Silk Road Virtual Museum

Startpagina
Nederland
Leiden
Silk Road Virtual Museum

The Silk Road Virtual Museum encourages people to explore cultures between the Far East and Europe

01/06/2026

This image of a Tibetan cavalryman and royal guard evokes the martial strength of one of the great powers of the early medieval world. During the height of the Tibetan Empire, military prowess underpinned its expanding influence across the Silk Roads, from China to the Persian frontier.

But this wasn’t only an age of conquest. These soldiers served an empire deeply invested in spiritual life, supporting monasteries, safeguarding caravans, and helping spread Buddhism across the region.

Explore this balance of military discipline and cultural depth in our new exhibition on the Tibetan Empire, featuring 30 remarkable artefacts from 7 countries: https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/museum-tibetan-empire

29/05/2026

Ever wondered what sits behind an exhibition?

What to include. What to leave out. What we know, and what we don’t.

Every exhibition in the Silk Road Virtual Museum is shaped by countless decisions: how to interpret fragmentary evidence, how to present objects removed from their original context, how to connect artefacts across regions, languages, and centuries. There are always gaps. Stories that remain incomplete. Questions that don’t have clear answers.

And often, the most interesting insights sit just beneath the surface, in the research process, in the uncertainties, in the connections that are still being explored.

As a Friend of the Silk Road, you gain access to that layer. The thinking behind the exhibitions. The questions we’re asking. The ideas that don’t always make it into the final rooms.

If you’re curious not just about what you see, but how it comes together, we’d love to welcome you behind the scenes.

Join us here: https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/become-a-friend/

29/05/2026

We really love the feedback we are getting from people visiting the Silk Road Virtual Museum. It gives access to exhibitions that most people would otherwise never get to see...and there is so much to explore.

Laura mentioned about our museum we launced earlier in May 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 - 𝘕𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘭 𝘖𝘮𝘦𝘳 - "Apart from the contents itself, which is excellent, I'm blown away by how well the digital exhibition experience works."

If you've visited a Silk Road Virtual Museum what did you think? Pop your feedback in the comments or write to us at [email protected] for suggestions of how we could improve the experience.

28/05/2026

What is lacquer?

Across East Asia, lacquer was never simply a surface finish. It was a discipline of patience. A craft built layer by layer. A technique capable of producing objects of extraordinary durability and depth.

Our exhibition Lacquer Across East Asia explores more than one hundred works from China, Japan, and Korea, tracing how a shared material evolved into distinct artistic traditions. From finely decorated vessels to near life-size dry lacquer sculpture, these works reveal the technical ambition and aesthetic refinement of centuries of workshop practice.

The exhibition stops around 1500, yet many of these objects feel remarkably contemporary. Their surfaces are composed, luminous, and quietly powerful.

Explore the four linked rooms and discover how a single material gave rise to multiple artistic worlds.

Explore the exhibition here: https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/museum-lacquer-across-east-asia

26/05/2026

In the Seljuk exhibit at the Silk Road Virtual Museum, one extraordinary piece invites more questions than answers: a stucco panel said to depict The Court of Tughril III.

Dated to the second half of the 12th century, this imposing panel, measuring 172 cm in height, commands attention not only for its scale, but for its mystery. The inscription linking it to Tughril III, the last sultan of the Great Seljuks, remains contested. Is it a faithful court scene? Or a later reinterpretation, perhaps crafted to evoke lost grandeur?

Today housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Accession 1929-69-1), the panel is a stunning example of Seljuk artistry; rich in detail, intricate in design, and layered with both political and poetic meaning. Whether it once adorned a royal hall or a ceremonial chamber, it speaks to the power, taste, and legacy of a dynasty that shaped the medieval Islamic world.

🔗 Explore this and other pieces from the Seljuk Empire, a realm that bridged Persia and Anatolia, and helped forge the cultural currents of the Silk Road: https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/museum-seljuk-empire

22/05/2026

Step into Early Ming Dynasty China (1368–1450) and explore the profound cultural and political transformation that followed the fall of Mongol rule. From the strategic stronghold of Nanjing — capital of the fledgling dynasty — visitors to the Silk Road Virtual Museum are invited to examine how Zhu Yuanzhang's regime re-established native Chinese governance, artistic identity, and philosophical legitimacy.

This immersive exhibition features artefacts and design traditions that reflect the revival and refinement of classical Han Chinese models. Through porcelain, painting, and imperial commissions, the Ming court articulated its values and consolidated its power, crafting a new vision of Chinese civilisation.

Curious minds can deepen their understanding by embarking on linked virtual expeditions:

View video commentaries from historians and curators
Visit complementary digital exhibitions exploring the legacy of the Mongol Yuan period
Trace the evolution of Ming influence through Silk Road networks stretching into Central Asia and beyond

🔗 Begin your exploration today and let the virtual museum be your gateway to a broader landscape of research and discovery: https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/museum-early-ming-dynasty

20/05/2026

We love creating new exhibitions and revisiting earlier ones, adding new layers, new perspectives, and new discoveries. The Silk Road Virtual Museum is designed as a space you can return to, where curiosity is always rewarded.

You can keep roaming our digital hallways, following stories across regions and centuries, and uncovering connections that stretch far beyond a single exhibition.

But what if your joy of learning isn't quite satisfied?

Friends of the Silk Road is where the journey deepens. A space for those who want to go further, with behind-the-scenes insights, shared reflections, and conversations around the ideas that shape the museum.

If curiosity brought you here, this is your invitation to stay a little longer.

Take the next step with us. The link is in the bio.

16/05/2026

Step into the world of 6th-century Ravenna, where Byzantine art reached new heights in the stunning mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale. Dating back to 547 CE, this masterpiece captures the spiritual and imperial grandeur of the Byzantine world.

At its centre, Jesus Christ sits enthroned in royal purple, flanked by Saint Vitalis, the Archangels, and Bishop Ecclesius—who holds the very model of the basilica itself. This breathtaking work symbolises the union of divine power and earthly authority, a theme central to Byzantine rule.

Gold backgrounds, detailed tesserae, and shimmering glass create an effect of celestial radiance—designed to transport worshippers into a heavenly realm.

This mosaic is just one of many in our exhibition, where you can uncover how Byzantine artists transformed architecture into a vision of the divine.

🔗 Visit the exhibition and experience the splendour of Byzantium for yourself! Learn more at https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/museum-byzantium-mosaics

15/05/2026

The Silk Road Virtual Museum is free to explore, and we intend to keep it that way. We believe that knowledge and cultural heritage should be accessible to anyone, anywhere. By creating a virtual space with thousands of artefacts from across the world, we are also removing the barrier of location.

But behind every exhibition is research, translation, and ongoing care. As a small, dedicated team, there are real costs involved in sustaining and growing the museum.

By becoming a Friend, you help keep the museum open, accessible, and evolving.

If you believe the history of the Silk Road should remain freely available to all, we invite you to support us. From as little as €5 per month, you can make a difference.

Join us here: https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/become-a-friend/

12/05/2026

Viking sails loom on the misty horizon, bringing not just traders and explorers, but fierce warriors whose arrival inspired both awe and fear. Their sleek, swift ships carried them far beyond familiar shores, from the Mediterranean to the distant reaches of the East, leaving an indelible mark on history.

But the Vikings were more than seafarers. They were storytellers, skilled traders, and cultural connectors. Their journeys sparked exchanges that shaped both Viking and local societies, weaving them into the broader tapestry of the Silk Road.

Discover how these Norse adventurers became part of Silk Road history in our latest exhibition at the Silk Road Virtual Museum.

🔗 Dive into the full exhibition at https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/museum-vikings-in-the-east

,

Adres

Leiden

Website

https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com/

Meldingen

Wees de eerste die het weet en laat ons u een e-mail sturen wanneer Silk Road Virtual Museum nieuws en promoties plaatst. Uw e-mailadres wordt niet voor andere doeleinden gebruikt en u kunt zich op elk gewenst moment afmelden.