The “Elgin Marbles”

The “Elgin Marbles”



The “Elgin Marbles” ... You dare call them that!
... as if your larceny could be justified
by such a vile name! It just reeks of scat,
a moniker no Grecian can abide!
“Lord” Elgin, axing stones, you hauled them off,  
with Ottoman connivance in your grasp,
your crime a mortal sin at which we scoff,
your pride of possession worthy of an asp!
By shaming Athen’s pride, the Parthenon,
your imperial gall’s outstripped your sins,
your every game you play another con,
another ploy in sick political spins.  
   The British Museum claims, “It’s for the best!”
   and touts your barefaced lies as if in jest.

Richard Vallance

April 20 2019

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Progress on the restoration of the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nikei and the Propylaia: Part B, what the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nikei and the Propylaia look like NOW

Progress on the restoration of the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena
Nikei and the Propylaia: Part B, what the Parthenon, Temple of
Athena Nikei and the Propylaia look like NOW:

The restoration of  Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nikei and the
Propylaia is making fantastic progress as of 2018. Here we have
5 amazing photos of the restoration of the Parthenon itself
between 2015 and 2018.



And here you see a composite of the Temple of Athena Nikei
Athena Victorious) as it looked in the nineteenth century (first
picture) and then in its present greatly refurbished condition
next three pictures):



And here we see composites of the Propylaia past (nineteenth century):



and present condition of the Propylaia, 2018:


Present condition of the ceiling and the stunning Ionic columns
of the Propylaia, which are breath-taking, previously completely
destroyed before the twentieth century. Now this is what I call
REAL progress:

Progress on the restoration of the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nikei and the Propylaia: Part A, what the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nikei and the Propylaia looked like BEFORE restoration

Progress on the restoration of the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena
Nikei and the Propylaia: Part A, what the Parthenon, Temple of
Athena Nikei and the Propylaia looked like BEFORE restoration:

The restoration of  Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nikei and the
Propylaia is making fantastic progress as of 2018. To put it all in
context, I am posting here the deplorable condition of these 3
landmarks in the 15th., 17th. and 19th., centuries, before restoration.
Here you see two views of of the Ottoman Acropolis in 1456. It is still
in magnificent condition. Notice that the Ottomans did not desecrate
the beautiful frieze of the parthenon, much to their credit as an
advanced civilization.



What a terrible shame while it was being used as a gunpowder
magazine, that it was hit by artillery shot and damaged severely and
blown to bits by the Venetians in 1687 as seen here. The buildings of
the Acropolis suffered significant damage during the 1687 siege by the
Venetians in the Morean War, fought between the Republic of Venice
and the Ottoman Empire between 1684 and 1699. Here you see a
black and white rendition of that terrible destruction:



Here you can see for yourself a composite of the deplorable condition
the Parthenon and the Propylaia in the nineteenth century.



Also illustrated here is the stunning dealized reconstruction painting
of the Acropolis and Areios Pagos in Athens, by Leo von Klenze, 1846.