![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/the-parthenon-galleries-in-the-british-museum.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAn academic has been banned from an Athens museum for backing Britain’s claim to the Elgin Marbles.<\/p>\n
Dr Mario Trabucco della Torretta, an archaeologist, was scheduled to make a presentation during at the Acropolic Museum in Athens.<\/p>\n
But his appearance at the museum was vetoed after it had learned he had been scheduled to speak at a conference of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).<\/p>\n
Dr Trabucco and the British Museum have confirmed the 2,500-year-old marbles were legally bought in the 19th century.<\/p>\n
But the Greek Government has long claimed the ancient statues were looted by Lord Elgin.<\/p>\n
Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis, the director of the Acropolis Museum, shares the position the Marbles were stolen, and has been a leading advocate for their return.<\/p>\n
Dr Trabucco said he was blocked from speaking at the conference after being considered “persona non grata” by the museum.<\/p>\n
He told The Telegraph: “The behaviour displayed by the Acropolis Museum\u2019s board is unworthy of the world-class research institution it claims to be, and degrades the museum to a propaganda establishment that shuts down debate and quells dissent.<\/p>\n
The Elgin Marbles were acquired by Lord Elgin in the 19th century<\/p>\n
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“In the city that prides itself on being the birthplace of democracy, one would expect higher standards.”<\/p>\n
Speakers at the RICS event were screened in April during the event’s planning phase – and the institute was told Dr Trabucco was an “unacceptable” speaker.<\/p>\n
He had recently appeared in a documentary about the Marbles produced by CGTN, a Chinese broadcaster.<\/p>\n
In it, both Prof Stampolidis and Dr Trabucco pushed the case for and against a return, respectively.<\/p>\n
READ MORE ON THE ELGIN MARBLES:<\/p>\n
![\"Elgin](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/elgin-marbles.jpg\")
The Greek government has pushed for a return of the Elgin Marbles, which it believes were stolen<\/p>\n
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Displays within the Acropolis Museum point guests to the lack of the artworks removed from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin.<\/p>\n
Discussions have been held about the future of the Marbles, with British Museum chairman George Osborne holding three meetings with the Greek Government<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n The Greeks have refused to sign an agreement which would accept the British Museum legally owns the relics in order to secure a loan.<\/p>\n Loan deals have been struck to return artefacts to their home countries, such as the British Museum’s return of Ghanaian gold<\/a> and a collection of Greek and Egyptian treasures to a leading Indian museum.<\/p>\n Dr Mario Trabucco della Torretta said he was considered ‘persona non grata’ by the Acropolis Museum<\/p>\n | <\/p>\n SOUTH DOWNS CONSERVATIVES<\/p>\n Elsewhere in Britain, the Brighton and Hove Museums<\/a> have also pledged to give “back” legally purchased historic jewellery and accessories to Botswana in order to “give them meaning”.<\/p>\n![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/dr-mario-trabucco-della-torretta.jpg\")