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British Museum London explorations

The British Museum in the United Kingdom London is a world class museum housing a variety of ancient anthropology artefacts from the Roman Empire, Africa and European ancient history. It is a great place for a day out of exploring the various galleries as a learning day. Let’s see what’s on.

British Museum entrance on a typical gloomy and wet London afternoon
British Museum entrance on a typical gloomy and wet London afternoon.

Furthermore, the museum is geographically located in London off Russel square (and nearest underground station with same name). The building itself spans over 3 floors with almost most the exhibits located on the ground floor. Greeting you at the entrance is the Great Court.

Off Russel square towards the British museum!
Museum garden
Here we are in London
Garden fountain
The main stairs at the entrances
Welcome hall

It is a vast central atrium with a clear skylit glass roof. It is a sheltered atrium is where the museum shops and cafes reside, accessible via the main entrance from Great Russell street. Also, the great court houses an auditorium and events seating space. However, it is mostly not opened to public unless for events.

A recliner
Reclining figure
Many of the sculptures are damaged
Horses
Even artisits these days don't do such great art anymoe
Horsemen

Egypt and Sudan and Egyptian sculpture gallery

Moreover, the ground floor are the large items are displayed. The Ancient Egypt galleries greets you are one of the first gallery closest you enter from the Museum’s great court. It represents the cultures of the Nile Valley dating as far back from 10,000 BC to the 12th century AD.

The main atrium with the majestic trademark glass roof
Glass dome
Now to check out the exhibits
Welcome!
Here is the ancient egyptian section
Egyptian galleries

Things are big here. Here, you can also find the Bassai interior of the Temple of Apollo Epikourios. This excavated Bassai Frieze is the high relief marble sculpture in 23 panels, 31m long by 63cm high, dated about 420-400BC ago.

Egyptian galleries at the British Museum. It is a highlight here
Egyptian galleries at the British Museum. It is a highlight here.

You do travel back through 3,000 years of history via through a timeline gallery of history. Discover the Rosetta Stone, Statue of Ramesses II.

It's one of the highlights then
Egyptian
Not to mention free as well
Galleries
Many of the smaller displays in glass cases (Greece: Athens)
Pottery

Going on the large theme, you can also find the Assyrian sculpture and large Balawat Gates here flanking the gallery entrances. It comprises of a human faced with a four legged animal body with eagle wings. It is a spectacular sight in both size and detail.

The Chorsabad
Vast Balawat Gates
Marble blocks from the west frieze of the Temple of Athena Nike 425 BC
Marble casts
Eyptian hand Pow!
Big arm

Greece and Rome Galleries

Furthermore, notable highlights here include the Greek and Roman galleries as well as the Middle Eastern ones. This museum department shines a light on the history and culture of the ancient Mediterranean world. This includes items from Greece Parthenon, Greek and Roman sculptures and vases dating from 520 BC to 1050AD

And nudity is everywhere. :P
Greek figures
Few of the marble craving pieces
Cravings
Rosetta stones sections
Plaster walls

Moreover, you can find slabs of the Greek Bassai sculptures and the Nereid Monument. This makes up sculptures and columns of this monumental tomb. It believed to be built for Arbinas, a Xanthian rulers. Also, these tomes are the finest of the Lycian tombs from Xanthos, south-west Turkey.

The vast Parthenon gallery housing main temple building all under one roof
The vast Parthenon gallery housing main temple building all under one roof.

Also, it stands center piece in this gallery (Room 17). Notably, it is the largest and one of the larger exhibits on display here in the British Museum.

Neirides
Parthenon
Thats all for the british museum for now!
Lit
Egyptian obelisk!
Column

Additionally, the Parthenon is one of the far reaching deeper galleries, and one of the largest connecting galleries, spanning 3 vast rooms. Also, it comprises of temple artefacts of the temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.

The Parthenon sculptures gallery, wall and marble sculptures
The Parthenon sculptures gallery, wall and marble sculptures.

Moreover, here on display too are recovered archaeological pieces featuring fragments of the Parthenon sculpture and also pieces of architecture.

One end of the Parthenon section
Pieces
The engraving in the Parthenon sculpture section
Gallery wall
 but still savagable & viewable till today
Sculptures

Moreover, decorated is the temple exterior with sculptures representing scenes from mythology and cult. The building interior stood a colossal image of Athena Parthenos, constructed of gold and ivory. This is depicted through several marble reliefs on display along the gallery walls. Notably they had been on permanent display in the museum since 1817.

Male figure
Many wall artifacts in the Roman Section
Details
The iconic Venus
Marble

Miscellaneous galleries

In addition are the small collection of China and South Asia pottery and ceramic figures in the Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery. In addition, the level 3 (2nd physical level) houses smaller items on displays from Ancient Egypt, Asia (Japan), Greece, Rome and the Middle East. Notable items include those form the Roman Empire in the Wolfson Gallery and those from Medieval Europe from the 1050 to 1500 AD covering European history.

 
The Parthenon from Greece
Rows of sculptures
Segmented marble works lining the Parthenon gallery
Marble slabs
This is a nice quiet section
Murals

Also, notably, the various galleries are named after the person or entity who sponsored the respective gallery. Also, this the floor where special temporary exhibitions are being housed too.

 ...locked in time
More murals
Real nice that all these stones tells a story...
Pieces
Few of the many artists spending the day in the museum
Artists

All in all, you are good here in the British Museum for an entire afternoon. This is especially if you want to explore and touch base at every gallery here. Also, it is not uncommon to find artists and school groups doing down their rounds here. Whether its groups or individuals sitting down and sketching one of the many exhibits here, it is a great time to pass the day in the City of London. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm museum and is a great place for a family day out.

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