Elgin Marbles Statue Lent To Russian Museum

It is the first time one of the ancient treasures at the centre of a long-standing cultural dispute is allowed to leave UK shores.

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   Gallery: Long-Standing Tensions Over The Elgin Marbles

   The wrangle between Britain and Greece over the Elgin Marbles has become one of the most contentious cultural disputes in recent history
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   Gallery: Long-Standing Tensions Over The Elgin Marbles

   The wrangle between Britain and Greece over the Elgin Marbles has become one of the most contentious cultural disputes in recent history

One of the Elgin Marbles has been loaned out by the British Museum for the first time to go on show in Russia, despite tensions over Ukraine and the long-standing dispute with Greece over their ownership.

The river god Ilissos has been lent to the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg until mid-January.
The headless statue is one of a number of marble treasures taken from the Parthenon in Athens and sold to the British Museum by Scottish diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.
In a blog on the British Museum's website, Neil MacGregor said: "The British Museum is a museum of the world, for the world and nothing demonstrates this more than the loan of a Parthenon sculpture to the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg to celebrate its 250th anniversary."

The headless statue of the river god Ilissos has been loaned to Russia

Greece maintains the Elgin Marbles were removed illegally during the country's Turkish occupation and should be returned for display in a new Athens museum - which the British Museum and the Government reject.
Mr MacGregor said: "The trustees have always believed that such loans must continue between museums in spite of political disagreements between governments.

Video: Oct 15: Clooney Calls On Marbles

"So, when our colleagues at the Hermitage asked if we might also make an important loan to celebrate their 250th anniversary, the trustees immediately answered Yes."
Sir Richard Lambert, chairman of the trustees of the British Museum, said: "The duty of the trustees is to allow citizens in as many countries as possible to share in their common inheritance.
"The trustees are delighted that this beautiful object will be enjoyed by the people of Russia."
It is the first time one of the British Museum's Parthenon sculptures, which represents about a third of the original decoration of the temple, has been requested for loan
They have never previously left the museum except during wartime.
In October, human rights barrister Amal Clooney called on Britain to give up its "intransigence" and start talks with Greece on the return of the Elgin Marbles.
The Lebanese-born barrister and wife of the Hollywood film star George Clooney has been advising the Greek government on how it can best pursue its claims to win back the ancient artefacts.
UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural organisation, has also called on Britain to enter into a process of mediation with the Greeks in order to settle the 200-year-old dispute.
The British Museum says it is holding the marbles, and its other treasures, "in trust for the nation and world" and insists their legal status is clearly defined in the British Museum Act.