London: The British Museum

We enjoyed about four hours one morning at The British Museum, home to Greek, Roman, Assyrian and Egyptian artifacts as well as other fascinating items from antiquity.

I could have easily stayed longer as there was a lot to see. It was mildly crowded since there were several families visiting during their Autumn half term holiday. We also enjoyed a quick bite at the museum cafe.

The museum interior is a mix of old and new architecture. The center room is a library filled with resource material. Liz has a line in the Sherlock drama about visiting The British Museum to conduct research that helps solve the case, so it was poignant that we were actually able to be here.

Here are a few of the highlights:

Assyrian reliefs depict the time when the northern tribes of Israel were taken captive and when several of the minor prophets lived.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/galleries/middle_east/room_6_assyrian_sculpture.aspx

The Rosetta Stone provided a monumental breakthrough in translating Egyptian hieroglyphics.
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-rosetta-stone/DgH6pMM1guUUPA


This Egyptian statue reminded Liz of how she feels during class lectures.


Broken statuary from the Greek Parthenon still display amazing craftsmanship despite years of weathering and disrepair.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/galleries/ancient_greece_and_rome/room_18_greece_parthenon.aspx

I also enjoyed the Easter Island statue and seeing Alexander the Great's name carved on a temple stone. Not only is it important to understand the cultural and historic significance of the items displayed, but good to understand how those items came to reside in London. The displays are informative, but it is helpful to explore their contextual meaning before visiting.

www.britishmuseum.org
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Quick Review: Well displayed artifacts from antiquity. Even better if you understand the historic significance of items.

To read more about our trip to London, click here.