The Elgin Marbles were sculptures which were a part of the Parthenon. They were removed by Thomas Bruce, Earl of Elgin, and taken to the British Museum. This act was, according to the Eighth Doctor, controversial.
In 1921, Martin Donaldson showed the marbles, among artefacts at the British Museum, to Liv Chenka. (AUDIO: A Life in the Day [+]Loading...["A Life in the Day (audio story)"])
By the 1950s, Torchwood One had a hidden room hidden behind the sculptures. Norton Folgate went there whilst finding a way to kill the mushroom creatures. (AUDIO: Parasite [+]Loading...["Parasite (audio story)"])
In the late 22nd century, during the 2180s Dalek invasion of Earth, the Monk stole the marbles, along with several other pieces of art. (AUDIO: Lucie Miller [+]Loading...["Lucie Miller (audio story)"])