Historical because we were surrounded by history - not because anything earthshaking took place . . . well, at least not in our worlds.
I've wanted to visit the British Museum since I was a child and yesterday I finally did. There was awhile when I wanted to grow up and be an archaeologist so this was the spot to go to see the world's greatest collection of treasures from antiquity. At this point in my life I realize that many of these treasures actually came to London as the result of shady deals and looting I will persist in my blissful dreaming for the purposes of this post. This was the world’s first national collection, based on a bequest from Sir Hans Sloane in 1753 and added to over the centuries.
Its mighty colonnaded building on Great Russell Street displays around 80,000 objects, approximately 1 per cent of the 8 million-strong collection, including controversial superstars from the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles (now delicately referred to as the Parthenon Sculptures) and British favourites such as the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial and the Mildenhall Treasure.
In 2000 the inner courtyard, once filled with British Library books, was capped by an elegant cushion of glass panels, adding 40 per cent more space for cafes and shops below and freeing up exhibition space. This stunning space is worthy of a visit itself.
Remember I mentioned that there were 80,000 objects on display? We spent close to four hours at the museum and we barely scratched the surface. The highlights for us:
The Egyptian Sculpture Gallery which is a vast room and seemingly one of the most popular. Here we saw depictions of kings, deities, and various symbolic objects that go as far back to the time of the Old Kingdom to the middle of the Roman Period. There were also towering sculptures of various rulers down the centre of the room.
Also located within the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery is the world-famous Rosetta Stone, a giant slab inscribed with three versions of a decree issued at Memphis, Egypt in 196 BC. After it was discovered in 1799, this stone turned out to be one of the key factors in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Next up was there Assyrian rooms where historical treasures such as sculptures and reliefs from the palaces and temples of ancient Assyria (modern northern Iraq) are displayed. The reliefs appear to be in remarkably good condition for their age and it's incredible to see how many pieces have been preserved for visitors to gaze upon.
Finally we arrived at the Parthenon sculptures.The Parthenon in Athens has a long and complex history. Originally built nearly 2,500 years ago as a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, the famous structure was converted into a church for the Virgin Mary of the Athenians and stayed that way for a thousand years. Later it became a a mosque, and finally an archaeological ruin. Over the course of many centuries, the building was altered and the original sculptures damaged.
The surviving sculptures have been divided among some of the great museums of the world, with a large collection housed in the British Museum. To this day, the sculptures are still actively studied and researched by an international community of scholars to promote understanding both of ancient Greek culture and its role in the cultures of the world.
Lord Elgin purchased the sculptures from the Turkish rulers of Greece and every since the Greeks have been calling for their return. When we were in Athens the new Acropolis museum had spaces on the walls where the marbles would be stored when they had been returned by the British.
One of the things that Paul wanted to see was in the Mexico rooms so that was our next stop. From prehistoric times, the regions in what is now considered Mexico have housed distinctive cultures, until the first European contact in the sixteenth century. In Room 27, you'll find early Mexican civilization is explored, which includes artifacts from the Classic Veracruz and Huastec cultures, as well as from the magnificent Maya city states of the first millennium AD.
The exhibit features rare objects, including highly-prized turquoise mosaic which dates all the way back to AD 1400–1521, and stone sculptures of female deities from AD 900-1450.
We were hungry by now. The museum has plenty of cafes and spots to eat but most were filled with rambunctious school children on field trips. My field trip days being over I sought out the peace and quiet of the pizza cafe where we both ordered calzones.
Paul wanted to shop in the gift shops for a bit. In the end I bought a few thins and he bought nothing.
Mueseumed out (it happens) we decided to head to St. Paul's Cathedral. Rather than figure out how to get there ourselves we hopped in one of the cabs lined up in front of the museum and enjoyed a ride on one of London's famous black cabs.
Towering over the city in a spot that's been a place of Christian worship for over 1400 years (and pagan before that), St Paul’s is one of London’s most magnificent buildings. For Londoners, the vast dome is a symbol of resilience and pride, standing tall for more than 300 years. Viewing Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece from the inside and climbing to the top for sweeping views of the capital is an experience not to be missed.
St. Paul’s is notable for housing the remains of its architect, Sir Christopher Wren, as well as the Duke of Wellington, Horatio Nelson, among many other notable figures. It was also the site of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
Admission to the Cathedral includes a headset and Ipod in the language of your choice which contains videos explaining the history, architecture, and other interesting info which you can refer to as you explore the cathedral.
We headed back to the apartment (stopping for supplies at the Tesco Express) and relaxed with wine and food bought at the Borough market the other day.
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