Poetry, Byron, Childe Harolds Pilgrimage

Lord Thomas Elgin (British Ambassador to Constantinople 1799-1803) removed whole boatloads of ancient sculpture from Greece's capital city of Athens. Most important of these was the fifth-century BC sculptures taken from the Parthenon, the temple to the goddess Athena, which stood on the Acropolis hill in the centre of the city.

The Parthenon sculpture included about a half (some 75 metres) of the sculpted frieze that once ran all round the building, plus 17 life-sized marble figures from its gable ends and 15 of the 92 metopes, sculpted panels, originally displayed high up above its columns. These were brutally and savagely hacked away from their original and rightful position along the Parthenon. To this day the British Museum refuses to apologise for this theft or to return these priceless works of antiquity and have them restored to their rightful position

Before all the sculptures - soon known as the Elgin Marbles – even reached their destination, Lord Byron attacked Elgin in stinging verses, lamenting (in 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage') how the antiquities of Greece had been 'defac'd by British hands'

Dull is the eye that will not weep to see
Thy walls defaced, thy mouldering shrines removed
By British hands, which it had best behoved
To guard those relics ne'er to be restored.
Curst be the hour when from their isle they roved,
And once again thy hapless bosom gored,
And snatch'd thy shrinking gods to northern climes abhorred!

"I stood,
Among them, but not of them;
In a shroud of thoughts which were not their thoughts"
-----Lord Byron, "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage"

add your name to those who demand to see the marbles returned.

http://www.marblesreunited.org.uk/

delete reply opossumd wrote on Jun 20, '09 What a coincidence! I was unaware of this post and I must congratulate you on your perfect timing. I hope bureaucracy will finally be defeated and the original works can be restored to their "birthplace". But what about the idea of having perfect replicas made by British sculptors and placed where the stolen originals used to be? After all, they have belonged to British history for close to two centuries and have been admired by millions at the BM. At least the flavour wouldn't be lost.

delete reply paulishd wrote on Aug 3, '08 Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!

delete reply philsgal7759 wrote on Aug 1, '08 thanks for the poem and the art

delete reply asolotraveler wrote on Jul 30, '08 ok - NOW i feel educated a bit today! thanks

delete reply millimusings wrote on Jul 30, '08 This is fantastic and thank you so much for sharing. Poetry Wednesday: Uni-Verse Continued Part 2.

delete reply bostonsdandd wrote on Jul 30, '08 First, thank you for the lesson. I never knew this. Second, I LOVE his use of words LOL. They flow from the page to the brain and out of the mouth with ease. Takes a great poet to do that! And who would have thought to use some of the words he used! I love the use of behoved to rhyme with removed. VERY nice post! Thanks for sharing it with us. http://bostonsdandd.multiply.com/journal/item/172/Poetry_WednesdayJuly_30thPoetry_By_Fire_LightBy_Me

delete reply vickiecollins wrote on Jul 29, '08 Seems close to a modern day conservationist sentiment. Great poem. http://vickiecollins.multiply.com/journal/item/422/Poetry_Wednesday_Me_as_a_writer

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Jul 29, '08 Loretta, I so enjoyed this on several levels, to see the story expressed, as I heard it told 40 years ago. To read this and realise that I have seen many of the articles on display and at the time didn't know that they were stolen, thinking little of the fact that they were in England. After all, a museum is for works of antiquity, why would the uninformed casual observer think anything of it. Later, I heard the story from a Greek woman who was talking in general about a plaster reproduction of “Nike of Samothrace,” and segued on to this subject. That was not to be the end of it. Once I moved to Washington, D.C., we found a favorite place for lunch, called "The Childe Harold." The walls of the restaurant were covered with photographs of the frieze and some sculptures, along with copies of much of what Byron wrote on the subject. When an Englishman bought the property, he kept the restaurant, but saw to it that it was redecorated to honor Byron's works, in general. The only thing Greek that remained, was the ocaissional Greek salad. So, this tale seems to meet me often. I expect one of the little ones will have a school assignment and will ask me to tell them a story that they can write about. I suppose it will be this or how bad the Greek salad was, once the English chef took charge of it. I added my name to the list. Thank you.

delete reply dianahopeless wrote on Jul 29, '08 Wonderful post and very moving. Thanks for the link to add our names. http://dianahopeless.multiply.com/journal/item/327/For_Love_of_Rain_my_poem

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Jul 29, '08 Not only is this theft, but it's also vandalism. I'm not sure which is the worse crime.

delete reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 29, '08 Right on, Loretta! Good choice, history and message from the ages, and something for us to think about and act on.

delete reply belita747 wrote on Jul 29, '08, edited on Jul 29, '08 I am glad you have posted a poem by Lord Byron as well as interesting information. We, Portuguese, have a special affection for Lord Byron who described Sintra - a small town near Lisbon - as "Glorious Eden". http://belita747.multiply.com/journal/item/477/POETRY_WEDNESDAY_-_THE_ART_OF_POETRY

delete reply jayaramanms wrote on Jul 29, '08 Great and interesting post, accompanied with some useful write up. It is awsome. Thank you for sharing. Mine is at - http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/241/POETRY_WEDNESDAY_-_TAGORE._

delete reply jadedruid wrote on Jul 29, '08 I love this. In my house we jokingly call the British Museum of Art the British Museum of Stolen Art. Thank you for the link to voice our opinion that it belongs else where.

delete reply sylvie1 wrote on Jul 29, '08, edited on Jul 29, '08 A write of his times and I thank you for placing this interesting poem here for me to enjoy!

delete reply skeezicks1957 wrote on Jul 29, '08 very interesting post. I learned something. Thank you.

delete reply luckebabe wrote on Jul 29, '08 great post!

delete reply starfishred wrote on Jul 29, '08 yes they need to be returned great blog loretta