ATHENS – Greek News USA
“It is time for Greece to take the Parthenon Sculptures back”, Sir Stephen Fry, the distinguished British actor, writer, director, and well-known Philhellene, said on January 29 during the presentation of his latest book, “Odyssey”, in Athens.
The event, titled In Conversation with Stephen Fry, was organized by the Greek Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organization at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
“We all understand that the Parthenon Sculptures belong to Greece and must return to Greece.And we should do this so that we can be proud of something. We have the opportunity to return these priceless Sculptures to the place where they belong, to this wonderful Museum, to their homeland. And then there will be a smile of global scope. And then the journey will be complete. Many of us in Britain believe that this should be done”, he added.
He also stressed that “there must be political will on the part of Great Britain. We need to find a common language, and words that will satisfy both sides. The word cooperation is the best. We are in one of the best museums in the world that can now welcome the Parthenon Sculptures that are in the British Museum”.
“We are in one of the best museums in the world that can now welcome the Parthenon sculptures,” Sir Stephen Fry noted emphatically, adding that the British museum can use new technologies and in turn have copies of the Parthenon Sculptures.
Referring to his fourth book, “The Odyssey,” he emphasized that it deals with all the universal issues that concern us today.
“This is not just a literary rendition of the Homeric epic, but a modern bridge that connects the past with the present, myth with reality…. The Odyssey is a story of search, resilience and return. And we could not find a more fitting metaphor for the Parthenon Sculptures”, Greek Minister of Tourism, Olga Kegalogianni said, introducing Fry and his book.
“The return of the Parthenon Sculptures does not only concern Greece. It is a global issue of cultural justice. Your voice, Sir Fry, has contributed decisively to strengthening this effort”, she noted.
