This is the debate surrounding the so-called Elgin Marbles.
When Greece came under the Ottoman rule, the Parthenon was converted to a mosque.
But the worst was yet to come.
The ploy didnt work.
The decorative frieze adorned with beautiful sculptures came crashing down and broke into a hundred pieces.
It wouldnt have mattered if the Earl had taken only the fallen stones, like everybody else.
But the Lord Elgins men also pried out many pieces that were still in place.
He claimed that the Turks were grinding down the statues to make mortar.
When the marbles arrived in London, a huge outcry arose.
But fate had other plans for Lord Elgin.
Upon returning to Britain, Lord Elgin learned that his wife was cheating.
Today, the Elgin Marbles are one of the most prized possession of the British Museum.
The British Museums possession accounts for about 30 percent of the original sculptures from the Parthenon.
The Acropolis Museum in Athens houses another 30 percent.
About 5 percent lie scattered in different museums across Europe.
