Whilst visiting Greece, I came across a large carved pillar, or column, lying unassumingly beneath the canopy of an orange grove not far from the Acropolis in Athens. As an architectural pillar of great antiquity, it’s very likely not far off two and a half thousand years old. Greece wants them back, just like many antiquities that have found their way to Britain by somewhat dubious deals and means. However, here lays a single Greek pillar, its surroundings littered with oranges, its surface gently warmed by the sunshine through century after century, probably mostly overlooked until now. This column belongs to Greece just as statuary around the world belongs in its original surroundings.

Source: The Times March 25, 2026 20:51 UTC