of Italy were using the seized Vatican as an ammunition magazine? ...Could Christians from abroad RESCUE its treasures by buying them from a hostile Communist government and transporting the pieces to their own museums? ...That's more like what in fact happened with regard to the Elgin Marbles. The Greek CHRISTIANS hardly valued them any more than the Turks. The Greeks of the early 19th Century had to be taught to value their classical heritage by the classically-educated Western European teachers. ...They even had to be taught that they were "Hellenes" and not "Romaioi".

  • @user-fs4tu2hl9r

    @user-fs4tu2hl9r

    7 жыл бұрын

    MrJm323 Disrespectful piece of shit and disgusting robber shut your mouth. Your cheap propaganda not persuade anyone.

  • @DrMongoloid

    @DrMongoloid

    7 жыл бұрын

    But that's answering to a completely different thing. I was refuting the defense of Elgins' actions as 'legal', a favorite Museum position. They were not for reasons mentioned. Now you come along with this other position about salvaging treasure from certain harm - ironically by causing more harm than was prevented and leaving behind a relic that plainly bears the marks of that harm. Appreciate the effort, I guess. We will have them back now and you can have the copies we have in Athens, thank you very much. As to the boneheaded rest of your point about classical appreciation. It's true that it begins with Western Europe, or let's say it does. Advances made in the field by Brits, Germans and others are immeasurable, I have nothing but admiration. But since you want to be a prick about it, fine. Walk by a London bank. What does it look like? That's right, a Greek temple. Greeks left behind for the Brits not only treasures to try and salvage or imitate, they gave them the very notion of a classical education by which to know their value.

  • @MrJm323

    @MrJm323

    7 жыл бұрын

    "...answering to a completely different thing"?!? What? I answered your last question DIRECTLY. "Would a sovereign Greek ruler have ever sold the Parthenon marbles?" ....Does a Greek CHRISTIAN ruler who even disavows the identity as a "Hellene" have a greater (or lesser) claim on those marbles than a Turkish Muslim ruler? ....Or a nominally Christian Englishman, such as Elgin? ...(And, I remind you that Elgin and his peers were only NOMINALLY Christian because they've leavened their Christianity with ancient Greco-Roman humanism - which was the humanist legacy of the Renaissance on their educations. Something the Greeks didn't have at the time. ....Gee, they might make them MORE worthy of the Marbles, spiritually and morally speaking, than the other two claimants, mightn't it?) I'm "a prick" because I point out to you that the "Latin" West RESCUED THE ANCIENT GREEK LEGACY and handed it back to the Greeks in the late 19th century?!? ....If a London bank has classical architectural motifs, it's because the WEST appreciated the Greek classical legacy, and NOT the Greeks (at the beginning of the 19th century). ....Oh, the Greeks - the CHRISTIAN Rhomaioi - "left behind" this legacy, you say? ....They threw most of it ....INTO THE LIME KILNS !!!! ...This is why most of the classical marble statuary we have today are Roman copies (or statues which the Romans thankfully PLUNDERED during their initial conquests of Greece) which have been recovered from places like Pompeii, etc. (Some of it has been recovered from the sea floor. And a few statues have been dug up in Greece or Asia Minor.) The Parthenon on the Acropolis, like the Pantheon in Rome, was preserved because those buildings were converted into churches. This spared them for a while. When the Turks took control of Athens, they used the Parthenon as a store house for GUNPOWDER!! ...THAT is the reason for most of its damage, you fucking idiot! ...The Greeks - oops! Sorry! "Rhomaioi" - weren't even in a position to protect their legacy. Hardly any Greeks by the late Second Millennium A.D. had any real appreciation of this legacy anyway. (They were still medieval Christians, untouched by any Renaissance, or "rebirth" of the classical Greek heritage.) No, Bodhidharma, it wasn't the Christian Rhomaioi who bequeathed the classical educational ideal upon the Western Europeans; it was the West Europeans themselves who re-discovered this legacy from the ancient Greco-Roman world (with much help from Arab scholars and, yes, a few Greek scholar-refugees from the collapsing Byzantine world - Greek scholars who went under-appreciated in Byzantium itself and were more appreciated in Florence, Padua, Venice and Rome than by their fellow Greeks - I mean, Rhomaioi). If ANY modern-day Greek appreciates this heritage, it is because 19th century West Europeans (mainly from Germany, France, Britain, and Italy) TAUGHT them to re-appreciate this heritage. ...I'll tell you what, maybe the British can make some copies of these Marbles, and send those to the Acropolis museum in Athens. The Greeks are not so stupid as to want to put the ORIGINAL Marbles back up on the actual Parthenon, do they? (Where they would be exposed to the atmospheric pollution?) ....No. The Marbles, whether in London or in Athens will be in a climate-controlled museum. Copies would work just as good! You can go to the Albert & Victoria Museum (in London) and see superior-looking copy of marble reliefs from Trajan's Column than you would see on the actual Column in Rome (because of the pollution damage to the reliefs on the actual column). ...I'm sorry, but there's just no SUFFICIENT reason to move the Elgin Marbles to Athens. They are fine right where they are at! If the British have ANY BACKBONE, they will successfully resist demands to return them. You don't see the Italians returning all of their "acquisitions" from the sack of Constantinople of 1204, do you? Those four horses at St. Mark's Basilica, in Venice, which used to grace the Hippodrome in Constantinople, they are not going back, are they? ....And, a lot of other goodies from Constantinople - you don't hear anything about that, do you? They are staying where they are at! Because the Italians won't entertain the idea of "returning" them! ...The only reason Greeks keep harping on these Marbles is because of a gaggle of self-hating Brits joining in the chorus to plunder the museum collections of Great Britain to "restore" the artifacts and anthropological remains to where they were dug up or liberated from. In most cases, these items were dug up in places where the natives were not in a position to care for them, or they under-appreciated them, or just plain didn't care about their existence. They didn't appreciate the value of these things until the British (or German or French) scholars, anthropologists, or archaeologists discovered or re-discovered them and explained the significance of the relevant items! ...Only then do they shout, "Give those things back!" These things have VALUE to humanity because of the work of these very same scholars and scientists who are accused of "plundering" them. The persons who appreciate the value of these things, and can show the rest of humanity the SIGNIFICANCE of these items to our heritage, and can demonstrate the ability to conserve them - THEY are the ones most deserving of keeping them - NOT people whose only claim to these items is merely that they are the blood descendants of the creators of those artifacts (but forgot their value and significance later, and were neglecting them). ETHNIC IDENTITY is not the basis of ownership claims on artifacts or even ancient human remains. (Edit to add: If the ancient human remains are beyond the memory of your family or community, then your claim of custody over those remains is baseless. The competent scientist who can give those remains historical significance - and thus value to the knowledge of humanity - has the stronger claim to those human remains. You wouldn't have known about them or what they really were until the competent scientist came along and explained their identity and significance.) Rather it is the scholars and scientists who can discover and explain to the rest of humanity the VALUE of those items, the historical and scientific SIGNIFICANCE of these items, and can also most successfully CONSERVE these items for posterity, ...who are most deserving to have POSSESSION of those items as a trust for the benefit of human knowledge and inspiration. When THAT is the standard in determining who has the right to possess them, then the argument for returning them to Athens simply lacks merit.

  • @DrMongoloid

    @DrMongoloid

    7 жыл бұрын

    Please. You're either too young and immature or have a tremendously poor grasp of history, both the history of the Greco-Roman East in particular and how history takes its shape in general. In either case there's no reason for you to be going on with these tirades. Yes, it was the Byzantine Greek scholars fleeing the fall of Constantinople, carrying with them what they could salvage from the libraries of Constantinople, who ignited the passion with classical lore in the West of Europe. The University of Constantinople (let's not forget, the largest and most prestigious of its kind in Europe for centuries) housed for example the most comprehensive collection of Aristotle's writings Europe had seen. It figures. Greek-speaking scholars would have been the best equipped to copy and preserve the work. The only Aristotle West Europe had seen before that time were the Arabic commentaries of Avicenna. Western Europeans 're-discovered the legacy of ancient Greece' because Greeks had continuously preserved and curated that legacy for a few hundred years, even while, yes, simultaneously differing between themselves about what that legacy meant, because, surprise, that is how society and identity work. Did every single Greek peasant in medieval Athens swell with pride at the sight of the Parthenon or identified themselves as direct descendants of Socrates? But that's neither here nor there. They didn't have to. An American from Mississippi of the 1870s, 1920s or 1980s might see Lincoln as tyrant and Washington DC as monument to his oppression but that makes neither him nor a Northerner from Boston any less part of the same society of peoples. The rest of your points are flimsy. No, you do not deserve to keep the Marbles because a British aristo lopped them off with the trivial consent of a foreign occupying force. No, the world did not sit on its thumbs waiting for traveling Brits to point out to them the importance of their cultural legacy. But some countries have been luckier than others and managed to avoid invasion, plunder, ruin and systemic oppression for a few centuries.History took this, that and the other turn, producing the world as it has come to be. I understand the difficulty of precedent for the Museum and personally am fine with the Marbles staying in either place. But the mental gymnastics performed by the likes of you in the attempt to delegitimize modern day Greeks as custodians of their own history would be laughed out of any room.

  • @SouthSide1312.
    @SouthSide1312.5 жыл бұрын

    Then the marbles....Now the Macedonia!!I feel angry about what other coutries did to a peaceful country with a brilliant history and people... The country that NEVER attack other country in the new history.They know only what defensive war is because they fought for freedom .The country who saved europe with their resistance to Nazis!!Million dead Greeks died for freedom and justice and nobody paid about these crimes.. STAY STRONG GREECE...AS ALWAYS!!!!!!!

  • @PrimordialNyx

    @PrimordialNyx

    2 жыл бұрын

    Our flag literally means "Freedom or Death"

  • @sandbird2982
    @sandbird29823 жыл бұрын

    Stephen Fry should join Tom Hanks on becoming an honorary Greek citizen

  • @bazza945
    @bazza9455 ай бұрын

    With current technologies, for example, 3d scanning and printing to reproduce a high quality reproduction for display in the UK, while the originals are returned to Greece.

  • @polytrelaras1
    @polytrelaras17 ай бұрын

    What a class act from Steven Fry

  • @pelopidasalexis6943
    @pelopidasalexis69432 жыл бұрын

    Thank you people from England that support the return of my heritage. From the bottom of my Hellenic soul I THANK YOU 😥🤍.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    That’s nicer than some people who simply make demands with insults and abuse. The marbles were not stolen they were paid for legally, rescued and preserved before the Ottomans could destroy them

  • @greyareaRK1
    @greyareaRK16 жыл бұрын

    It is difficult to see the relationship between ancient and modern greeks, or Italians and Romans, which perhaps why the marbles are needed in Greece far more than in London. There is a risk they will be destroyed, but in this age of exact digital scanning and modelling techniques, any museum can create a precise copy. The question to be asked is whether having them is about education or pride of ownership?

  • @CinematicSoundMaestro
    @CinematicSoundMaestro10 жыл бұрын

    And i ask you British protectors of the Ancient Greek History.... IF the marbles owner was the United States of America, would this video , this debate exist???? I'm waiting for your answers.

  • @brindlog

    @brindlog

    10 жыл бұрын

    There are American paintings in the British Museum,stop pretending the ancients have anything to do with you.You have more in common with your Turkish masters.

  • @CinematicSoundMaestro

    @CinematicSoundMaestro

    10 жыл бұрын

    The Americans didn't ask them back did they? You do not answer my question. I am not Greek, i am American.

  • @nikosmarkou2391

    @nikosmarkou2391

    10 жыл бұрын

    Sylvester-The Piano Man thank you for your support. Unfortunately, its quite obvious to me that the actual reason for not sending the marbles back to where they belong has to do with money. If they send them back, its pretty sure that other requests from countries will follow too, so eventually the museum will start to lose glow and money.. Money is always a serious reason., i cant disagree. But a priceless piece of civilization is even more serious and it will always be. And yes, if the owner was the USA and not "weak" Greece, the marbles would have already been returned. Thanks. Nick (the Greek)

  • @Made1nGreece

    @Made1nGreece

    9 жыл бұрын

    ***** why don't you answer to Sylvester's question?cause you have nothing to say and you got owned?first you say your nonsense to look cool and then you don't answer to a simple question?i will answer for you.if Americans were to ask for their paintings to be returned to America, Great Britain would have given them back in the next day.but since we Greeks aren't as powerful as Americans are, Great Britain says "fuck off, we don't give them back".if you come see these marbles in our museum their view is going to be thousand times better and more astonishing than the cold grey background view you see in the British Museum

  • @CinematicSoundMaestro

    @CinematicSoundMaestro

    9 жыл бұрын

    And... yes, i am still waiting for an answer. None? Is there ANYBODY that has a straight answer to my question?

  • @JennyGSS
    @JennyGSS10 жыл бұрын

    Mr Fry, what a fine person he is !!!!!!!!!!!

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    No he is an actor with a posh voice who makes arguments to appeal to emotionally and historically illiterate virtue signallers. Like you.

  • @ak-vg2xc
    @ak-vg2xc5 жыл бұрын

    SEND THE MARBLES BACK HOME ❤🇬🇷

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Should the Mona Lisa be repatriated to Rome? Should London Bridge be repatriated from Arizona to London? Should the Statue of Liberty be repatriated from New York to Paris?

  • @donmac7780
    @donmac77803 жыл бұрын

    I always found it odd that they would call these marbles and so many other plunderedtreasures by the names of their thieves.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    NOT thieves. Elgin bought the marbles legally from the ruling power of the time. This historical revisionism and ignorance needs to be challenged because I’m sick of it. Go read some actual history books instead of whining about historical realities.

  • @inconversation5435
    @inconversation543511 жыл бұрын

    As much as I am proud of British Heritage and history I am slightly ashamed at our behaviour raping and pillaging the world or their histories and artefacts. I must visit these marbles while I have the opportunity because I remain convinced that they should be back at their home. Thank you Greece for the production of such beautiful and amazing works and I tip my hat to Diogenes, Socrates and countless great minds of ancient Greece.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Your historical illiteracy is astounding. Britain did not just go out raping and pillaging. Try reading up about other empires in history. Britain conquered (usually through trade and administration rather than violence - unlike the Ottomans who would have destroyed the marbles if Elgin had not struck a deal with them). When you conquer you own and you can’t steal from something you own. Victoria always referred to the empire as the imperial family with herself as benevolent matriarch. This might sound less progressive now but back then this was highly progressive. Britain took great care and interest in gathering and preserving artefacts in order to educate the British people about the empire and the world education was spread through the empire too. Science and invention were very important to Victorians as were the concepts of duty, sacrifice, fairness and rules. They made scientific discoveries (like the Theory of Evolution) and saved items from destruction because other conquering tribes and nations had NO problem erasing the artefacts of their new territories.

  • @errolmichaelphillips7763
    @errolmichaelphillips77634 жыл бұрын

    The British plundered artifacts wherever they went. It was GRAND THEFT! All this talk about about "legally obtaining" and "showing to the world" is nonsense! And Greece is not the only country ENTITLED to ask for the return of their property. It is a justified "slippery slope".

  • @TonyEnglandUK

    @TonyEnglandUK

    2 жыл бұрын

    Stop doing that tiresome routine of digging up the past and blaming an entire nation for it. Your country has blood on its hands and stolen goods in its pockets, too, remember that.

  • @errolmichaelphillips7763

    @errolmichaelphillips7763

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@TonyEnglandUK It might be tiresome to you, but it's true.

  • @TonyEnglandUK

    @TonyEnglandUK

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@errolmichaelphillips7763 What country are you from? I have a feeling you won't answer.

  • @errolmichaelphillips7763

    @errolmichaelphillips7763

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@TonyEnglandUK Why wouldn't I answer? I'm from Trinidad.

  • @pedroheberle6665
    @pedroheberle66655 жыл бұрын

    Oh, how convenient that cosmopolitism lives in London, it seems.

  • @markheithaus
    @markheithaus3 жыл бұрын

    This makes me think of the stone of scone argument. It was returned to Scotland, right? It is obvious on the face of it that the marbles were stolen and need to be returned. Copies can be made in a full exhibit as Stephen suggested.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    The marbles were NOT stolen they were bought legally from the Ottomans who were the ruling power. Why not criticise them for selling them?? And if Elgin hadn’t done so they would no longer exist because the Ottomans destroyed idolatrous artefacts .

  • @JennyGSS
    @JennyGSS10 жыл бұрын

    Mr Hunt, as a historian, should know best than anybody else that the marbles were not taken a whole piece of work but they were ripped from Parthenon. What Elgin did was VANDALISM! No respect whatsoever,for the beauty of this miraculous temple, no respect for the art, no respect for the history of thousands years. Mr Hunt should be ashamed of himself for what he said in the debate.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    The Ottomans gave permission as they planned to destroy it. The marbles would likely not exist now if Elgin had not bought them

  • @JennyGSS

    @JennyGSS

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mogznwaz You are blissfully ignorant.

  • @heracles89
    @heracles897 жыл бұрын

    Excellent debate, great speech by Stephen in particular!

  • @Nshandles88
    @Nshandles885 ай бұрын

    Respect to mr Fry and all who support the return of the Greek marbles.

  • @naasduplessis855
    @naasduplessis8552 жыл бұрын

    One of the golden rules to debating: Never enter a debate as Stephen Fry's opponent.

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    No because Stephen Fry is an actor who uses a posh voice and emotional heartstring tugging rhetoric to win over an audience of emotionally incontinent virtue signalling plebs

  • @alasgr01
    @alasgr0112 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Andrew and Stephen, for the great support!!

  • @AdamMGTF
    @AdamMGTF3 жыл бұрын

    I don't always agree with Stephen Fry. But it's rather difficult to disagree with anything he says. Thankfully I agree with him most of the time.

  • @sabrinaadam8557
    @sabrinaadam85575 жыл бұрын

    The British Museum has many stolen artifacts from all over the world, including (if I am not mistaken) the Benin Bronzes which the people and government of Benin have petitioned for the return of for years but no one seems to want to debate or publicize this because it’s an African country being taken advantage of. Sad.

  • @LadyPercy.
    @LadyPercy.4 жыл бұрын

    Arrived here due to Covid 19. I thoroughly enjoyed the debate and was personally very pleased the end result was a unanimous vote for returning the artefacts back to Greece. However, having lost every artistic, historical, moral and legal argument over the subsiding years, the pompous arrogance of Empire and colonialism prevails. The British Museum and British scholars must do the only honourable thing, this lengthy provocation is an embarrassment and an ethical sadness to culture, international friendship and democracy.

  • @delf197810
    @delf1978106 ай бұрын

    I ve had the luck, opportunity to visit the British Museum 2-3 times and admired its collection. I spent most of my time there (as a Greek) to the Parthenon Sculptures. My initial feeling of being moved by their beauty and magnificence was replaced by frustration when I saw people touching/scratching them with their bare hands. I m not an expert in marble/sculpture restoration and preservation but I know very well that they are not to be touched or exposed to such conditions. After the recent events in London, during the visit of the Greek PM, the motion and notion for their return to Greece has been enhanced and is stronger than the previous years. I am sure that a legal formula will be found and requirements placed from both sides will be met for the Parthenon Sculptures to be returned in their original place. A form of lending sculptures between the British Museum and Greek Museums is currently being discussed or at least, has been put as an idea, so that we can see the Parthenon Sculptures in Athens Museum. I cant wait to see that day, when both sides come to an agreement.

  • @baoboumusic

    @baoboumusic

    5 ай бұрын

    I've always enjoyed annoying my Greek friends by mentioning the Elgin marbles, until I actually saw them in the British Museum. It's not a couple bits of marble, it's actually an enormous collection, and having been on the Acropolis many times (I lived nearby) I suddenly totally understood. It also made me see the British Museum (and other, similar musea) in a very different light. It was an education.

  • @vengarlof7033

    @vengarlof7033

    5 ай бұрын

    Educated that these are somehow the best kept Parthenon statues even more so compared to the replicas back in Greece

  • @amossutandi
    @amossutandi2 жыл бұрын

    Despite all the talk of enlightened internationalism and such, it seems that the crux is that the people who do not want go give it back to Greece, is that of ownership. They want to loan it to Greece or other countries, as long as it is returned to Britain. They are not interested to loan it for a definite period of time from Greece, or to have perfect copies/casts of the Parthenon marbles to show the millions of visitors visiting the British museum. They are interested in ownership of the Parthenon marbles that were looted from Greece. It's interesting these people didn't think to claim part of the marbles that were left behind in Italy on their transit to Britain and didn't demand Italy to give it to Britain instead of returning it back to Greece, despite their claim that them looting it from Greece during the Turkish occupation was a creative act and perfectly legal. So the people who did not want to return the Parthenon marbles back to Greece did a lot of gaslighting, like perfidious people are wont to do, but their basis motivation is ownership, they want to keep ownership of their loot. And I can understand their fear of a slippery slope, because if justice is done, then the British museum is likely to contain a lot of copies of the objects they used to have, since they at multiple times summed up all the objects they have looted from other countries throughout history.

  • @amossutandi

    @amossutandi

    Жыл бұрын

    @Dominion Philosophy oh dear, you support theft of other countries ' heritage treasures.

  • @panagiotisgiannikopoulos2147
    @panagiotisgiannikopoulos214710 жыл бұрын

    We must note the fact that at the Olympics games opening ceremony instead of Great William Shakespeare, King Arthour and things about the history of England, England chose to show in front of millions of people Mr Bean, JAmes bond the queen the prince/princes, some rave electronics stupid parties in the club and cyber chatting sex stuff and facebook! So who wants to speak about history and how appreciate it?

  • @elektra1968

    @elektra1968

    10 жыл бұрын

    EXACTLY!!!

  • @narwhallegion8583

    @narwhallegion8583

    6 жыл бұрын

    I think they already did the history theme before though

  • @kayem3824

    @kayem3824

    6 жыл бұрын

    Spice Girls !

  • @mogznwaz

    @mogznwaz

    Жыл бұрын

    Everyone knows about Shakespeare already. Because the British have the most successful and globally influential culture in history. If there are any criticisms it’s that Britain has been colonised by a left wing mindset that celebrates ‘diversity’ and ‘modernity’ because apparently that’s always better. Not in my eyes of course. But in the eyes of the kinds of virtue signallers who demand things like the return of the legally acquired marbles

  • @onlythetruth9641
    @onlythetruth96419 жыл бұрын

    Give them back they don't belong to England, they are part of a country that has been around for thousands & thousands of years, have respect it is appalling, this is not legal to keep them doesn't matter what ever excuses they come up with.

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