Five Priceless Artifacts You Cannot Miss When Visiting The British Museum
Paying a brief visit to the British Museum? We are here to help you find some of the most valuable artifacts on display.
The British Museum is home to a brilliant and massive collection of rare artifacts. It narrates the story of how human civilization had its beginning and how it evolved over time. With nearly 8 million relics in its collection and almost ten thousand items on display for the visitors, it may seem a bit overwhelming to determine what things you should see first, if you only have a few hours to explore the museum. To make things easier, we have mentioned five unmissable artifacts on display that you should not miss at any cost.
The Parthenon Sculptures
The ancient Greek sculptures were carved nearly 2,500 years ago. The sculptures previously featured on the Parthenon, a sacred temple located on the ancient citadel, Athenian Acropolis. The Parthenon temple was devoted to Athena Parthénos, the patron goddess of Athens.
The Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is a proclamation, moved by the Egyptian priests during the first anniversary of Ptolemy V, the Pharaoh's coronation. The proclamation is engraved in hieroglyphics - the form of writing that was used by the priests in ancient Egypt. The stone tablet was unearthed during the Napoleonic Wars in 1799, by French soldiers, while digging a fortress in Rosetta (El-Rashid).
The Granite Head of Amenhotep III
A colossal head (nearly 9 1/2 feet tall) of the Egyptian pharaoh, Amenhotep III, who ruled from 1390 to 1325 BC, originally adorned the temple of Mut, in Egypt’s Karnak. Later, the facial features were recarved for Ramses II, to constitute the latter’s ideals. The recarving involved thinning of the lips, and the double crown of Lower and Upper Egypt was added.
The Aztec serpent
This extraordinary double-headed snake sculpture is made of wood, and covered in turquoise mosaics and intricately decorated with conch and oyster shells. It is an exceptional example of Aztec art. It is nearly 8 inches tall and 17 inches wide, and 2 inches thick. This serpent sculpture was most likely worn as a breastplate during ceremonial occasions. It was created during the 15th or 16th century. The British Museum acquired it in 1894 from a collector.
The Easter Island Statue - Hoa Hakananai'a
It is an original ancestor of the Easter Island Statue, made of basalt. The statue was probably sculpted around A.D. 1200. On the back of the statue are several petroglyphs depicting human or bird figures and frigate bird heads. The British Museum acquired this spectacular statue in 1869, from a ceremonial center in Rapa Nui, during an expedition.
We hope this guide will help you experience the best of history.
