Newly Discovered Treasures from the Sunken Ship of the Elgin Marbles
In 1802, the H.M.S. Mentor, a ship owned by the controversial Lord Elgin, sank off the coast of Greece, carrying a trove of artifacts looted from the Parthenon and other Greek heritage sites.
Over 200 years later, marine archaeologists have been exploring the wreck, recovering a wealth of new artifacts, including gold jewelry, cooking pots, chess pieces, and other items connected to the original cargo.
Elgin’s Controversial Legacy
Lord Elgin, the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, commissioned the Mentor to transport the artifacts to Great Britain. His actions remain a source of controversy, with many accusing him of looting valuable antiquities from Athens.
Elgin claimed to have permission to remove the artifacts, but the legality of his actions is disputed. His excavations left the Parthenon severely damaged, prompting objections from antiquities enthusiasts at the time.
The Sunken Treasures
The Mentor sank en route to Malta, where it was scheduled to dock before continuing its journey. All passengers and crew survived, but the valuable cargo was lost—at least initially.
Elgin recovered most of the artifacts in subsequent salvage missions, including the famous Parthenon Marbles, which are now housed in the British Museum. However, researchers have long suspected that additional artifacts remained trapped in the sunken ship.
Underwater Explorations
Since 2009, underwater archaeologists have been conducting annual excavations at the Mentor wreck site, searching for artifacts overlooked by Elgin’s salvagers. Previous expeditions have yielded personal belongings of the ship’s passengers and crew, as well as fragments of Egyptian sculptures and ancient shipping jars.
This year’s finds include a gold ring, gold earrings, a piece of cookware, and wooden pulleys. These newly discovered treasures provide valuable insights into the ship’s contents and the lives of those on board.
The Ongoing Debate over the Elgin Marbles
The newly discovered artifacts are the property of the Greek government, but the status of the Elgin Marbles remains a point of contention. Both Great Britain and Greece claim ownership of the friezes.
Greece argues that the marbles were illegally removed from Athens and should be returned to their rightful home. Great Britain maintains that Elgin acquired the artifacts legally and that they are now an important part of the British Museum’s collection.
Historical Context
At the turn of the 19th century, Athens was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. Elgin had a letter of instruction allowing him to remove artifacts, but the validity of this document is contested.
Elgin’s removal of 247 feet of sculpted frieze, 15 metopes, and 17 figures from the Parthenon sparked outrage among many contemporaries. The massive project bankrupted Elgin, and he later sold the collection to the British government.
Scholarly Perspectives
Scholar Izidor Janzekovic notes that even Elgin’s contemporaries considered his actions controversial. Many objected to the removal of artifacts from the deteriorating Parthenon, fearing further damage.
Art historian Mary Beard suggests that Elgin’s motives were complex. Some believe he sought to enhance his family’s reputation by acquiring the marbles, while others argue that he was genuinely dedicated to preserving them.
Greece’s Proposal for a Temporary Exchange
In 2009, Greece opened a museum near the Parthenon with spaces reserved for the missing sections of the frieze. More recently, Greece has proposed a temporary swap with the British Museum to mark the 200th anniversary of the Greek War for Independence.
Greece has offered to exchange several artifacts never previously allowed to leave the country in exchange for a temporary loan of the marbles. The British Museum has expressed willingness to consider the request but has not made any concrete commitments.
The debate over the Elgin Marbles continues to simmer between Greece and Great Britain, with no easy resolution in sight. The newly discovered treasures from the Mentor wreck serve as a reminder of the complex history and ongoing controversy surrounding these iconic artifacts.