2023 marks the 270th anniversary of the founding of the British Museum, the world's first national museum, established in 1753. Based on the collection of Sir Hans Sloane, a collector and physician, the museum now houses over 80,000 items from around the world. It holds a vast history of humanity, spanning an incredible 2 billion years, from ancient artifacts to more recent acquisitions.
The Egypt section is one of the highlights, with the Rosetta Stone likely being the most important piece. This stone played a crucial role in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, a script that had been forgotten and unreadable for over a thousand years. 2022 marked the 200th anniversary of its decipherment, achieved by the French linguist Champollion in 1822. In a separate room, you can explore how ancient pharaohs were mummified, offering insights into the Egyptian concept of the afterlife.
The Greek section boasts the Parthenon sculptures, a collection of sculptures dating back 2,500 years. These are all original and genuine pieces. Additionally, you can find sculptures related to Hinduism, such as Lord Shiva. He is known for being featured on Ebisu Beer labels and is also a part of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods as Daikokuten, did you know that?
In the scene in the movie "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" where Ron introduces Wizard's Chess to Harry, the model for the chess set can be found here!
Why do collections from around the world converge here? Such questions will be answered during the tour.
Please note that the British Museum offers free admission, but they suggest a voluntary donation of around £5 to support activities involving children (though this donation is not obligatory).
