Today's article is based on a topical issue in the news.
Hollywood actor George Clooney's new wife, lawyer Amal Alamuddin Clooney, has made a plea for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens, in what Greeks hope may inject new energy into their national campaign.
The Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures that originally were part of the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens.
The marbles were acquired by British aristocrat Lord Elgin in 1816, while Athens was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. They are currently on display at the British Museum, despite Greece's repeated request to have them returned. After taking the marbles from Greece Lord Elgin sold them to the British Museum.
The British Museum was founded in 1753, the first national public museum in the world. From the beginning it granted free admission to all 'studious and curious persons'. Visitor numbers have grown from around 5,000 a year in the eighteenth century to nearly 6 million today.
The question of where the sculptures from the Parthenon should now be displayed has long been a subject of public discussion. The British Museum believe they legally own them while the Greek government believe they should be returned saying that Cultural treasures from ancient civilisations belong in the places they come from.
What do you think about this issue? Do you think the marbles should be returned to Greece? Leave your comments below.
Now decide if these statements are true or false:
