Context

 A diplomatic dispute between Greece and the UK has arisen over the Parthenon Sculptures housed at the British Museum.

Parthenon sculptures

• The Parthenon sculptures are a collection of marble reliefs and statues that decorated the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena in Athens, Greece.
• They are considered to be some of the finest examples of classical Greek art, and were created by some of the most renowned sculptors of the time, including Phidias.
• The sculptures can be divided into three main groups: the metopes, the frieze, and the pedimental figures.
• The metopes are high reliefs that were carved above the outer colonnade of the Parthenon. They depict scenes from Greek mythology, such as the battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs.
• The frieze is a continuous relief that runs around the cella, or inner chamber, of the Parthenon. It depicts the procession of the Panathenaea, a festival that was held every four years in honor of Athena. The frieze is one of the most famous works of Greek art, and is admired for its beauty and its delicate carving.
• The pedimental figures are statues that were placed in the two triangular pediments at the front and back of the Parthenon. The eastern pediment depicts the birth of Athena, and the western pediment depicts the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the patronage of Athens.

The Parthenon sculptures were badly damaged during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, and many of them were removed from the Parthenon and taken to Europe. The most famous of these sculptures are the Elgin Marbles, which are now on display in the British Museum in London.

The Parthenon sculptures are a valuable record of Greek art and culture, and they continue to be admired and studied by people from all over the world.