Should artifacts of cultural importance be returned to their countries of origin?

[Hercus Monte]

Should the Parthenon marbles be returned to Athens?
Should the Sigismund Augustus library be returned to Vilnius?

etc.

[Proctor]

It depends on the safety of the country imo, and the chance it has of getting destroyed there.

[Tropico]

ONLY if the country has the means to protect them and insure their safety.

[Hercus Monte]

It depends on the safety of the country imo, and the chance it has of getting destroyed there.
yes, this is my presumption. After the news of Egyptian museums being plundered I think we can disqualify unstable states.

[Hercus Monte]

I should clarify that I'm not talking about items or artifacts that were purchased legally, but rather stolen from occupied countries or sold by occupiers.

[Hercus Monte]

bump

[Ivan Kramskoï]

No because in doing so it forget the explorer that discovered those masterpieces.

[Hercus Monte]

No because in doing so it forget the explorer that discovered those masterpieces.
but who's more important? the thief or the patron.

[Jackson]

Should be considered case by case. And anyway, them being taken from their countries of origin is also part of it's history.

[Hercus Monte]

Should be considered case by case. And anyway, them being taken from their countries of origin is also part of it's history.
true, yet I fail to see how being plundered in WWII is supposed to be a justification.

[Scipio Africanus]

I would like to get back in Italy these objects:

http://images.nymag.com/listings/art/3greekroman.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Arte_etrusca,_sarcofago_di_thanunia_seianti,_150-130_ac._01.JPG/250px-Arte_etrusca,_sarcofago_di_thanunia_seianti,_150-130_ac._01.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Boscoreale_fresco_woman_kithara.jpg/200px-Boscoreale_fresco_woman_kithara.jpg

and many others..

[Hercus Monte]

bump

[maxpayne3]

no

[Shah-Jehan]

yes...

[Farah]

In principle, ofcourse yes..but in reality, I don't know how ideal that is. Many countries unfortunately don't have the means or the culture of conserving and preserving their heritage, and so the artifacts may be in a much worse condition despite how unethical their initial acquisition was.

[Hercus Monte]

In principle, ofcourse yes..but in reality, I don't know how ideal that is. Many countries unfortunately don't have the means or the culture of conserving and preserving their heritage, and so the artifacts may be in a much worse condition despite how unethical their initial acquisition was.
Greece, for example, is very much capable of taking care of the Parthenon Marbles.