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The Elgin Marbles

on BBC Two England

In 1801, Thomas Bruce , the Seventh Earl of Elgin and British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, removed antiquities from Turkish-occupied Athens. Huge debts later forced him to sell his collection to the British government, and sections of the Parthenon Frieze were put on display at London's British Museum - where they have remained ever since, despite Greece's repeated requests that they be returned.
In this dramatised documentary, critic Andrew Graham -
Dixon explores the convoluted history of the sculptures, artefacts whose ownership has been the biggest bone of contention in art for over 200 years, while experts consider the arguments for and against the relics' return to Greece.
Producer Robin Dashwood ; Executive producer Kim Thomas (AD) Andrew Graham-Dixon on the great tug of war: page 31

Contributors

Unknown:
Thomas Bruce
Unknown:
Andrew Graham
Producer:
Robin Dashwood
Producer:
Kim Thomas
Unknown:
Andrew Graham-Dixon
Lord Elgin:
Crispin Redman
Richard Payne-Knight:
David Foxxe
The Artist:
Tim Berrington
Rev Philip Hunt:
Lynden Edwards
Chairman of the Select Committee:
Geoffrey Beevers
Sarah Siddons:
Joanna Monro

BBC Two England

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