British Museum Collection (#25)

Terracotta statue of a woman, Old Babylonian (?), 2000BC-1750BC. Painted fired clay statue of a woman; hands clasped under her breasts; wearing necklace and bracelets

Stone lions head, Neo-Assyrian, about 680-670 BC, from Sippar, southern Iraq
Stone lions head, Neo-Assyrian, about 680-670 BC, From Sippar, southern Iraq. This lions head of white limestone comes from the Temple of Shamash

Babylonian story of the flood on a clay tablet, probably from Sippor, Old Babylonian, 1635BC. This is one of three tablets which contained the Epic of Ammisaduqa, hero of the Babylonian flood story

Babylonian clay model of a sheeps lung
Clay model of a lung, containing omens, Late Babylonian, 7th Century BC, from Ninevah. Used by baru-priests to teach their students its anatomy and its significance in foretelling the future

Hoard of Babylonian agricultural tools
Hoard of copper Babylonian agricultural tools from Kulala. From the British Museums collection

Gold model chariot from the Oxus treasure, Achaemenid Persian, from Tadjikistan, 5th-4th century BC
Gold model chariot from the Oxus treasure, Achaemenid Persian, from the region of Takht-i Kuwad, Tadjikistan, 5th-4th century BC

Roman bronze figure of the sun god Helios (Sol), 3rd century. From the British Museums collection

Roman statuette of Alexander the Great on horseback, from the British Museums collection

Copper alloy figure of Hercules wearing a lion skin, 2nd century. Found at Birdoswald Fort, Cumbria. From the British Museums collection

Romano-British copper alloy head of Minerva with Corinthian helmet, from Felmingham Hall, Norfolk, England. From the British Museums collection

Roman wood writing tablet from Vindolanda with a party invitation, late 1st or early 2nd century
Roman wood writing tablet from Vindolanda with a party invitation written in ink, from Claudia Severa to Lepidina, late 1st or early 2nd century

Male figure (ti i) made of thespesia wood from the Society Islands in Tahiti, 19th Century
Male figure (ti i) made of thespesia wood from the Society Islands in Tahiti, collected in the 1820s. It is theorised to be a spirit-god invoked by sorcerors. From the British Museums collection

Head of a wooden figure from New Ireland, Melanesian. From the British Museums collection

White-ground lekythos with a pianting of a woman at a wash basin, Attica, Greece, 470BC-460BC. From the British Museums collection

Black-figured neck-amphora depicting the birth of Athena, Attica, Greece
Black-figured neck-amphora depicting the birth of Athena from Zeus head - note Hephaestos with his axe, Attica, Greece. From the British Museums collection

Greek terracotta oil flask of the infant Dionysus
Greek terracotta oil flask (lekythos) of the infant Dionysus standing in a vine-hung grotto. Made in Athens, and from the British Museums collection

Greek terracotta in the shape of a siren, c570BC
Greek terracotta perfume-bottle in the shape of a siren, c570BC. From the British Museums collection

Greek relief of servants carrying food, from the British Musuem

Marble herm: satyr playing the plagiaulos / flute, Lazio, Rome, Italy, 1st Century. A statue of a satyr playing the flute/plaiaulos with the mouthpiece set at an angle to the pipe

The Arundel Head - bronze head possibly of the Greek tragedian Sophocles, Hellenistic, 2nd century BC. Found in Smyrna, Turkey. From the British Museums collection

Bronze vessel in the form of the head of a young African woman. From the British Museums collection

Greek bronze mirror case with Aphrodite and Pan, c350 BC. Aphrodite and Pan are depicted with an incised drawing playing knucklebones, a popular childrens game. Said to be from Corinth

Greek bronze figure holding a pomegranate and a torch, possibly the Greek goddess Persephone. from the British Museums collection

Bronze standard finial with two felines, Luristan Culture, from western Iran, c10th-7th century BC. From the British Museums collection

Copper foundation figurine ending in cone and plaque, Telloh, South Iraq, 2494BC-2465BC
Copper foundation figurine ending in cone and plaque, found in Telloh, South Iraq, Early Dynastic III, 2494BC-2465BC. The peg figurine was passed through the hole in the plaque

Detail of an Achaemenid gold and lapis lazuli staff
Lapis lazuli and gold staff handle, made in Iran. Modern fake in Achaemenid style. From the British Museums collection

Copper alloy figure of the goddess Epona, seated between two ponies, from Wiltshire, England. From the British Museums collection

Roman iron ring with a red jasper gem
Roman iron finger-ring with a red jasper gem depicting the head of a beardless Hercules with lions skin tied round his neck and the letters VS, 2nd century. Found in Malton, North Yorkshire

Roman gold ring from the Backworth treasure
Roman gold snake finger-ring from the Backworth treasure from Tyne and Wear, 1st - 2nd century. The Backworth hoarde is probably a votive deposit to a mother-goddess on the eastern end of Hadrians

Roman bronze jug found in England, from the British Museums collection

Empress pepper pot from the Hoxne hoard, Roman Britain, buried in the 5th century. The pepper pot is in the form of a silver bust of an Imperial lady of the late-Roman period

Detail of a Samian ware pot found in England. From the British Museums collection

Bracelet from the Hoxne hoard, Roman Britain, buried in the 5th century. The bracelet is decorated with figured scenes in relief

Cord-decorated Neolithic Beaker, from the River Thames at Mortlake. From the British Museums collection

The Folkton Drums, found in East Yorkshire, England, Late Neolithic period, 2600-2000 BC
One of the three Folkton Drums, found in East Yorkshire, England, Late Neolithic period, 2600-2000 BC. These objects were found in a child burial in a round barrow excavated by William Greenwell in

British Neolithic beaker from Lambourne, Berkshire, England. From the British Museums collection

The Grimes Graves Goddess, Neolithic, Norfolk. Chalk goddess from Grimes Graves, Pit 15, Norfolk, England. It was found in a Neolithic flint mine, and is possibly a fertility figure

Macedonian coin of the fifth century BC. A coin from Mende showing Dionysus on a mule with a drinking cup, from the British Museums collection

Celtic bronze flagon from France, 5th century BC
A Celtic bronze flagon from Basse-Putz, Lorraine, France, from the British Musuems collection, 5th century BC

Celtic bronze armlet from Scotland
A bronze armlet, one of a pair found in Dummond Castle in Scotland, and currently in the British Museums collection

Iron Age British Female Chariot Burial
A British Iron Age chariot burial at Arras Barrow cemetery in the Yorkshire Wolds. The skeleton of a woman of high rank c. 35-40 years old, with an iron mirror and harness trappings of bronze

Chinese fourth century BC bronze plaque, depicting a tiger looking back. An Ordos type bronze plaque, from the British Museums collection

Parthian ceramic plaque from the 1st to 3rd century, depicting a mounted archer
Parthian ceramic relief plaque, depicting a mounted male archer, 1st to 3rd Century. Said to be from Syria. From the British Museums collection

A carved wooden door from Nigeria depicting men on horseback
A carved wooden door from Yorubaland, Nigeria, depicting Portugese men on horseback. From the British Museum

Bronze Mask from Benin, Nigeria
A bronze mask from Benin, Nigeria, currently in the British Museum

Roman copy of a lost Greek original bust of Alexander the Great, 350 BC
Roman copy of a lost Greek original bust of Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) of 350 BC, from the British Museums collection

Anglo-Saxon Gold Pendant
An Anglo-Saxon gold pendant, currently in the British Museum

Anthony Panizzi, Italian bibliographer, 1874. Artist: Carlo Pellegrini
Anthony Panizzi, Italian bibliographer, 1874. Panizzi (1797-1879) fled the 1821 revolution in Italy and became Chief Librarian at the British Museum (1856-1866), where he designed the Reading Room

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The British Museum in London, England is a treasure trove of history and culture from all corners of the world. One of its most famous exhibits is the Rosetta Stone, a key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Visitors marvel at this artifact that unlocked the secrets of an ancient civilization. Another fascinating piece on display is the Battersea Shield, dating back to the early Iron Age in the first century AD. This Celtic masterpiece showcases intricate designs and craftsmanship that transport you back in time. For lovers of Greek mythology, the Horse of Selene from the Parthenon is a must-see. This stunning sculpture captures the grace and power of these mythical creatures. Art enthusiasts will appreciate Albrecht Durer's "The Man of Sorrows, " a poignant depiction that evokes deep emotions. The attention to detail and skillful technique make it a true masterpiece. Stepping into the Great Court at the British Museum feels like entering another world altogether. The grandeur and architectural beauty are awe-inspiring, making it a favorite spot for visitors to gather and soak in their surroundings. History buffs can explore artifacts like an Anglo-Saxon brooch or Leonardo da Vinci's portrayal of A Condottiere from 1480. These pieces offer glimpses into different eras and cultures, showcasing humanity's rich heritage. Delving further into Britain's past, pottery cremation urns from Loveden Hill reveal insights into Anglo-Saxon burial practices during the 6th-7th century. It serves as a reminder that even everyday objects hold stories waiting to be discovered. Capturing moments frozen in time, vintage photographs depict scenes both inside and outside this iconic institution. From street views with bustling crowds to serene reading rooms filled with knowledge seekers, they showcase how integral this museum has been throughout history. Whether you're fascinated by ancient civilizations or intrigued by artistic masterpieces, visiting London's British Museum promises an unforgettable journey through time and across continents.