The Elgin Marbles could soon be returned to Greece as the British Museum closes in on a landmark deal.
UK law prevents treasures from being legally given away by the museum, but George Osborne, its chairman, is understood to have have drawn up an agreement which would repatriate the antiquities as part of a “cultural exchange”.
The deal negotiated with Greek officials would effectively be a loan agreement under which the Elgin Marbles could be moved from London to Athens “sooner rather than later”, sources said.
However, the Telegraph understands that this “gesture” will not end the long-running row over the Marbles, as Greece intends to keep fighting to gain full legal ownership of the 2,500-year-old cultural treasures.
The deal discussed between Mr Osborne and Greek representatives would allow some objects to be sent to Athens from London on long-term loan, in exchange for Ancient Greek treasures moving on loan the other way.
This is unlikely to entail the full complement of marble frieze scenes, metopes (carved plaques) , and statues being shipped immediately, and the agreement may start with a small token loan, should negotiations advance any further.
The British Museum has said that it has “publicly called for a new Parthenon Partnership with Greece and we’ll talk to anyone, including the Greek government about how to take that forward”, but it is “not going to dismantle our great collection” and would retain legal ownership of the Marbles under UK law.
Successive Greek governments have maintained that the objects taken by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century were stolen. Officials in Athens told the Telegraph that only a full transfer of ownership would end the row over the marbles that has raged since Greece became independent in 1832.
Pressure has been mounting to find a solution, particularly within a cultural climate of nations seeking redress for historical wrongs, and as US museums have moved to return their Ancient Greek treasures, as has Pope Francis, who recently moved to repatriate artefacts held by the Vatican.
In September the Telegraph revealed that a new “Parthenon Project” had been established by Greek plastics magnate John Lefas, which aimed to fly British politicians to Athens and persuade them of the Greek cause
Lord Vaizey of Didcot, a former culture minister, is helping the project in the UK, and has welcomed the chance of any agreement being reached.
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