‘The Monuments Men’ star makes bold claim: “They’ll be back. I know they will”

In recent years the fate of the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, has been a bone of contention in international diplomacy. The latest to wade into the dispute was George Clooney, the Hollywood star with ties to Greece.

So what are the Parthenon Marbles? Sculpted in Ancient Greece, the collection of surviving structures was taken from Ottoman Greece in the early 19th century by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin. Since then they have remained in Britain, although the legality of Elgin’s work is deeply controversial.

In 1983 the Greek government officially asked that the British government return the sculptures to Greece. The British Museum refused and even declined an offer form UNESCO to mediate the conflict.

UNESCO has since called on the UK government to help find a resolution but very little has changed since that first request more than 40 years ago. Now, however, George Clooney is on the case. In conversation with Yiannis Andritsopoulos of Athens-based publication Ta Nea, Clooney revealed that he hopes for its return.

“I love Greece,” Clooney explained. “And I’m doing what I can to help return the Parthenon Marbles to where they belong... I know they’ll be returned.”

“Of course, I still support the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. Both my wife and I are fighting for this cause,” he continued. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure the Marbles return to Greece... We’ll continue our efforts until it becomes a reality. There’s no doubt about it.”

For the first time ever, there is reason to believe that an agreement could be close. Back in December The Guardian reported that talks between Athens and the British Museum were “well advanced” and some sort of a deal could be close.

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said: “There is a common understanding as to how we can structure our partnership and I think with the new Labour government we will have a better opportunity to actually conclude the agreement because it will not oppose an agreement that is reached between the Greek government and the British Museum. There is a critical mass of political will.”

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