Sept. 7, 2006 — One of the oldest international cultural disputes, the battle over fragments taken from Greece's Parthenon, has resurfaced with the return of a small fragment of the ancient monument by a German University.
The fragment consisted of a foot, carved from marble. It was taken nearly 200 years ago from the northern frieze of the the 5th century BC Parthenon. Its return to Greece on Monday was hailed by Greek officials as an important step toward the return of other fragments, many of which are kept at the British Museum in London.
Held at the University of Heidelberg for more than 130 years, the 3- by 5-inch relief sculpture was likely taken as a souvenir by a German visitor to Greece. It first appeared in the University's inventory in 1871.
"This is a historic day. For the first time in almost 200 years, a precious piece of the Parthenon abroad is put in its original place," Greek culture minister Giorgos Voulgarakis said as the sculpture was handed over by the university's vice rector, Angelos Chaniotis.
In a statement, the University of Heidelberg said that the decision to return the fragment was "guided by the scholarly aim of promoting the unification of the Parthenon as a unique monument of world culture."
The repatriation of the small fragment was hailed by Voulgarakis not only as a highly symbolic act, but as an unprecedented move in favor of the reunification of Greece's artistic heritage.
"For the first time, the silent agreement among museums in possession of Parthenon sculptures has been broken," he said.
The fearless horsemen, sprightly youths, lounging deities, belligerent centaurs and expressive horses carved by Phidias in the 5th century B.C. are scattered throughout several European museums, including the Louvre in Paris. But the bulk of the marbles are kept in London's British Museum.
Greece contends that the 17 figures and 56 panels on display there were stolen in 1801 by Lord Elgin, British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. The works have since become known as the Elgin marbles.
