Hello everyone! I had the chance to visit the British Museum last year. Even though I had been here before my last visit was quite a while back. So, going again seemed like a sensible idea. This Museum is a history and archaeology museum located in London and is one of the most visited museums in the world. It has an extensive collection and exploring the entire museum requires a significant amount of time.
The roots of the British Museum date back to the 18th century. Here you'll find exhibitions showcasing the history and archaeological heritage of various countries,shedding light on the development of human civilization.
One remarkable feature of the museum is its glass roof. This glass roof uniquely illuminates the inner courtyard and stands out as an architectural masterpiece.
Now onto my adventure! I started with the Elgin Marbles. This collection consists of ancient Greek reliefs and sculptures. These works date back to the 5th century BC and once adorned the Parthenon temple in Athens.
Another great piece in the museum is a sculpture from the Pacific Island. It's called "Hoa Hakananai" which can be translated as "Lost Friend." Sometimes this sculpture may appear larger or smaller in photos. Interestingly the head of the sculpture is visible while the interior is buried underground.
The statue faces the ocean with its back turned towards a volcano. We might speculate that this stance is related to a ritual or ancestor worship. This piece was brought to England from the Pacific Island by Royal Navy sailors in the 19th century and presented to Queen Victoria. The Queen thinking it could be better displayed donated it to the British Museum.
I ventured into the Egyptian collection and saw a statue of Pharaoh Ramses II who ruled in the 13th century BC. Ramses II was one of Egypt's greatest rulers and constructed temples dedicated to himself. Pharaohs were considered gods in Egypt and this statue portrays that significance.
Another piece that caught my attention was a figure of a lamb representing the god Amun accompanied by a small pharaoh figure. This emphasizes the pharaoh's divine status and the importance of Amun.
The next piece is located in the Egyptian gallery but is currently on display in the Enlightenment Gallery in a replica form. It's the "Rosetta Stone." Upon closer examination we see a text written in Egyptian hieroglyphs. There's also another text written using a script known as demotic. This second text belongs to a later period of Egypt.At the bottom of the stone an ancient Greek text is inscribed. Having three different texts with the same content on the stone helped scholars become familiar with the thematic Greek alphabet ultimately aiding in deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphs. This marked a turning point as historians could now unlock Ancient Egypt's secrets and read documents written in hieroglyphs.
In simple terms the stone itself isn't incredibly valuable as many stones with inscriptions exist in Egypt. Its value lies in scholars' efforts which led to the discovery of Ancient Egyptian civilization. Hence the Rosetta Stone is exhibited in the Enlightenment Gallery reflecting an environment of revolutions and discoveries.
I stood before a helmet believed to belong to the Anglo-Saxon king Raedwald probably. this helmet was found in the Sutton Hoo excavations.
And the final piece of the exhibition I want to share with you: This is a chessboard that comes from the Isle of Lewis. This board belongs to a Viking Age chess set found on the Isle of Lewis in the 19th century. Someone buried these pieces in a box and left them on a small Scottish island in the Outer Hebrides. These pieces were hidden away and then lost. As you can see they look really beautiful and impressive. These boards are made using walrus ivory and whale ivory. The details are truly striking and captivating. The king's sword-bearing the queen's sorrowful or terrified expression soldiers gnawing on shields, a bishop and details like the Holy Book are remarkable. These artworks are quite fascinating and meticulously crafted. These chessboards make you ponder how the Vikings spent their long winter evenings. They've also become a symbol of the British Museum. A significant part of the collection is housed here, while some figures are in the Scottish National Museum most are displayed in the British Museum. These artworks are located in a gallery within the Medieval Europe section.
When you visit the major museums in London don't forget to check out the gift shops.You can always find lovely souvenirs here. For instance items with the pattern of the Rosetta Stone a "Build Your Own Rosetta Stone" puzzle or an elegant umbrella. There are also detailed products like kitchen aprons available. These belong to a series that "speaks to the informed." They might be a bit pricier but they truly represent elegance and uniqueness. Similarly a chess set is also available here. You can purchase the pieces individually as magnets or postcards. There are chess sets featuring figures like the sword-bearing king the sorrowful queen, the bishop and the warrior gnawing on a shield. There are even books, souvenirs for children and many other wonderful options. For instance there are books that provide information about the masterpieces of the British Museum. A part of the exhibition we've been following is featured in these books. You could easily get lost in these books.
There's also a book available that explains Egyptian hieroglyphs and how they were deciphered. This book could be quite interesting for the curious. Similarly there's a fantastic book about evidence from the Bible. The Bible is a text that partly recounts historical events and many pieces proving the authenticity of these texts are found in the British Museum. If you happen to be in London you should definitely consider visiting the British Museum. It's designed with visitors in mind; there are elevators and dining areas available and you can see all the masterpieces.
Hiya, @choogirl here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honourable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1965.
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