New Elgin Marbles row explodes as Greece erupts at British Museum's move

A glamorous fundraiser held at the British Museum over the weekend, with tickets costing £2,000 each, has been slammed by the Greek culture minister for disrespecting the Elgin Marbles. Lina Mendoni claimed that the institution had clearly "demonstrated provocative indifference" after 800 A-list guests dined around them at the Pink Ball.

The Pink Ball - London's answer to the Met Gala - saw stars including Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell, Janet Jackson and Kristin Scott Thomas on Saturday night (October 18). The ball was organised by the director of the British Museum, Nicholas Cullinan, and Isha Ambani, the daughter of Asia's richest man. "The safety, integrity, and ethics of the monuments should be the primary concern of the British Museum, which once again demonstrates provocative indifference," Ms Mendoni said. The organisers of a fashion show event held in the same room were also accused of similar disrespect.

"Repeatedly and consistently, the Ministry of Culture has condemned the dinners, receptions, and fashion shows organised in museum spaces where monuments and works of art are exhibited," Ms Mendoni added, according to The Times.

"Such actions are offensive to cultural assets and endanger the exhibits themselves. This is exactly what the British Museum administration did last Saturday, once again using the Parthenon Sculptures as decorative elements for the dinner it organised."

The Express contacted the British Museum for comment. The museum declined to provide a statement but insisted that all requests to use its galleries are assessed both in relation to any risks and with respect to the Museum's collections.

Ms Mendoni voiced concerns for the reputation and safety of the Elgin Marbles after they were used as the backdrop to a London Fashion Week event in February 2024, arguing that this "belittles their universal value".

"Let us remember that there are cases where the sculptures in the Duveen Gallery have been damaged, due to overcrowding and carelessness of visitors," she added.

At the time, Athens was accused of hypocrisy after it emerged that a Dior photoshoot had been held at the Acropolis in 2021, recreating images taken at the site by the French fashion designer in 1951. The Greek Government said there was no comparison because the fashion collection had been "inspired by Greek antiquity".

The Elgin Marbles were moved to the UK by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, between 1801 and 1815. He claimed to have received permission from the Ottoman authorities to remove the sculptures, stating that he wanted to preserve them from decay under the empire's rule. After falling into financial difficulty, Lord Elgin sold the collection to the British Government, and they were acquired by the British Museum in 1816.

The removal and acquisition of the more than 30 stone sculptures have been a source of controversy for decades, with the Greek government and others campaigning for their return to Greece, where they are seen as an integral part of national identity.