Greek-Australian Elly Symons (née Agrotis), Vice President of the Australian Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, has expressed renewed optimism that the long-awaited return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens could happen as early as 2026. The ex-wife of former television and radio personality, and founding member of the Australian 70s, rock-group, Skyhooks, Red Symons said, “If the Parthenon Sculptures come to Athens, they won’t go back.
Symons, a long-time campaigner for the reunification of the Marbles, currently spends part of the year living in central Athens. In Athens, speaking to newsbomb.gr, she reflected on the evolution of high-level discussions and diplomatic efforts, particularly since Kyriakos Mitsotakis became Prime Minister of Greece.
Mitsotakis’ leadership marked a turning point
“Before Mitsotakis, no Greek government had taken the matter seriously,” Symons said. “There were complaints, but no strategy. The topic was always treated as a matter between museums, which suited the British government.
“But this is a political issue—between two states—and it required political will.”
Symons recalled conversation three years ago with Prime Minister Mitsotakis on new year’s day, during which he revealed that he was working on a government-level strategy to repatriate the Sculptures. Since then, discussions have shifted to the highest level of diplomacy, involving UK and Greek officials.
Behind the scenes diplomacy and Osborne’s support
Symons also credits Greek-Canadian businessman John Lefas for revitalising the campaign by treating it as a strategic project. Lefas reportedly engaged directly with British MPs and arranged visits for them to Athens and the Acropolis Museum.
According to Symons, the British Museum had grown weary of the ongoing dispute, especially given the financial demands of renovating the gallery where the Marbles are housed. Mounting political and economic pressures, a shift in public opinion favouring the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, and ongoing dialogue between Prime Minister Mitsotakis and former British Chancellor George Osborne—now Chair of the British Museum—have coalesced to create a genuine opportunity for negotiations.
The Australian VC for the committee calling for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures believes that a general framework for a deal has been agreed upon around two years ago, with the general support of British Museum head, Osborne, Greek prime minister, Mitsotakis, and Labour British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. She pointed to elections and other global events causing delays, however, she said that “momentum continues”.
On loan or not? A sensitive issue of ownership
Symons acknowledges that the terminology around ownership remains an obstacle.
“Greece will likely not accept the word ‘loan’,” she said. The Greeks will not grant any legitimacy to the notion that anyone other than Greece owns Hellenic cultural heritage—not the British government, nor the British Museum.
She pointed to the 2022 return of the Fagan fragment from Sicily as a model. That fragment was ‘deposited’—not loaned or gifted—to the Acropolis Museum by the Antonio Salinas Museum in Palermo.
“That created a useful precedent,” she said. “From what I know, 95 per cent of the current agreement is already in place.”
Despite speculation that only some of the Sculptures will be returned, Symons is said she believes that the Greek government will be “firm on securing the entire collection”. “Everyone must feel like a winner through cultural collaboration between the two historic allies.”
Symons said that Greece could loan other treasures to the British Museum in exchange, thus allowing visitors in the UK to view exhibits they’ve never seen before. Meanwhile, the British Museum could retain high-quality 3D-printed replicas of the Parthenon Marbles.
Timeline: Why 2026?
Symons believes that a deal will come to fruition in 2026. The timing aligns with planned renovations at the British Museum.
“Once the gallery closes, the Marbles will go into storage—and that’s when they can come to Athens,” she said.
Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni echoed this optimism publicly for the first time—recently, which Symons views as a “sign” that an agreement is near.
“If they come in 2026, in five years no one will even remember the word ‘loan’. The excitement will be too great. Once they’re in Athens, they won’t leave.”
Public opinion and global support
In a UK poll conducted by YouGov company in 2024, 53 per cent of participants of the Brits were in favour of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece.
Only 24 per cent said they were against, while 23 per cent expressed no opinion at all. A total of 4,280 adults across the country were surveyed.
Symons believes that while the issue does not occupy much time in the ordinary Briton’s mind when asked most would agree “the Sculptures should be returned”.
Symons praised the Diaspora , particularly in Australia.
“The Australian Committee is one of the strongest in the world, and the British Committee the most influential.”
“Every Greek in Australia wants to see them repatriated,” she said and most Australians are supportive when informed.
The mood seems right, particularly as former colonial powers of the 19th Century are returning sacred objects, and human remains of indigenous peoples back to their rightful owners. The Natural History Museum in London last year handed over the remains of 36 First Nations ancestors to Australian representatives.
The Parthenon Sculptures Symons believes are central to a culturally resurgent Athens, where Symons spends much of her time. In Athens the light of Greece will bathe the Sculptures illuminating them for all humanity—at home, not in the dark and dank British Museum, where they remain as objects of theft.
