The British Museum is loaning out one of its historic ancient Greek statues out to the St. Petersburg State Hermitage Museum through next month. While the move is being celebrated by the museum, the Greek government has expressed its anger.
The headless statue of the Greek god Ilissos is part of a group of statues known as the Elgin Marbles, named after Lord Elgin. According to BBC News, Elgin took the statues from Athens in the early 19th century and they have been part of the British Museum collection since. They were removed from the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple.
“This is the first time ever that the people of Russia have been able to see this great moment of European art and European thought,” Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, told the BBC. He called it a “very big moment” and said he hoped the Greek government would actually be “delighted.”
However, the Greek government isn’t happy about it. They have said in the past that Elgin illegally acquired the statues, while Greece was occupied by the Ottoman Empire. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras issued a statement, denouncing the loan, reports The Associated Press.
"Greeks identify with our history and culture!" Samaras wrote. "Which cannot be sliced up, loaned or given away!"
The statue will be in Russia from Dec. 6 to Jan. 18.
Coincidentally, the issue of returning the Elgin Marbles has been taken up by lawyer amal Clooney, withe of George Clooney. She is representing the Greek side.