For years, Greece has pleaded with the British Museum to return the Elgin Marbles—a collection of classical sculptures made by the people of Athens for the Parthenon. Purchased by the British Museum in 1817, the marbles had been taken from Greece by Lord Elgin—a Scottish nobleman and diplomat. As the push to have the sculptures returned to their homeland continues, Greece is hoping to gain the support of the United Nations for its repatriation mission