The Parthenon is a splendid marble monument created during the rule of the ancient Greek Empire around 447 and 432 B.C. The Parthenon, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, stands above the Acropolis, an Athens network of sanctuaries. The Parthenon, despite long-term destruction from earthquakes, fire, warfare, explosions, and pillage, remains a powerful symbol of Ancient Greece and Athenian progress (HistoryEditors.com, 2018)
The Parthenon Marbles are currently the subject of heated controversy. As excellent examples of ancient Greek people and culture, it is unlikely that a dispute over the upkeep of the priceless sculptures will develop. Many individuals believe that using current laws to determine the authority of the details is incorrect because the models were taken many years ago. The existing rules were not in place when Elgin delivered the marbles to England; therefore, applying them to the case would be improper. The main argument favouring the models’ return to Greece is explained first, followed by the consensus maintained by those who believe the marbles should remain in the British Museum in London (Moore and Lindsey, 2001).
Archaeological sites are finite and nonrenewable societal assets that are constantly threatened by natural forces. Site looting is the forced removal of archaeological artefacts to satisfy the craft market. Plundering is necessary for a financial structure, the relics market, that tries to satisfy authorities’ need for ancient artefacts. The destruction of archaeological artefacts by thieves is a global emergency that threatens the world’s social legacy and our ability to understand past societies.
The scale and power of the stealing from the issue can be assessed by concentrating on the degree of site obliteration in nations of beginning and by researching the wellsprings of ancient pieces held by gatherers. Finding an answer for the issue of stealing will require an emphasis on the exciting side of the market (i.e., authorities) rather than the customary spotlight on the inventory side(Elia, 1997).
Each archaeological item plundered from its archaeological setting addresses an indispensable loss of verifiable, social and logical data. To acquire one painted Greek jar, thieves might obliterate at least twelve old burial places, upsetting or annihilating remaining human parts and non-attractive curios and eradicating our capacity to gain from those destinations. Recuperating one Greek jar won’t ever reestablish these destinations or the information.
The social development of societies and its going with changes can likewise affect or even obliterate landmarks. After the coming of Christianity, the Pantheon and Parthenon sanctuaries were rededicated as Christian designs. Afterwards, the Christian Hagia Sophia turned into an Islamic mosque; it is currently a mainstream historical centre. The Parthenon turned into a congregation in the 6th century CE. It was later a mosque and was then changed into a weapons store under the Ottoman occupation. They prepared themselves for the 1687 invasion(Art and Cultural Heritage Looting and Destruction, 2015).
The structure supported significant harm, including the deficiency of its rooftop, when the Venetians terminated the construction during an attack against the Turks in 1687. More damage was sustained when the Venetians guaranteed the site and stole from specific figures while annihilating others simultaneously. After the Venetians were rebuffed in 1688, the Turks constructed a little mosque inside the ruin. Ruler Elgin got authorisation from the Ottoman Empire and eliminated more models in 1801-2. From that point forward, the structure has decayed further because of climatic contamination, going through a thorough cleaning(Art and Cultural Heritage Looting and Destruction, 2015).
References
Art and Cultural Heritage Looting and Destruction. (2015, October 5). Art History Teaching Resources. https://arthistoryteachingresources.org/lessons/art-and-cultural-heritage-looting-and-destruction/
Elia, R. J. (1997). Looting, collecting, and the destruction of archaeological resources. Nonrenewable Resources, 6(2), 85–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02803807
History.com Editors. (2018, February 2). Parthenon. HISTORY; A&E Television Networks. https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/parthenon
Moore, A., & Lindsey. (2001). The Case of the Parthenon Sculptures. In The Osprey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry (p. 34). https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1033&context=ojii_volumes
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