Foundedin1753,theBritishMuseumisoneoftheoldestandlargestmuseumsintheworld,attractingover6millionvisitorsannually.Housingover8millionworksfromallcontinents,thismuseumprovidesaglimpseintotherichculturalheritageandhistoryofmankind.
FromAncientEgypttotheMiddleAges
OneofthemostpopularsectionsofthemuseumistheEgyptianGallery,whichhousesthefamousRosettaStone-agranitesteleinscribedwithadecreeissuedatMemphisin196BCthathasbeencreditedwithhelpingscholarsdecipherhieroglyphics.ThegalleryalsofeaturesamultitudeofotherfascinatingartifactsfromthelandofthePharaohs,suchasmummiesandelaboratetombs.
AnothersectionthatdrawsvisitorsistheMedievalGallery,whichshowcasesBritain'smedievalheritage.AmongthehighlightsofthiscollectionaretheLewisChessmen-agroupof12th-centurychesspiecesmadeofwalrusivorythatwerediscoveredontheIsleofLewisin1831.
ExploringtheWorld
Themuseumalsoboastscollectionsfromaroundtheworld,includingAfrica,Asia,andtheAmericas.TheAsiaGalleryisparticularlypopularandfeaturesover50,000objectsfromChina,Japan,Korea,andSoutheastAsia.Includedinthiscollectionareanumberoffamousculturalrelics,suchastheAdmonitionsScroll,a6th-centuryChinesepaintingthatisconsideredamasterpieceofChineseart.
TheAmericasGalleryisanothermust-see,withexhibitsthathighlightthediverseculturesoftheNativeAmericanpeoples.ThegalleryfeaturesanumberofartifactsfromtheAztecandMayacivilizations,aswellasastunningfeathercloakfromHawaii.
ContemporaryCollections
WhiletheBritishMuseumisknownprimarilyforitsancientandclassicalcollections,italsofeaturesabroadrangeofcontemporaryworks.Themuseum'scontemporaryartcollectionboastsover2000pieces,includingworksbyrenownedartistssuchasDamienHirstandRachelWhiteread.
AnotherpopularexhibitistheLivingandDyingGallery,whichexploresthedifferentbeliefsandpracticesrelatedtobirth,life,anddeatharoundtheworld.Thegalleryfeaturesanumberofcontemporaryartworksthatreflectonthesethemes,suchastheglasssculpture\"Memorial\"byCzechartistMartinJanecký.
Asoneoftheworld'spremierculturalinstitutions,theBritishMuseumhassomethingtooffereveryone.Whetheryou'reinterestedinancientcivilizations,contemporaryart,orsimplywanttolearnmoreabouttheworldaroundyou,avisittothisiconicmuseumissuretobeamemorableexperience.
