ATHENS – A new argument has been proposed for the return of the stolen Parthenon Marbles, held by the British Museum. In an article for Bloomberg, correspondent Rachel Sanderson suggested that they should be returned to Greece to honor the late father of the new King Charles, Prince Philip, who was born on Corfu. She also noted that 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the downfall of a military junta and the return to democracy in Greece, making it another fitting occasion for the return of the marbles.

Sanderson cited the return of other artifacts from the Vatican, ordered by Pope Francis, as an example of the British Museum following suit. She wrote, “It’s high time Britain followed the Argentine Pontiff’s example” and returned the marbles that have been held for 200 years.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had been in discussions with the Chairman of the British Museum, George Osborne, regarding a plan to “reunify” the Parthenon Marbles, if not an outright return. However, the idea stalled and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stated that his government will not change a 1936 law that prohibits the museum from returning its holdings to countries from which they were stolen, including the marbles.

The Parthenon Project, led by former UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, is proposing a solution in which both sides refrain from discussing ownership and share the marbles. Under this proposal, the marbles would be sent to Greece on a rotating basis, and Greece would send other treasures to the British Museum to fill the space left empty. These treasures would be held hostage to ensure that the marbles loaned to Greece are returned.

While the British Museum maintains that the marbles were legally obtained by Scottish diplomat Lord Elgin, as he had permission from the ruling Ottoman Empire, Greece maintains that they were stolen.

The Bloomberg article proposes that Britain should consider an unencumbered gift of the marbles to Greece to mark the 50th anniversary of the restoration of democratic rule on July 24, 2024. The piece suggests that an act of Parliament would be needed, and King Charles III, who has often spoken of his affinity for Greece as the birthplace of his father, could be an apt emissary.

The article notes that such a gift would create unique circumstances and cut the risk of setting a precedent for an emptying of British museums, which is a deep-seated fear in the UK as it is currently reassessing the role of its empire. The piece also suggests that such a gift would provide an opportunity for Britain to foster friendship with Greece and to start mending fractures with Europe.