BRITISH MUSEUM

The British Museum has an astounding collection of antiquities. I spent 2 to 3 hours there but could have spent 2 to 3 days. Large portions of its collections, particularly of Egyptian and Mesopotamian artifacts, are controversial, not as to their authenticity but as to how the museum acquired them.  I was just interested in seeing some of them.

The venue's design is interesting in that it includes a large central open space that includes a circular structure surrounded by gallery after gallery of exhibits.  The open space has a glass ceiling that made for an interesting abstract.

Of course, by far the most popular exhibit, and the one that I most wanted to see, was the Rosetta Stone, which is in the gallery just off the central open space.  It is always surrounded by visitors and one must wait his turn to get in front of it.

Following are pics of other artifacts that I saw.

Head of statue of Amenhotep III.

Bust of Perikles.

I found some of the bas relief sculptures particularly interesting in terms of the action they portrayed.

As I have seen at many museums, there were some individual artists practicing their skills by copying works of art.  The following artist, copying the marble sculpture of young woman, was particularly talented. 

Mummies and sarcophagi of same were plentiful.

Mesopotamian vessel from c. 650 BCE. I was impressed by the artistry and sophistication that this represents.

Glazed dragon tiles, China 19th century.

As stated, one could go on and on.

John.