The ***** Marbles

In our first episode of "History for the Taking," we unpack the history of the marbles that formerly adorned the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. We begin by examining the artist who sculpted the marbles and why the Parthenon was so important to the ancient Athenians. Then, we fast forward to the 19th century, examining how the British government ended up with parts of the marbles in the first place. After that, we fast forward to the present day and explain how Greek nationalism contributed to Greek demands for the marbles' repatriation. We hope to not only explain the international politics behind artifact repatriation but also have ethical discussions as well. Who should possess an artifact? What is, and what should be, the role of international law and international bodies like UNESCO in artifact repatriation? And in legal proceedings over artifact repatriation, can justice ever be achieved?