When international human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin comes to Greece from October 13 through to October 16 to quietly advise the government about the return of the Parthenon Marbles to the Acropolis Museum she will be part of a delegation led by Geoffrey Robertson, the human rights QC who is joint head of Doughty Street Chambers where she specializes in international and criminal law. The Greek government had approached the chambers for help several years ago in an effort to relocate the marbles from the British museum to Greece. Back then, they had no idea that Ms. Alamuddin would shoot to sudden stardom beyond the realms of the legal profession by marrying the world’s most eligible bachelor, George Clooney.

An announcement by Doughty Street Chambers says:

“Mr. Robertson and Mrs. (George) Clooney were first asked to provide legal advice to the Greek government on this matter in 2011. They will be holding a series of meetings with government officials during their stay, including the Prime Minister, Mr Antonis Samaras, and the Minister of Culture, Mr Konstantinos Tasoulas.”

Mr. Robertson has long argued for the emergence of a system of international law that would enable the retun of culture treasures. In 2007, Mr. Robertson had successfully put an end to the Natural History Museum of Australia’s practise of performing tests on the skulls of Aboriginal ancestors.

During their visit, Mr. Robertson and Ms. Alamuddin will discuss ways that the Greek government can pursue its bid to secure the return of the marbles. At the moment, Greece is waiting for the British government to decide whether it will take part in a mediation procedure being proposed by UNESCO.

Ms. Alamuddin is participating in efforts for the return for the Parthenon Marbles just months after comments supporting their return were made by Mr. Clooney. In February prior to the Clooney-Alamuddin high profile wedding, Mr. Clooney had been asked about his views on the Parthenon Marbles while publicizing his movie, “The Monuments Men”, about looted art. He had said that returning the marbles was “probably the right thing to do.”

Ms. Alamuddin and Mr. Clooney are just the latest celebrity figures calling for the return of the artefacts.

Greeks will get a chance to see Mrs. Clooney – the beautiful woman with the lustrous hair – up close as well as a chance to take advantage of her legal expertise!

The late actress Melina Mercouri, had also led a tireless campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to their home. She had told the British authorities:

“You must understand what the Parthenon Marbles mean to us. They are our pride. They are our sacrifices. They are the supreme symbol of nobility. They are a tribute to democratic philosophy. They are our aspiration and our name. They are the essence of Greekness.”

Even when they were being removed Lord Byron, the poet, had protested their removal at the time, musing “curst be the hour when from their isle they roved.”