Greece had been under Ottoman rule for about 400 years, when the marbles were taken you'd have to go back 13 generations before you get to greek owned Greece.

Greece had been under Ottoman rule for about 400 years, when the marbles were taken you'd have to go back 13 generations before you get to greek owned Greece. If you do make that 13 generation jump, the Greeks who owned it at that time period were themselves descendants of conquerors — none of the people in this story are the owners of the marbles, if we choose to tar everyone with this brush equally. Additionally, the Ottoman empire made documentation legitimising Elgin's movements of the marbles, the fact that the original receipt is missing and they had a hearing for that is moot in light of the rest. The ottomans issued orders to the city to allow his movements and they issued notice to the docks that he'd be moving marbles out via boat. "When they wish to take away some pieces of stone with old inscriptions and figures, no opposition be made."