efused to take casts or build scaffolding for a closer look at the sculptures. In order to do this Bruce has required a firman, authority, to begin his work. Easily obtained, he talked to high-ranking officers of the Turkish government to obtain this firman, which was also suggested that he was at liberty to take any sculptures that did not interfere with the walls or works of the Parthenon. Sculptures were lowered, transported back to Britain, and Elgin had permanently borrowed the statues.
             Outside of the legal implications, critics also reprimand Elgin with the belief for having the courage to remove the sculptures from the monument, thus alleging he is responsible for destroying the Parthenon forever (http://www.london2athens.com/ elgin.html). This can be defended under the pretense of preservation. When Elgin and his assistants arrived at the monument, it was being used as a military post by Turkish troops where it was undergoing daily deterioration. As a result of their disrespectfulness, the sculptures were being destroyed carelessly on an almost daily basis. Elgin describes circumstances where the Turkish soldiers would grind the statues or any other Parthenon rubble into the mortar to be used in battle (Bernstein). It seems certain that Elgin's acquisition of the statues was certainly a move of preservation that prevented further destruction of the delicate marbles. Even though he is highly criticized, Elgin essentially saved the marbles from being destroyed. Had not been for him, there would not be a controversy about ownership because the Parthenon Sculptures would not be in existence. Even if they had been miraculously preserved from the Turkish troops, they would have been destroyed in one of the many wars that took place in Greece thereafter or the hazards of industrial pollution that plagues modern Athens. Though Elgin is often depicted as a villain, as a result of his rationale behind taking the sculptures, he is respo...