Parthenon Sculptures: Stephen Fry Calls for their Return to Greece

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Sir Stephen Fry at the Acropolis Museum. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

On Wednesday, British artist and author Sir Stephen Fry reiterated his long-standing call for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece during a speech at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

An avid admirer of Greece’s culture, Fry has spent the past decade championing the reunification of the sculptures with their homeland. He has also written several books on Greek history and mythology, further elevating global awareness of Greece’s rich cultural heritage.

To mark the release of his fourth book Odyssey, which draws inspiration from Homer’s epic poems, Fry was honored by the Greek Tourism Ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) for his continued support of Greece’s repatriation efforts.

“Sir Fry, your contribution to this mission is invaluable,” said Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni during the event. “The return of the Parthenon Sculptures is not just a matter for Greece; it is a global issue of cultural justice. Your voice has been essential in advancing this cause,” she added.

A collaborative approach to the return of the Parthenon Sculptures

“Our prime minister is in favor of the idea,” said Stephen Fry during his speech. Photo © Greek Travel Pages

Fry’s campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles began in 2011, continuing the efforts of his late friend, journalist Christopher Hitchens, who passed away that same year.

In his speech at the Acropolis Museum, Fry stressed the importance of Britain working together with Greece to find a mutually agreeable solution for the return of the sculptures, currently housed at the British Museum in London. He pointed to recent examples of international collaboration, such as the return of the Fagan fragment from Sicily and the Vatican’s donation of Greek sculptures.

“Our prime minister is in favor of the idea,” Fry noted, emphasizing that this presents a valuable opportunity for Britain to correct past wrongs and acknowledge the significant cultural debt it owes to Greece. He also countered the British Museum’s claim that Greece lacks a suitable venue for the masterpieces, affirming that the Acropolis Museum is more than capable of housing them.

“Now we are sitting here at one of the greatest museums in the world and it is utterly ready to receive the sculptures… Now there is no legal excuse,” Fry said, calling on the British Museum to use modern technology to create replicas of the sculptures instead.

The Parthenon sculptures: Integral to Greece’s cultural identity

Acropolis Museum Director-General Nikos Stampolidis giving a tour of the Acropolis Museum to Olga Kefalogianni and Stephen Fry. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

Minister Kefalogianni, in her address, highlighted that Greece’s vast cultural heritage continues to attract travelers from across the globe, eager to experience history and explore iconic cultural sites like the Acropolis Museum.

“Our cultural heritage is at the core of Greek identity and sets us apart on the global tourism map,” she said.

With the ongoing support of advocates like Sir Stephen Fry, Kefalogianni expressed confidence that Greece could achieve its goal: to welcome visitors with profound respect for its cultural legacy, share the richness of the Greek spirit, and, ultimately, reunite the Parthenon Sculptures with their rightful home.