British Museum reportedly in talks with Greece re: Elgin Marbles

Part of the group of ancient Greek sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles, aka the Parthenon Sculptures, photographed on display at the British Museum in August 2006. On December 3, a Greek newspaper claimed that museum officials and the Greek prime minister had conducted secret talks regarding the possible return of the sculptures. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Urban. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.
Part of the group of ancient Greek sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles, aka the Parthenon Sculptures, photographed on display at the British Museum in May 2014. On December 3, a Greek newspaper claimed that museum officials and the Greek prime minister had conducted secret talks regarding the possible return of the sculptures. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Carole Raddato. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Part of the group of ancient Greek sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles, aka the Parthenon Sculptures, photographed on display at the British Museum in May 2014. On December 3, a Greek newspaper claimed that museum officials and the Greek prime minister had conducted secret talks regarding the possible return of the sculptures. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Carole Raddato. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

LONDON (AP) – The British Museum has pledged not to dismantle its collection, following a report that the institution’s chairman has held secret talks with Greece’s prime minister regarding the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles. The report by the Greek newspaper Ta Nea is the latest twist in the long-running dispute centering on the ownership of the ancient sculptures, which originally stood on the Acropolis in Athens and have been part of the British Museum’s collection since 1816.

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Egyptians call on British Museum to return Rosetta stone

The famed Rosetta Stone as it appeared in a 1922 book of the same name published by the British Museum. As the world marks the bicentenary of the translation of the hieroglyphs on the stone, Egyptians are calling for it to be returned to their country. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, which regards the image as being in the public domain in the United States because it was published or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office before January 1, 1927.
The famed Rosetta Stone as it appeared in a 1922 book of the same name published by the British Museum. As the world marks the bicentenary of the translation of the hieroglyphs on the stone, Egyptians are calling for it to be returned to their country. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, which regards the image as being in the public domain in the United States because it was published or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office before January 1, 1927.
The famed Rosetta stone as it appeared in a 1922 book of the same name published by the British Museum. As the world marks the bicentenary of the translation of the hieroglyphs on the stone, Egyptians are calling for it to be returned to their country. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, which regards the image as being in the public domain in the United States because it was published or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office before January 1, 1927.

CAIRO (AP) – The debate focusing on who owns ancient artifacts has been an increasing challenge to museums across Europe and America, and the spotlight has fallen on the most-visited piece in the British Museum: the Rosetta stone.

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British Museum unveils exciting prehistoric art discovery

Burton Agnes chalk drum, chalk ball and bone pin, 3005-2890 BCE. Photo © The Trustees of the British Museum
Burton Agnes chalk drum, chalk ball and bone pin, 3005-2890 BCE. Photo © The Trustees of the British Museum
Burton Agnes chalk drum, chalk ball and bone pin, 3005-2890 BCE. Photo © The Trustees of the British Museum

LONDON – On February 9, The British Museum and Allen Archaeology announced the discovery of what they call “the most important piece of prehistoric art to be found in Britain in the last 100 years.” The object is a 5,000-year-old chalk sculpture that was found on a country estate near the village of Burton Agnes in East Yorkshire.

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British Museum announces largest Anglo-Saxon gold coin find to date

In early November, the British Museum announced the discovery of the largest group of Anglo-Saxon era gold coins in England to date. Image provided by the British Museum; copyright Norfolk Castle Museum
In early November, the British Museum announced the discovery of the largest group of Anglo-Saxon era gold coins in England to date. Image provided by the British Museum; copyright Norfolk Castle Museum
In early November, the British Museum announced the discovery of the largest group of Anglo-Saxon era gold coins in England to date. Image provided by the British Museum; copyright Norfolk Castle Museum

LONDON – A find of 131 gold coins along with four other gold objects dating to 1,400 years ago stands to be the largest find to date of gold coins from the Anglo-Saxon period in England.

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British Museum to display world’s oldest map of stars in 2022 Stonehenge show

Nebra sky disc, Germany, about 1600 BCE. State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Juraj Lipták
Nebra sky disc, Germany, about 1600 BCE. State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Juraj Lipták
Nebra sky disc, an ancient star map discovered in Germany dating to about 1600 BCE. State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Juraj Lipták

LONDON – The world’s oldest map of the stars will go on display for the very first time in the UK at the British Museum next year. It will be a major highlight of a new special exhibition on Stonehenge which will open at the museum in February, the first details of which were announced October 18.

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British Museum to unveil Peruvian antiquities exhibit in November

Miniature gold figure of a llama, Peru, Inca, about 1500. © 2021 The Trustees of the British Museum
Miniature gold figure of a llama, Peru, Inca, about 1500. © 2021 The Trustees of the British Museum
Miniature gold figure of a llama, Peru, Inca, about 1500. © 2021 The Trustees of the British Museum

LONDON – A landmark loan of ancient objects will travel from Peru to the British Museum for a major new exhibition on the ancient cultures of the South American country. Nine Peruvian museums have loaned more than 40 remarkable objects – some dating from over 3,000 years ago, and most never having traveled to the UK before – will come to London for Peru: a journey in time, which opens November 11 and continues through February 20, 2022.

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Rediscovered Hokusai drawings debut at British Museum in September

‘Dragon head Kannon,’ Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), from ‘Banmotsu ehon daizen zu (Illustrations for The Great Picture Book of Everything).’ Block-ready drawing, ink on paper, Japan, 1820s–40s. Purchase funded by the Theresia Gerda Buch Bequest, in memory of her parents Rudolph and Julie Buch, with support from Art Fund. © The Trustees of the British Museum
‘Dragon head Kannon,’ Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), from ‘Banmotsu ehon daizen zu (Illustrations for The Great Picture Book of Everything).’ Block-ready drawing, ink on paper, Japan, 1820s–40s. Purchase funded by the Theresia Gerda Buch Bequest, in memory of her parents Rudolph and Julie Buch, with support from Art Fund. © The Trustees of the British Museum
‘Dragon head Kannon,’ Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), from ‘Banmotsu ehon daizen zu (Illustrations for The Great Picture Book of Everything).’ Block-ready drawing, ink on paper, Japan, 1820s–40s. Purchase funded by the Theresia Gerda Buch Bequest, in memory of her parents Rudolph and Julie Buch, with support from Art Fund. © The Trustees of the British Museum

LONDON – This fall, more than 100 newly rediscovered drawings by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) will go on public display for the very first time at the British Museum. The exhibition, titled Hokusai: The Great Picture Book of Everything, will open on September 30 and continue through January 30, 2022. Continue reading

British Museum exhibit reevaluates Emperor Nero’s legacy

Marble portrait of Nero (Type IV), Italy, AD 64–68. Photo by Renate Kühling. Courtesy of State Collections of Antiquities and Glyptothek, Munich.
Marble portrait of Nero (Type IV), Italy, from the years 64–68. Photo by Renate Kuhling. Courtesy of State Collections of Antiquities and Glyptothek, Munich.

LONDON – Nero: The Man Behind the Myth explores the true story of Rome’s fifth emperor, informed by new research and archaeological evidence from the time, and challenging the biased historical accounts written after Nero’s death that have shaped his legacy. The exhibit opened on May 27 in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery at the British Museum, and continues to October 24.
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