Italy: The return to Greece of a fragment of the Parthenon frieze, helps build a Europe of culture

The return to our country, in the form of a “deposit”, a fragment of the Parthenon frieze from the Archaeological Museum of Palermo, was mentioned by the head of cultural affairs of the local government of Sicily, Alberto Samona.

“The return of this important fragment contributes to the building of a Europe of culture, with roots in history and in our identity. It is the Europe of the peoples, which closely connects Italy with Greece,” Samona told the Italian news agency. Ansa.

“Our two countries are guardians of ancient as well as universal values. And so many testimonies of Greek culture in Sicily, after all, testify to this deep relationship”, added the person in charge of cultural affairs of the largest island of Italy.

He explained that “the cooperation agreement with the Acropolis Museum will allow the undertaking of cultural initiatives of international value and radiation”.

For her part, the Greek Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, in her statements transmitted by the Ansa agency, expressed her gratitude to the local government of Sicily, emphasizing that “an excellent and exemplary cooperation has been developed, in order to be able to to exhibit for a long time, this fragment, in the Museum of the Acropolis, that is, in its natural space “.

“The desire of the local government of Sicily to permanently return this fragment from Palermo to Greece, strengthens and confirms the cultural, fraternal ties that have existed for a long time between our two countries, and offers a de facto recognition of the Mediterranean identity,” he added. the minister.

Ms. Mendoni, finally, underlined that “in this way, the local government of Sicily indicates the way for the final return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens, the city where they were created”.

The director of the Archaeological Museum of the capital of Sicily, Katerina Greco, also expressed her great satisfaction for the return of the “Fagan fragment” of the Parthenon decoration sculpture, from Palermo to Athens.

The general director of the Acropolis Museum, Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis, as broadcast by Ansa, underlined:

“The local government of Sicily wanted to activate the intergovernmental process in order to allow the undisclosed stay in Athens – in the physical space of the Acropolis Museum – of the fragment from Palermo. In this way, our beloved sister “Sicily will pave the way for the return to Greece of other fragments of the Parthenon, which are now in other European cities, especially in the British Museum in London.”

SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ