A dispute over the 2,500-year-old Parthenon or Elgin Marbles reaches a head this week with claims of conspiracy, bribery and cover-ups being aired at a special conference in London to discuss the sculptures.
In Athens yesterday, the Greek Culture Minister, Ms Elisavet Papazoi, said the marble figures and panels were subjected to a "barbarous cleaning" that defaced and damaged them. "There truly was a barbarous cleaning. The marbles were tortured," she said, presenting a 100-page report by a Greek delegation sent to the British Museum last month.
One British academic believes the British Museum has for 60 years orchestrated an "improper and illegal" cover-up of damage allegedly inflicted during its ownership of them. The historian Dr William St Clair told the conference yesterday that senior British politicians - including two prime ministers - as well as the museum's own staff had been deceived by the cover-up.
Dr St Clair claimed to have uncovered evidence that Lord Elgin, who Britain claims was given per mission to remove the sculptures in 1801, bribed Turkey to allow him to take away more pieces than he had been officially allowed. He claimed too the marbles were cleaned more than 60 years ago with wire wool, hammers and chisels to remove stains and traces of paint.
Ms Papazoi said yesterday many of the marble surfaces were smoothed out and stripped of original details such as chiselled grooves that characterise the architectural work of the Parthenon.
British officials reacted angrily last week when President Clinton visited the Acropolis and told Ms Papazoi he believed Britain should return the marbles. The Greek report, due to be presented at the London symposium today, could bolster Greek demands for the return of the marbles: 17 figures and part of a 160 metre frieze that one decorated the Acropolis.