British Museum to loan Parthenon fragments to Germany

The British Museum has agreed to loan two fragments of the Parthenon Sculptures to the Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung in Frankfurt, Germany, for an exhibition titled ‘Athena, the Stage is Yours: The Parthenon Puzzle’. The exhibition, scheduled to run from November 18, 2026, to July 25, 2027, aims to use modern technology and research led by Vinzenz Brinkmann to reconstruct the image of the Parthenon’s eastern pediment.

Greece has categorically rejected requests from the German museum to loan additional artifacts from the Acropolis Museum to participate in the exhibition. The Central Archaeological Council (KAS) issued a negative opinion on the request, citing concerns that participating in such loans could be interpreted as an implicit acceptance of British ownership over the sculptures. Greek authorities maintain that the sculptures should be reunited in Athens rather than managed through temporary loan agreements.

Author Victoria Hislop expressed deep disappointment regarding the decision, describing it as ‘very provocative’ and noting that it undermines hopes for the permanent return of the marbles to Greece. She highlighted that approximately 70% of the British public supports the return of the sculptures to Athens.