As curators all over the world will see it, those who call for the permanent return of the Parthenon sculptures from London are arguing for international museums to be emptied.

ECONOMIST: Lord Elgin and the Parthenon marbles

But the British Museum has refused to return its Parthenon sculptures, almost all of which were brought back from Athens in the early 19th century by the British diplomat, Lord Elgin.

BBC: Vatican sends back Parthenon head

With the opening of an impressive new museum in Athens (see article), the sculptures from the Parthenon now have good cause to be reunited, if only for artistic reasons.

ECONOMIST: Lord Elgin and the Parthenon marbles

Yet it is this very palpability within a landscape that makes many people believe that the Parthenon sculptures should be viewed, not in the grey light of their London vault, but within direct view of the location for which they were created.

ECONOMIST: Classical antiquity