The Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Friezes, are a collection of high-relief sculptures that originally adorned the upper part of the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena on the Athenian Acropolis.
The frieze was sculpted between c. 443 and 437 BC, most likely under the direction of the famous sculptor Phidias. It depicted a continuous frieze, about 160 meters long, showcasing a procession towards the Acropolis during the Panathenaia, a festival in honor of Athena.
The surviving portion of the frieze, about 80%, is divided between the Acropolis Museum in Athens, the British Museum in London, and a few smaller fragments in other museums around the world.
The ownership of the marbles remains a contentious issue, with Greece calling for their return to their original home in Athens. The British Museum, however, argues that the marbles are part of its world collection and should remain in London.