The Return of the Parthenon Sculptures in the Political Discourse of Contemporary Greece

The return – or restitution – of cultural heritage to countries of origin is a central concern in contemporary museum practice. This issue is closely tied to efforts to decolonise museum spaces, as it often involves artefacts acquired during colonial expansion. Although Greece was never a colony, the Parthenon sculptures – removed from the Acropolis in the early nineteenth century by Lord Elgin, then British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire – are widely perceived as victims of comparable imperialist appropriation. This article explores how the dispute over the Parthenon sculptures has been framed within the political discourse of contemporary Greece. While ownership of the sculptures has been contested for over two centuries, a sustained campaign for their return emerged only in the 1980s. The issue gained renewed momentum in 2019 following the election of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The article highlights three key developments: (1) UNESCO’s recognition of the dispute as intergovernmental, prompting formal negotiations; (2) the return of Parthenon fragments from other European museums; and (3) growing public and international support for restitution, reflected in media coverage and opinion polls.