British Museum calls for ‘Parthenon partnership’ with Greece over marbles

Deputy director says institution seeks dynamic and positive conversation' over sculptures taken from Athens in 19th century

The deputy director of the British Museum has proposed a Parthenon partnership" with Greece that could see the marbles returned to Athens after more than 200 years.

The sculptures - 17 figures and part of a frieze that decorated the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis - were taken by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman empire, and have since been the subject of a long-running dispute over where they should be displayed.