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🛡️✨ Brace yourselves, the legion is coming!
There's just a few weeks until sets up camp in the Museum!
From frontier fort to brutal battles, prepare to experience life at the very heart of the Roman war machine ⚔
💪 Think you have what it takes to make it in the Roman army? Book a ticket to secure your spot in the legion: https://ow.ly/zWhw50QoiPc
🐦 Early birds catch the discount worm! Book before 9 am on January 10th to snag an exclusive 20% off your ticket.
😰 When it comes to ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ this guy has us all beat 👇
Xie An (320–385 AD) was a famed official during China’s Jin Dynasty, known for his exemplary statesmanship and strategic planning.
One of his greatest successes came during the Battle of the Fei River: despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered, Xie An devised a brilliant ambush and delivered a crushing victory 💪
Painted during the early Qing Dynasty - some thirteen centuries after Xie An's time – this hanging scroll depicts him serenely engaged in a game of Wei Qi, which he famously played while awaiting news of his plan’s success.
In imperial China, a male scholar's main path to success was to follow in the footsteps of statesmen like Xie An and become a government official. The notoriously tough civil service exam had about a 1% pass rate, and tested skills as diverse as mathematics, classic literature, and even at some points archery! 🏹
From the unflappable Xie An to the calligraphy of a doomed poet, our newest display explores the tumultuous lives of Chinese government officials.
🏛 ‘Ming and Qing representations of Chinese officials’ will be on display until June 2 in Room 33 of the Museum – the Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery of China and South Asia.
💕 Live, Laugh, Love like its 300 AD! 💕
On the hunt for historical home décor inspiration? This Roman mosaic from Halicarnassus has you covered 🏡
In the centre of the laurel wreath is a Greek inscription invoking a host of blessings:
Health 💪 Life 🌿 Joy 😁 Peace 🕊 Good Cheer 🍻 Hope 🤞
If you’re looking for something to wish for in the coming year, we think these ancient ideals have held up pretty well against the test of time ⏳
🎆 Welcoming 2024 with a sparkle and a flash! ✨
At midnight tonight, skies across the world will be lit up with spectacular displays of fireworks! 🎇
This vibrant print depicts an annual fireworks festival in Japan, a tradition dating all the way back to the mid-1700s! Every year on the last Saturday of July, the sky over the Tokyo’s Sumida River is illuminated as experts compete to create the most impressive displays 🧨
While summer has traditionally been the season for fireworks displays in Japan, in more recent years the sight of New Year’s Eve fireworks over Tokyo Bay has become more common!
Happy New Year’s Eve! 🎊
✅ 1 year ✅ 365 days ✅ 14 extraordinary exhibitions
From cracking the hieroglyphic code to revolution and republic in China, join us for a look back at the displays that decorated our galleries in 2023 🏛
We've got a sneak peak at what’s to come in 2024: https://ow.ly/Ip1j50QmjeR
Here’s some emoji hints to get you started: ⚔, 👉👈 , 🐫
🖼📚From picture-perfect prints to remarkable reads, beat the winter blues with a British Museum bargain!
⚡ Flash sale must end at midnight on 29 December, GMT.
💻 Visit britishmuseumshoponline.org
🌎 Pssst… did we mention we ship worldwide?
🧠 Think you can out-boffin even the brainiest of curators? Put your mental mettle to the test with our Egyptian enigma!
In Egyptian mythology the god Horus had four sons: Duamutef, Hapy, Imsety and Qebehsenuef. Each had the head of a different creature – a falcon, baboon, human and jackal.
Horus’ sons were thought to protect different parts of the body – during mummification, internal organs were removed from the deceased and stored in canopic jars made in each son’s likeness.
Using the clues below and image above, can you work out which order we’ve shown the Sons of Horus in?
💡 The protector of intestines has the head of a falcon
💡 Imsety does not have a jackal’s head
💡 Hapy doesn’t protect the stomach or liver
💡 Duamutef doesn’t have a baboon’s head
💡 The human-headed figure is protector of the liver
💡 Qebehsenuef protects the intestines
💡 The baboon-headed figure protects the lungs
👇 Drop your answer in the comments! We’ll reveal all in five hours’ time…
🔋 Super-charge your brain cells with even more historical headscratchers inspired by the Museum: https://ow.ly/NfX950QjjX5
🎁 Boxing Day plans:
Sleep lots 🐭
Feel quite round 🐡
Wishing you the very merriest of Christmases! ❤
Lots of love,
The British Museum
⛄ 🎅 🎄
🖼 Credit to Joy Fitzsimmons
Of course, we all know that reindeer can fly – but they can swim! 🌊 🦌
Can you make out the design of two deer swimming nose-to-tail on this tiny sculpture?
Made a remarkable 13000 years ago, the prehistoric artist carefully carved this piece from a mammoth tusk 🐘
To everyone expecting a visit from some reindeer tonight – whether they come by sea or by sky! – we hope they bring you everything that you’ve been wishing for 🎁
⛄ Happy holidays - to us!
Here's your festive reminder that the Museum will be closed between 24–26 of December for the Christmas break!
We'll be back open as usual on the 27 December all the way through into 2024, so pop in to see us for some holiday fun 🎄
In the meantime, we'll still be sharing lots of festive updates on our social media channels and doing our best to answer your questions!
🏛 Head to britishmuseum.org/visit for more info on our opening hours.
📸 The Museum in the snow, 1991
Away in a manger 🌟
Attended by everyone from lowly cattle to a host of heavenly angels, this radiant scene depicts the moment of Jesus’ birth in a humble stable 👼
Baroque painter Gregorio de Ferrari probably created the scene as a study for a painting which is unfortunately now lost 🖼
🏛 Currently on display in ‘Superb line: prints and drawings from Genoa 1500–1800’ in Room 90 of the Museum: https://ow.ly/mbq250QlyPE
🌿 Why give a gift for Christmas when you can give a gift for all seasons? 🍂
Set someone special on a year of adventure with a British Museum Membership 🎄
They'll enjoy 12 months of extraordinary exhibitions, a dedicated events programme and exclusive content from leading experts.
⏳ In urgent need of a last-minute Christmas present? Order any time until 24 December to receive an e-certificate before the big day!
🎁 Give the gift of Membership: https://ow.ly/Al5m50QlxTC
🕵️♀️ These cute fluffballs are masters of disguise!
Ptarmigans – plump little birds who live in the tallest reaches of the Scottish Highlands – spend most of the year a greyish-brown colour.
With the arrival of winter their plumage becomes thick and white, allowing them to hide amongst the falling snow 🌨🕊
❄ Happy winter solstice! Don’t forget to wrap up warm! ❄
🐇 How are these bouncing bunnies connected to Thai theatrical troops? 🎭
Embroidered on a ‘shwe chi doe’ or ‘kalaga’, a textile hanging from central Myanmar, these fantastical details recount the ancient Indian epic of ‘The Ramayana’ 🏹
Let Alex Green, curator of our exhibition, explain how even the smallest of creatures can reveal a complex story of tradition and interaction across Asia 🐇
🧵 Unravel the threads of history – and view this kalaga in its full glory! – in .
🖇 Get your tickets: https://ow.ly/suks50Qla77
🏛 Heading to the Museum today with some tiny tots in tow?
We're very sorry to say that unfortunately the Families Desk will be closed today, Saturday 16 December.
You can find out more about visiting the Museum as a family here: https://ow.ly/igjI50Qjpjz
🕯Wishing a joyful and warm to all who celebrate ✨
Illuminating the gallery, this beautiful bronze is decorated with heraldic lions 🦁
In Jewish tradition Hanukkah commemorates a miracle in which a lamp in a desecrated Temple, despite only having a small amount of oil, stayed alight for eight days 🔥
During this Festival of Lights families gather each night to light another candle on the Menorah, until all eight are aglow on the final evening ✨
🏛 On display in Room 46, the Europe 1400–1800 gallery
🔎 Hanukkah lamp. Bronze, 1700–1800. Read more: https://ow.ly/hPjl50Qj8kU
ℹ Donated by Augustus Wollaston Franks in 1893.
🎁 Gifts for the curious and interested!
Wrap up the magic of the Museum with treats and treasures inspired by history, art, and everything in between 🎨📚
✉ Behind on this year’s Christmas list? For UK deliveries, our last day with guaranteed arrival is 20 December.
🛍 Browse our thoughtfully curated range at www.britishmuseumshoponline.org
🎨 Easel-y captivated by the allure of art on paper?
‘Drawing attention’ dives into the dynamic history of drawing, transcending time and tradition ✏📜
Past and present connect and collide, as iconic works by Andy Warhol and Barbara Hepworth are on show alongside new acquisitions by up-and-coming names in contemporary art 🖼
Getting inspired? Grab a pencil, and join us to create some gallery-worthy magic of your own at the drawing studio 💫
✏ A British Museum Touring Exhibition ‘Drawing attention: emerging artists in dialogue’ is on display at York Art Gallery until 28 January 2024.
🎟 See the show: https://ow.ly/6jhN50QiTfw
📷 Image by Charlotte Graham
💌 When was the last time you wrote a postcard? Can you imagine those words being read 2000 years later?
From a care-package of socks to bemoaning the lack of beer, the Vindolanda tablets reveal the intimacies of life in Roman Britain in the words of the people who lived there 🍺🧦
📖 On the 50th anniversary of the Vindolanda tablets’ discovery, travel back in time to life at the edge of an empire: https://ow.ly/sBlC50QipXA
📽 Andrew Birley, Director of excavations at Vindolanda.
🏛 How many of these collection highlights do you recognise?
Get closer to the Museum with :
✨ Free unlimited entry to all our exhibitions
✨ Exclusive events and online content
✨ Access to our gorgeous Member’s room
✨ Discounts at all our shops, cafés and restaurants
Follow this link to find out more: https://ow.ly/OvzN50QhuBw
🍑 Who’s feeling peachy? 🍑
We’re leaning into Pantone’s 2024 colour of the year – Peach Fuzz!
From warm summer sunsets to fresh fruit and blush-coloured blooms, artists have long been taking inspiration from this dreamy shade 🧡
😊 Are you peachy keen on this pretty pastel?
Have you got what it takes to make it in the Roman army? ⚔
Follow Rattus through our Horrible Histories trail for some rotten Roman fun…
⚔ Find out how to join the Legion
⚔ Don your armour and prepare for battle
⚔ Test your luck at the wheel of misfortune
Stay tuned for even more horrible updates coming soon!
Ready for the adventure? Book your tickets now: https://ow.ly/zj9w50QghSz
Don’t forget – kids go free! 💡
🏺 When the Meidias hydria entered the Museum, it was already a celebrity ✨
As it prepares to leave London for the first time in 250 years, on loan to special exhibitions at the Acropolis Museum and the Louvre, we’re looking back at the gilded history of a true style icon ✈
💋 What does the hydria have to do with the scandalous affair between Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton?
⚔ What do its symbols of love reveal about an ancient war?
🏺 Just how did this masterpiece travel from Athens and become entombed in Italy before making its home in the British Museum?
Head to our blog for the full reveal: https://ow.ly/fJyA50QfWwR
🔎 The Medias Hydria. Ceramic, from Attica in Greece, around 420–400BC.
ℹ Donated by Sir William Hamilton in 1772
👂 Did you hear that was voted word of the year?
We’ve rounded up some famous figures known for their charm, charisma, or beauty ✨
Which of these historical hotties do you think has the ‘it’-factor? Cast your vote in the comments 👇
👑 Queen of Sheba: Though this biblical queen is barely mentioned in scripture, her wit and magnetism have captivated attention for nearly 3000 years. The Hollywood retelling of her story propelled Sheba to sex-symbol status.
⚔ Sukeroku: This swashbuckling young dandy was the bad boy of kabuki. In true heroic fashion he humiliates his pompous samurai rival to win the affections of the beautiful courtesan, Agemaki.
📜 Lord Byron: This playboy’s flamboyant personality and devil-may-care attitude made him irresistible to both the men and women of his day, while his scandalous love affairs were the subject of endless rumours.
🚢 Helen: The face that launched a thousand ships, Helen’s beauty was so renowned that her abduction set the Trojan war into motion.
☔ The weather outside is frightful!
Escape the gloom and inject some colour back into your life at ! 🌈
Visit the show for a kaleidoscope of beautiful objects, from polychromatic paintings to dazzling displays of silver and gold ✨
Did we mention our exhibition space is also toasty warm? 😎
🎟 Book your ticket here: https://ow.ly/WilW50Qf6zC
morning mood, courtesy of this very grumpy Romano-British sculpture 😑
🔎 Statue of a woman’s head. Limestone, from Towcester in the UK, 43–410 AD. Read more: https://ow.ly/S0ng50Qbryk
ℹ Excavated from the Roman site at Towcester and donated to the Museum by Sir J Fermor-Hesketh in 1903.
⏰ Black Friday is almost upon us!
Let us tempt you with some gorgeous goodies inspired by our exhibition…
With 20% off everything in our online store for all spends over £30, there’s never been a better time to treat yourself, or prepare for Christmas gift-giving 🎁
🛍 Use code BMBF23 at checkout to apply your discount. Offer ends on Monday 27 November.
💻 Shop the range at www.britishmuseumshoponline.org
Let us know how your is going in the comments 🧔 👇
🔎 Gold mask. Colombia, 100–1600 AD. Read more: https://ow.ly/klYh50QaEpN
ℹ Collected in the field by Eduardo Vasquez and donated to the Museum in 1888.
Journey with us along Myanmar’s Nam Mao River 🚣♂️
From around 1200, the Shan people (a Burmese ethnic group) began to expand their territory, eventually covering areas of modern-day Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and China 🗺
This polychromatic map depicts the convergence of three Shan states – the area is marked with green towns and bordered by multicoloured mountains 🎨⛰
During in the late 1880s, British colonial authorities began to impose geographical borders between regions in Myanmar – political frontiers had historically been far more flexible, waxing and waning over time. This map was likely created by British, Chinese, and Shan authorities to divide the area.
🗺 This magnificent map is a whopping 160 cm long! It’s currently on display in our exhibition, alongside cultural treasures spanning 1500 years of history.
🎫 Get your tickets at this link: https://ow.ly/ybe950QasfJ
🔎 Map showing three Shan states. Paper, from Myanmar, about 1889. Reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library.
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⏰ Black Friday is almost upon us! Let us tempt you with some gorgeous goodies inspired by our #BurmaToMyanmar exhibition… With 20% off everything in our online store for all spends over £30, there’s never been a better time to treat yourself, or prepare for Christmas gift-giving 🎁 🛍 Use code BMBF23 at checkout to apply your discount. Offer ends on Monday 27 November. 💻 Shop the range at www.britishmuseumshoponline.org
⏰ Black Friday is almost upon us! Let us tempt you with some gorgeous goodies inspired by our #BurmaToMyanmar exhibition… With 20% off everything in our online store for all spends over £30, there’s never been a better time to treat yourself, or prepare for Christmas gift-giving 🎁 🛍 Use code BMBF23 at checkout to apply your discount. Offer ends on Monday 27 November. 💻 Shop the range at www.britishmuseumshoponline.org
⏰ Black Friday is almost upon us! Let us tempt you with some gorgeous goodies inspired by our #BurmaToMyanmar exhibition… With 20% off everything in our online store for all spends over £30, there’s never been a better time to treat yourself, or prepare for Christmas gift-giving 🎁 🛍 Use code BMBF23 at checkout to apply your discount. Offer ends on Monday 27 November. 💻 Shop the range at www.britishmuseumshoponline.org
⏰ Black Friday is almost upon us! Let us tempt you with some gorgeous goodies inspired by our #BurmaToMyanmar exhibition… With 20% off everything in our online store for all spends over £30, there’s never been a better time to treat yourself, or prepare for Christmas gift-giving 🎁 🛍 Use code BMBF23 at checkout to apply your discount. Offer ends on Monday 27 November. 💻 Shop the range at www.britishmuseumshoponline.org
Journey with us along Myanmar’s Nam Mao River 🚣♂️ From around 1200, the Shan people (a Burmese ethnic group) began to expand their territory, eventually covering areas of modern-day Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and China 🗺 This polychromatic map depicts the convergence of three Shan states – the area is marked with green towns and bordered by multicoloured mountains 🎨⛰ During in the late 1880s, British colonial authorities began to impose geographical borders between regions in Myanmar – political frontiers had historically been far more flexible, waxing and waning over time. This map was likely created by British, Chinese, and Shan authorities to divide the area. 🗺 This magnificent map is a whopping 160 cm long! It’s currently on display in our #BurmaToMyanmar exhibition, alongside cultural treasures spanning 1500 years of history. 🎫 Get your tickets at this link: https://ow.ly/ybe950QasfJ 🔎 Map showing three Shan states. Paper, from Myanmar, about 1889. Reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library.
🔥 Tonight is #BonfireNight in the UK! 🔥 “Remember, remember the fifth of November, the Gunpowder, Treason and Plot" 🃏 These playing cards illustrate the Gunpowder Plot – a plan to blow up the House of Lords with gunpowder. Guy Fawkes, one of the plotters, was arrested while guarding explosives underneath the House of Lords #OnThisDay in 1605. 🔎 Playing-cards depicting the events of the Gunpowder Plot. Etching, 1679. Read more: https://ow.ly/FV4y50Q4j1b
💀 Spooky skulls for some seasonal skeletonin! 💀 🎃 Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 Ready for another #FrightAtTheMuseum? Follow this link for wicked witches, headless horsemen, and other fear-inducing favourites from the Museum’s collection of Prints and Drawings: https://ow.ly/N3yv50Q1Qox
🕰 What makes you tick? 🕰 Don’t forget to turn your clocks back by one hour this evening if you want to keep them ticking on time! British Summer Time ends tonight, giving UK residents an extra hour in bed. From the earliest examples of time-keeping technology to complex and highly decorative domestic clocks, there are hundreds of clocks and watches on display in the Museum. ⌚ Cuckoo about clocks and wanting more watches? Head to Rooms 38 and 39 for a host of horological delights https://ow.ly/QOfk50PT2F1
💐 Can you speak the language of flowers? 💐 The enamelled pansies on this dazzling 17th century locket are more than just a beautiful bloom – they were a romantic symbol of love and longing 💕 During the Elizabethan era, pansies were better-known by the name ‘heartsease’ due to their popular romantic meaning. The name ‘pansies’ comes from the French ‘penseés’, meaning thoughts – so to court someone with pansies was a way of letting them know you were thinking of them, and hoping they were thinking of you too 💐 ♥ 💎✨ Set with glittering diamonds, emeralds, opals, rubies and pearls, this jewel opens to reveal a miniature portrait of Sir Bevill Grenville 🖼 Grenville was a Royalist general in the English Civil War. He gifted this locket – known as the Grenville jewel – to his wife when the political climate kept them apart ⚔ 🏛 Visit Room 2a – housing the beautiful Waddesdon Bequest – to see this glittering gem alongside nearly 300 Renaissance treasures: https://ow.ly/7i9f50PSQV5 🔎 ‘The Grenville Jewel’. Gold oval locket decorated with champlevé enamel, set with a sapphire, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, opals. Made in England, 1635–1640. https://ow.ly/zn0w50PRgjG
Once so poor he had to beg for land to bury his parents, by the age of 40 the Hongwu Emperor ruled China as the founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). He was born #OnThisDay in 1328. Born Zhu Yuanzhang, the future emperor was orphaned at 16 and became a monk to avoid starvation. Rather than following a monastic life, he joined a rebel force and rose through the ranks to become a military leader ⚔ The previous rulers, the Mongols, had generally been ineffective towards the end of their Yuan dynasty (1279–1368). Peasant unrest was compounded by droughts and famines, and there were many rebellions against the alien ruling power. Zhu Yuanzhang emerged victorious among the various warring factions, declared himself emperor of the new Ming (literally ‘brilliant’) dynasty, and took the regnal name Hongwu, which means ‘vast military accomplishment’ 👑 The Ming became one of the more stable and longer-lasting dynasties of Chinese history, famed for its exquisite blue-and-white porcelain. During the Ming dynasty technology and artistry flourished, creating works of such delicacy and intricacy that they are still treasured today 🏺 📽Join Curator Jessica Harrison-Hall as she explores how the Ming dynasty was able to reach new heights of porcelain perfection https://ow.ly/bOUy50PSQhv 🏛 To feast your eyes on more beautiful Chinese ceramics, head to Room 95 of the Museum – housing the Sir Percival David Collection: https://ow.ly/Wgjo50PSPAN
Once so poor he had to beg for land to bury his parents, by the age of 40 the Hongwu Emperor ruled China as the founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). He was born #OnThisDay in 1328. Born Zhu Yuanzhang, the future emperor was orphaned at 16 and became a monk to avoid starvation. Rather than following a monastic life, he joined a rebel force and rose through the ranks to become a military leader ⚔ The previous rulers, the Mongols, had generally been ineffective towards the end of their Yuan dynasty (1279–1368). Peasant unrest was compounded by droughts and famines, and there were many rebellions against the alien ruling power. Zhu Yuanzhang emerged victorious among the various warring factions, declared himself emperor of the new Ming (literally ‘brilliant’) dynasty, and took the regnal name Hongwu, which means ‘vast military accomplishment’ 👑 The Ming became one of the more stable and longer-lasting dynasties of Chinese history, famed for its exquisite blue-and-white porcelain. During the Ming dynasty technology and artistry flourished, creating works of such delicacy and intricacy that they are still treasured today 🏺 📽Join Curator Jessica Harrison-Hall as she explores how the Ming dynasty was able to reach new heights of porcelain perfection https://ow.ly/bOUy50PSQhv 🏛 To feast your eyes on more beautiful Chinese ceramics, head to Room 95 of the Museum – housing the Sir Percival David Collection: https://ow.ly/Wgjo50PSPAN
Once so poor he had to beg for land to bury his parents, by the age of 40 the Hongwu Emperor ruled China as the founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). He was born #OnThisDay in 1328. Born Zhu Yuanzhang, the future emperor was orphaned at 16 and became a monk to avoid starvation. Rather than following a monastic life, he joined a rebel force and rose through the ranks to become a military leader ⚔ The previous rulers, the Mongols, had generally been ineffective towards the end of their Yuan dynasty (1279–1368). Peasant unrest was compounded by droughts and famines, and there were many rebellions against the alien ruling power. Zhu Yuanzhang emerged victorious among the various warring factions, declared himself emperor of the new Ming (literally ‘brilliant’) dynasty, and took the regnal name Hongwu, which means ‘vast military accomplishment’ 👑 The Ming became one of the more stable and longer-lasting dynasties of Chinese history, famed for its exquisite blue-and-white porcelain. During the Ming dynasty technology and artistry flourished, creating works of such delicacy and intricacy that they are still treasured today 🏺 📽Join Curator Jessica Harrison-Hall as she explores how the Ming dynasty was able to reach new heights of porcelain perfection https://ow.ly/bOUy50PSQhv 🏛 To feast your eyes on more beautiful Chinese ceramics, head to Room 95 of the Museum – housing the Sir Percival David Collection: https://ow.ly/Wgjo50PSPAN
Once so poor he had to beg for land to bury his parents, by the age of 40 the Hongwu Emperor ruled China as the founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). He was born #OnThisDay in 1328. Born Zhu Yuanzhang, the future emperor was orphaned at 16 and became a monk to avoid starvation. Rather than following a monastic life, he joined a rebel force and rose through the ranks to become a military leader ⚔ The previous rulers, the Mongols, had generally been ineffective towards the end of their Yuan dynasty (1279–1368). Peasant unrest was compounded by droughts and famines, and there were many rebellions against the alien ruling power. Zhu Yuanzhang emerged victorious among the various warring factions, declared himself emperor of the new Ming (literally ‘brilliant’) dynasty, and took the regnal name Hongwu, which means ‘vast military accomplishment’ 👑 The Ming became one of the more stable and longer-lasting dynasties of Chinese history, famed for its exquisite blue-and-white porcelain. During the Ming dynasty technology and artistry flourished, creating works of such delicacy and intricacy that they are still treasured today 🏺 📽Join Curator Jessica Harrison-Hall as she explores how the Ming dynasty was able to reach new heights of porcelain perfection https://ow.ly/bOUy50PSQhv 🏛 To feast your eyes on more beautiful Chinese ceramics, head to Room 95 of the Museum – housing the Sir Percival David Collection: https://ow.ly/Wgjo50PSPAN
“Few men are born brave; many become so from care and force of discipline.” – Vegetius Our newly announced #LegionExhibition will explore life in the Roman army through the eyes of the soldiers that lived it: https://ow.ly/bJiW50PXw6M The Roman empire spanned more than a million square miles and owed its existence to its military might. By promising citizenship to those without it, the Roman army also became an engine for creating citizens, offering a better life for soldiers who survived their service. What did life in the Roman army look like from a soldier’s perspective? What did their families make of life in the fort? How did the newly-conquered react? The exhibition will take visitors on a journey across the empire, as well as through the life and service of an ordinary Roman soldier, from enlistment and campaigns to fort life and enforcing occupation, then finally retirement. 🎫 Don’t miss out on our #LegionExhibition early bird offer – secure your discounted tickets now and save at least 20%. Book your tickets here: https://ow.ly/bJiW50PXw6M ‘Legion: life in the Roman army’ opens 1 February 2024 🔎 Bronze cavalry helmet, England, 1st century AD.
🍻 Prost! 🍻 We’re toasting the 213th anniversary of the first #Oktoberfest with this amber tankard – imagine sipping your drink from this masterpiece! ✨ Dating to the mid-17th century, the tankard was probably made in Königsberg (modern-day Kaliningrad, Russia) and may originally have belonged to Queen Christina of Sweden. Each side of the tankard has been carved with a figure representing one of the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ – Pride, Gluttony, Lechery, Anger, Envy, Avarice and Sloth. 🏛 Marvel at this tankard alongside other treasures from Renaissance Europe in Room 2a of the Museum, The Waddesdon Bequest: https://ow.ly/MFUO50PRbk1 🔎 Amber, enamel, ivory and silver lidded tankard decorated with seven ‘vices’. Probably made in Königsberg, around 1640–1660. Read more: https://ow.ly/mNGZ50PRbhR
There’s just one week left to see our ‘intriguing’ and ‘absolutely beautiful’ exhibition about #ChinasHiddenCentury – but if you haven’t visited yet it’s not too late! ⏰ Tickets have now sold out, but you can become a Member today for free unlimited entry to all our exhibitions, including our show about the resilience and innovation of 19th-century China. Enjoy 12 months of extraordinary exhibitions, special events, discounts and exclusive content exploring two million years of human history 🏛 🔗 Join today via the link in our bio. #BritishMuseum
Watch the birds fly and the mountains soar in this masterful painting made in 1623 by artist Xiang Shengmo 🕊🏔 This Chinese painted scroll – ‘Reading in the Autumn Forest’ – transports us to the forest near Mount Baiyue (now Mount Qiyun) in Anhui province in the east of China 🌳 See if you can spot traditional motifs, including the scholar in his hut, a boy riding on an ox, and the wood collector in the mountains, all exquisitely painted. This is an early work by Xiang, painted a few years after he decided to leave the capital Beijing to return home to Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. In his inscription above the painting, Xiang describes the pleasure of having a quiet space of his own, away from the bustle of city life. Today is the equinox, marking the first day of Autumn 🍂 🔎 Xiang Shengmo (1597–1658), ‘Reading in the Autumn Forest’. Hanging scroll, 1623. Read more: https://ow.ly/Iept50PIczw
🏛 Ritual, war, trade and art – Room 33 of the Museum explores the rich cultures of China and South Asia through a range of magnificent objects. One half of the gallery presents over 7,000 years of China's history through stunning paintings, jades, bronzes and ceramics. The other examines South Asia's many histories chronologically and by region, from early human occupation to the present. Highlights include seals from the Indus civilisation, superb south Indian sculptures of Shiva and one of the finest statues of the goddess Tara from Sri Lanka. 🎧 Dive even further into the Museum using our Audio App, where you'll find expert commentaries on highlight object, gallery introductions and self-guided tours. 📲 Download the app: https://ow.ly/qsLw50PHtpO 🏛 Learn more about Room 33 and plan your visit here: https://ow.ly/tMF750PHnvZ 📽 Inside Room 33, the Sir Joseph Hotung gallery of China and South Asia.
🏛 Journey through three millennia of ancient history in the Egyptian sculpture gallery… Come face-to-face with the colossal statue of Ramesses II, decode hieroglyphs on the Rosetta Stone, and puzzle over the fate of Egypt’s last true Pharoh at the sarcophagus of Nectanebo II. 🎧 Delve even deeper with the British Museum Audio App, with expert commentary on objects in the collection. Discover everything from ancient Egypt to Medieval Europe, or even explore the Museum from the comfort of your sofa! 📲 Download the app: https://ow.ly/ZAvr50PyuY0 🏛 Learn more about Room 4, the Egyptian sculpture gallery, and plan your next visit here: https://ow.ly/AQX750PytP6 📽 Inside Room 4, the Egyptian sculpture gallery.
British Museum - Room 18: Greece: Parthenon
Great Russell Streeet
London Museum of Water & Steam
Green Dragon Lane
The Royal Air Force Museum London
Grahame Park Way
The Royal Air Force Museum - RAFM, RAF Museum
Grahame Park Way
