e subsequent decision to try and cover it up were undoubtedly enormous mistakes, the degree of damage the pieces suffered was wildly exaggerated by the press at the time. Only a microscopic comparison between the Marbles as they appear today and a set of full-size photographic enlargements of their old surfaces could reveal the actual damage. In the midst of the controversy surrounding the cleanings, Lord Duveen died at the age of 69. The press interest in the event died down soon after, and was only revived recently through the emergence of the restitutionist movement. One of the most vocal among current critics of the British Museum is Christopher Hitchens. Hitchens claims that the argument that the sculptures are safer in London than they would have been in Athens is undermined by the 1930s cleanings. He fails to point out, however, the damage that has been done to the sculptures which remain in Greece. The level of damage done to the Elgin Marbles is negligible in comparison to the damage done to the portions of sculpture that remained at the Acropolis, including the Caryatids of the Erechtheion (FIG. 4), and the battle friezes of the Temple of Athena Nike (FIG. 5). These sculptures have been extensively damaged by continued exposure to the weather. Many of them, such as the Parthenon’s west Ionic Frieze, have only recently been taken down. Hitchens also fails to discuss the cleaning of marbles in Athens in the 1950s using chisels and wire brushes. The sculptures remaining in Greece compare in no way favorably to those in England. In fact, the majority opinion seems to be that the museum in London has indeed preserved the sculptures. Melina Mercouri herself has publicly acknowledged the “excellent care given to the Marbles by the British Museum.” While the Greek position in the debate over the Parthenon Marbles is certainly understandable (and some would argue, culturally favorable) it is nevertheles...
