[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S6260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 127--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS 
    THAT THE PARTHENON MARBLES SHOULD BE RETURNED TO GREECE; TO THE 
                     COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

  Mr. FITZGERALD submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 127

       Whereas the Parthenon was built on the hill of the 
     Acropolis at Athens, Greece in the mid-fifth century B.C. 
     under the direction of the Athenian statesman Pericles and 
     the design of the sculptor Phidias.
       Whereas the Parthenon is the ultimate expression of the 
     artistic genius of Greece, the preeminent symbol of the Greek 
     cultural heritage--its art, architecture, and democracy--and 
     of the contributions that modern Greeks and their forefathers 
     have made to civilization;
       Whereas over 100 pieces of the Parthenon's sculptures--now 
     known as the Parthenon Marbles--were removed from the 
     Parthenon under questionable circumstances between 1801 and 
     1816, while Greece was still under Ottoman rule;
       Whereas the removal of the Parthenon Marbles, including 
     their perilous voyage to Great Britain and their careless 
     storage there for many years, greatly endangered the Marbles;
       Whereas the Parthenon Marbles were removed to grace the 
     private home of Lord Elgin, who transferred the Marbles to 
     the British Museum only after severe personal economic 
     misfortunes;
       Whereas the sculptures of the Parthenon were designed as an 
     integral part of the structure of the Parthenon temple; the 
     carvings of the friezes, pediments, and metopes are not 
     merely statuary, movable decorative art, but are integral 
     parts of the Parthenon, which can best be appreciated if all 
     the Parthenon Marbles are reunified;
       Whereas the Parthenon has served as a place of worship for 
     ancient Greeks, Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, and 
     Muslims;
       Whereas the Parthenon has been adopted by imitation by the 
     United States in many preeminent public buildings, including 
     the Lincoln Memorial;
       Whereas the Parthenon is a universal symbol of culture, 
     democracy, and freedom, making the Parthenon Marbles of 
     concern not only to Greece but to all the world;
       Whereas, since obtaining independence in 1830, Greece has 
     sought the return of the Parthenon Marbles;
       Whereas the return of the Parthenon Marbles would be a 
     profound demonstration by the United Kingdom of its 
     appreciation and respect for the Parthenon and classical art;
       Whereas, even without considering the legal issues 
     surrounding the removal of the Parthenon Marbles, the United 
     Kingdom should return them in recognition that the Parthenon 
     is part of the cultural heritage of the entire world and, as 
     such, should be made whole;
       Whereas Greece would provide care for the Parthenon Marbles 
     equal or superior to the care provided by the British Museum, 
     especially considering the irreparable harm caused by 
     attempts by the museum to remove the original color and 
     patina of the marbles with abrasive cleaners;
       Whereas Greece is constructing a new, permanent museum to 
     house all the Marbles, protected from the elements and in 
     full view of the Acropolis;
       Whereas Greece and various international committees have 
     pledged to work with the British government to negotiate 
     mutually agreeable conditions for the return of the Parthenon 
     Marbles;
       Whereas the people of the United Kingdom do not have an 
     ancient bond to the Parthenon Marbles, given that the Marbles 
     have been in London for less than 200 years of the over 2,430 
     year history of the Parthenon was built, and as evidenced by 
     a 1998 poll in which only 15 percent of the Britons polled 
     recalled having seen the Marbles in the British Museum;
       Whereas the British people support the return of the 
     Parthenon Marbles, as reflected in several recent polls;
       Whereas a resolution signed by a majority of members of the 
     European Parliament urged the British government to return 
     the Parthenon Marbles to their natural setting in Greece;
       Whereas the British House of Commons Select Committee on 
     Culture, Media and Sport is to be commended for examining the 
     issue of the disposition of the Parthenon Marbles in hearings 
     held this year;
       Whereas returning the Parthenon Marbles to Greece would be 
     a gesture of good will on the part of the British Parliament, 
     and would in no way affect the disposition of other objects 
     in museums around the world; and
       Whereas in 2004 the Olympics will return to Greece, where 
     the Olympics began, and the Parthenon Marbles should be 
     returned to their home in Athens by that time: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the 
     Government of the United Kingdom should enter into 
     negotiations with the Government of Greece as soon as 
     possible to facilitate the return of the Parthenon Marbles to 
     Greece before the Olympics in 2004.

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