The Return Of The Lonely Sister

Will the sisters of the Parthenon see each other once again? This week, I will discuss the potential return of the “lonely sister,” the final caryatid of a set of six, to her rightful place in Greece. The British Museum acquired the beautiful statue from Lord Elgin, who stole ancient artifacts, including one of the caryatid sisters, from Greece over 200 years ago. Over these last two centuries, Greece has asked for the return of the artifacts, but the British Museum Act of 1963 prevented the British Museum from returning the stolen items. However, earlier this week, discussions between the British Museum and Greek officials about what would happen with the artifacts and, most importantly, the lonely sister began. The new director of the British Museum, Nicholas Cullinan, had the idea to “share” the artifacts with Greece to work around the 1963 law. I am so happy to hear this news! I am passionate about Greek art and preserving ancient history, so hearing that the lonely sister may return to her rightful place, even briefly, is incredibly exciting. I believe “sharing” the artifacts with Greece is an ethical and honorable move for the British Museum. This strategically devised plan will help minimize the backlash the British Museum has received for the last 200 years and lay a foundation for a better relationship with Greece and its museums. I am thrilled with this recent update and love seeing this kind of compromise and communication between leaders. I hope these discussions lead to a successful trip for the lonely sister back to her place; even if her trip is not permanent, it is only the beginning.