British Museum’s George Osborne in secret talks with Greek Prime Minister to return Elgin Marbles

George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum has been conducting top-secret negotiations with the Greek prime minister over the transfer of the Elgin Marbles.

It is understood that the classified talks between the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the relocation of the classical Greek masterpieces have been ongoing since November 2021.

The Elgin Marbles are currently on display at the British Museum, but the Greek government has been demanding their return since they were removed from Greece in the 19th century.

But after the revelations over the secret negotiations between Mr Osborne and Mr Mitsotakis, the ancient sculptures may eventually be removed from the British Museum and returned to Greece.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

George Osborne (left), the chair of the British Museum has been conducting top-secret negotiations with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the transfer of the Elgin Marbles

The British government has agreed to Unesco-backed talks on the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, pictured on display at the British Museum, which could see the artefacts brought back to Greece and resolve the long-standing issue

The British government has agreed to Unesco-backed talks on the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles, pictured on display at the British Museum, which could see the artefacts brought back to Greece and resolve the long-standing issue

The Elgin Marbles are made up of 17 marble figures and are part of a frieze that decorated the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, made by sculptor Phidias.

The sculptures were taken by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and have since been the subject of a long-running dispute over where they should be displayed.

Around 260ft (80metres) of the marbles are in London, whilst Athens is home to a smaller 164ft (50metres) section.

But the Greek prime minister wants the rest of the Elgin Marbles – or Parthenon Mables as they are known in Greece – returned home.

The Elgin Marbles (pictured) are a 17-figure collection of classical Greek marble sculptures made by architect and sculptor Phidias, a Greek sculptor whose statue of Zeus, the god of the sky in ancient Greek mythology, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

The Elgin Marbles (pictured) are a 17-figure collection of classical Greek marble sculptures made by architect and sculptor Phidias, a Greek sculptor whose statue of Zeus, the god of the sky in ancient Greek mytholgy, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

The Elgin Marbles were taken from the Parthenon in Athens by the then British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Lord Elgin, between 1801 and 1812, and are now on display at the British Museum (pictured)

The Elgin Marbles were taken from the Parthenon in Athens by the then British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Lord Elgin, between 1801 and 1812, and are now on display at the British Museum (pictured)

For some 13 months, Mr Osborne has been understood to have met with the Greek prime minister on multiple occasions as well as senior Greek government ministers.

Greek newspaper Ta Nea, revealed that two of the negotiations, including the very first in November 2021, took place at the Greek ambassador’s residence at 51 Upper Mayfair in Mayfair, London.

At the first meeting the British Museum chief and Greek PM held exploratory talks to determine a path forward for both parties. The Greek leader was in London to meet with then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but made sure to schedule an appointment with British Museum chiefs.

Mr Mitsotakis has long wanted the sculptures returned and has previously even offered to loan other Greek treasures to the British Museum in exchange.

Since the first November 2021 talks, Mr Osborne and Mr Mitsotakis, and other senior Greek government ministers, have met several times, face-to-face in London, and remotely over video call.

In return for the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles to the Acropolis Musueum, the UK would enter a formal cultural partnership with Greece. The British Museum would then have an agreement in place to showcase a rotating exhibition of Greek artifacts not previously seen outside of the country.

Despite the ongoing talks, an agreement is yet to be finalised.

But a Greek source involved in the negotiations told Ta Nea that ‘the devil is in the details.’

They added: ‘An agreement is 90 per cent complete, but a critical 10 per cent remains unresolved. It’s hard to get there, but it’s not impossible.’

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, when asked about a possible return of the Elgin Marbles by Ta Nea in March 2021, categorically shut down any Greek hopes of a possible return.  

Mr Johnson said: ‘The UK Government has a firm longstanding position on the sculptures which is that they were legally acquired by Lord Elgin under the appropriate laws of the time and have been legally owned by the British Museum’s Trustees since their acquisition.’

But now, after revelations about the discussion, the Elgin Marbles may not be housed in the British Museum for much longer.

MailOnline has reached out to the British Museum for comment.

A LONG-RUNNING HISTORICAL DISPUTE: WHAT ARE THE ELGIN MARBLES? 

The Elgin Marbles are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures, inscriptions and architectural members that were mostly created by Phidias and his assistants.

The 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce, removed the Parthenon Marble pieces from the Acropolis in Athens while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803.

In 1801, the Earl claimed to have obtained a permit from the Ottoman authorities to remove pieces from the Parthenon. 

As the Acropolis was still an Ottoman military fort, Elgin required permission to enter the site.

His agents subsequently removed half of the surviving sculptures, as well as architectural members and sculpture from the Propylaea and Erechtheum.

The excavation and removal was completed in 1812 at a personal cost of around £70,000.

The sculptures were shipped to Britain, but in Greece, the Scots aristocrat was accused of looting and vandalism.

They were bought by the British Government in 1816 and placed in the British Museum. They still stand on view in the purpose-built Duveen Gallery.

Greece has sought their return from the British Museum through the years, to no avail.

The authenticity of Elgin’s permit to remove the sculptures from the Parthenon has been widely disputed, especially as the original document has been lost. Many claim it was not legal.

However, others argue that since the Ottomans had controlled Athens since 1460, their claims to the artefacts were legal and recognisable.

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