The Rosetta Stone contains a decree written three times in Greek, Demotic and hieroglyphic that provided the key to the mysterious hieroglyphic script of ancient Egypt, and opened …
In 1942, while ploughing a field near Mildenhall in Suffolk, eastern England, Gordon Butcher stumbled upon a hoard of 34 silver objects that he turned over to his boss and owner of …
The Gayer-Anderson Cat has been one of the most admired objects at the British Museum since its arrival in 1947. This book presents a detailed description of the cat and a …
One of the largest pieces of Egyptian sculpture in the British Museum, the upper part of the colossal statue of Ramesses II, also known as the ‘Younger Memnon’, was perhaps the …
Part of the British Museum Objects in Focus series, an introduction to the Warren Cup. This book tells the unique story of this exquisitely crafted Roman silver drinking cup, …
The Discobolus or discus-thrower is a marvellous classical piece of sculpture that over time has come to mean different things to different people. Originally cast in bronze by the …
Made from Bronze with eyes inlaid with glass pupils set in metal rings, the ‘Meroe Head’ is a magnificent portrait of Julius Caesar’s great nephew and adopted heir Augustus (63 …
The Portland Vase is thought to have been crafted during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus (27 BC-14 AD). A work of outstanding technical skill, it is decorated with scenes …
Ur, one of the world’s first cities, was highly important politically and economically around 2600 – 2500 BC when the Sumerian rulers of the city were buried in tombs filled with …
