When the marbles were shipped to england they were an instant success among many who admired the sculptures and supported their arrival but both the sculptures and elgin also received criticism from detractors.
British mueseum marbles.
The british museum is again refusing to return the parthenon marbles to their country of origin claiming it has no intention of removing controversial objects from public display according to uk media reports.
Lord elgin began negotiations for the sale of the collection to the british museum in 1811 but negotiations failed despite the support of british artists after the government.
The elgin marbles are british owned purchased by the crown from lord elgin in 1816 and presented by parliament to the british museum.
The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas.
Ian jenkins the parthenon sculptures in the british museum british museum press 2007 ian jenkins greek architecture and its sculpture in the british museum british museum press 2006 mary beard the parthenon profile 2002 william st clair lord elgin and the marbles 3rd edition oxford university press 1998.