Greece thinks Amal Alamuddin Clooney could solve the West's longest-running cultural spat

Greece thinks Amal Alamuddin Clooney could solve the West's longest-running cultural spat
(Image credit: Yorgos Karahalis - Pool/Getty Images)

Amal Alamuddin Clooney might be on her way to remembrance for her involvement with a controversial part of the Parthenon.

Last month, Doughty Street, where Clooney is a barrister, announced that Clooney would visit Athens from Oct. 13-16 to advise the Greek government about the Elgin Marbles. The Elgin Marbles are a set of Greek marble sculptures that were originally part of the Parthenon and other acropolis buildings. They are currently on display at the British Museum, but Greece has long hoped to reclaim the statues.

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Clooney, along with lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, hosted talks with various government officials in Greece, including the Greek prime minister and the culture minister. Clooney and Robertson also visited the Acropolis Museum, which is home to the portion of the Elgin Marbles that aren't in the U.K.

Costas Tassoulas, Greece's culture minister, said at a press conference Wednesday that UNESCO, the U.N.'s cultural branch, is urging Britain to reconsider a year-old proposal to join in a "mediation process" to decide the sculptures' fate. Greece hopes to regain all of the Elgin Marbles that were once part of the Parthenon. If its efforts are successful, the country would display the collection at a museum near the Acropolis Hill.

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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.