The British Museum sparks outrage in Greece over party among Parthenon sculptures

The decision by the British Museum’s administration to hold a charity gala dinner in the hall where the Parthenon marble sculptures are displayed has provoked a strong reaction from the Greek authorities. The event, titled “The Pink Ball,” gathered around 800 guests, including celebrities and business figures. The ticket price for the dinner was approximately £2,000.

Particular outrage was caused by the fact that the dinner took place directly among the exhibits, which have long been the subject of dispute between London and Athens. Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sports called the event a “provocation” and “a sign of disrespect for the country’s cultural heritage.” Officials in Athens stressed that such use of artifacts undermines the museum’s credibility as a guardian of world culture.

The Greek authorities reminded that the Parthenon Marbles (or “Elgin Marbles”) were removed from Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin and later sold to the British Museum. Greece has for decades sought their return, claiming the removal was illegal.

The museum, in turn, stated that the sculptures are kept under reliable protection and that the charity event was aimed at raising funds for collection preservation and educational programs. However, Athens considers such explanations insufficient and sees the incident as “yet another example of disregard for other nations’ cultural heritage.”

Experts believe that this incident may complicate ongoing talks between the UK and Greece about the possible return of the Parthenon sculptures, which remain one of the most sensitive issues in the field of international cultural heritage.