[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 89 (Friday, June 28, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6322-S6323]
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

  Mr. FITZGERALD (for himself, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Smith of New 
Hampshire, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. Sarbanes) submitted the following 
concurrent 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 in 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 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 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 by Thomas Bruce, seventh Earl of Elgin, 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 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, the 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 returning the Parthenon Marbles to Greece would be 
     a gesture of good will on the part of the British Parliament, 
     and would set no legal precedent, nor in any other way affect 
     the ownership or disposition of other objects in museums in 
     the United States or around the world;
       Whereas the United Kingdom should return the Parthenon 
     Marbles 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

[[Page S6323]]

     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 in 
     full view of the Acropolis to house all the Marbles, 
     protected from the elements in a safe, climate-controlled 
     environment;
       Whereas Greece has pledged to work with the British 
     government to negotiate mutually agreeable conditions for the 
     return of the Parthenon Marbles;
       Whereas the people of Greece have a greater, ancient bond 
     to the Parthenon Marbles, which were in Greece for over 2,200 
     years of the over 2,430 year history of the Parthenon;
       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 in 2000; and
       Whereas in 2004 the Olympic Games will take place in 
     Athens, Greece--birthplace of the Olympics--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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