a group of Greek sculptures of the 5th century b.c., originally on the Parthenon in Athens, and supposedly sculptured under the direction of Phidias: presently in the British Museum in London.
Origin: after Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin (1766–1841), who arranged for their removal from Athens
1809, sculptures and marbles (especially from the frieze of the Parthenon) brought to England and sold to the British government by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin (1766-1841).
[el-gin, -jin] 
