At a major conference held on 30 November and 1 December 1999, British Museum, Greek and international scholars discussed the nature of any damage to the Marbles in the hushed-up cleaning of the 1930s. Mary Beard puts the discussions in context and tells how, ever since their acquisition in 1816 by Lord Elgin, the Marbles have aroused fierce debate. Why?

The restitution question was hardly mentioned, but it tautened everyone’s nerves

After the sculptures' surfaces were damaged in the 1930s due to improper care, the museum has cleaned up its act

St Clair demands greater candour in the fallout of Lord Elgin and the Marbles' third edition, in which it was asserted that over-cleaning had irreparably damaged the marbles

Greeks renew demands for return of sculptures following new allegations that they were irreparably damaged in the Thirties