Elgin marbles are moving for first time in over half a century for new British Museum show

Some of the controversial Elgin marbles will be moved for the first time in more than half a century to take centre-stage in a major new show on ancient Greece, the British Museum revealed today.

Next spring’s blockbuster exhibition will include treasures from the museum’s extensive collection of Greek and Roman sculpture including some of the Elgin marbles which have not been separated since being housed in their current gallery in 1962.

Officially known as the Parthenon sculptures, they were taken from Greece by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and have been the subject of argument between the countries ever since.