Italian news agency Ansa reported growing optimism about the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, noting intensified contacts between Athens and London aimed at repatriating the artifacts from the British Museum. “The whole international discussion about the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece has resumed, thanks also to Italy, especially Sicily, which, in 2022, opened the way,” wrote Ansa. The renewed dialogue was influenced by the actions of the then cultural advisor of the Sicilian region, Alberto Samonà.
Three years ago, under Samonà’s initiative, it was decided that the Fagan Fragment, housed in the Salinas Museum of Palermo, should return to its original place at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The Fagan Fragment, a piece of the eastern frieze of the Parthenon, was part of the archaeological collection of the former British consul Robert Fagan. Its return to Greece was made possible through direct dialogue between the Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, and the director of the Acropolis Museum, Nikolaos Stampolidis, with the then director of the Salinas Museum, Caterina Greco. The collaboration marked a step in the efforts to reunify the Parthenon Sculptures.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his gratitude to Italy and Sicily for the return of the fragment, reported Ansa.
In light of these developments, Samonà conveyed his optimism about the future of the Parthenon Sculptures. “The day is approaching when the Parthenon sculptures will finally return to Athens,” he emphasized in a post commenting on the latest developments, reproduced by the Italian news agency. “I can say, with some pride, that thanks to our initiative, the international discussion about the return home of the sculptures removed from the work of Phidias has gained new momentum,” he stated.
“The path we must follow, in a world full of conflicts and divisions, is precisely international cooperation and partnership in the name of culture, which always carries a message of dialogue and peace,” he said.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
