There were very few antiquities in the British Museum, and there was very little knowledge of Greek antiquity at that time. The ancient Athens itself was under an occupy the Ottomans and had been for three, 340 years or so, 300 years. So you asked the most important question which is how did they get there. They were just travelers that were beginning to get into the area and look at it at the time.
Should the British Museum return the Elgin Marbles, taken from the Parthenon in Athens about 200 years ago? What should be the purpose of museums, education or social justice? Listen as Tiffany Jenkins, author of Keeping Their Marbles, discusses these questions and more with EconTalk host Russ Roberts.