subject: British Museum, A Storehouse Of Human Culture [print this page] Londons British Museum is a vast repository of artifacts that reflect human culture and history over the centuries. Its immense collection which encompasses over seven million items is considered to be one of the most valuable and comprehensive museum collections on the globe. With objects representing cultures from around the world, the museum documents the history and evolution of human culture from ancient times to the modern world.
Initially the institution was founded as a universal museum in 1753, based on the collection bequeathed to the nation in the will of Sir Hans Sloane, a noted naturalist and physician who had amassed a remarkable collection of curiosities. Since these early days the museum has expanded steadily, with regular additions to its impressive assortment of artifacts. Today the museum is organized into several departments based on geographical areas.
The Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities boasts one of the most comprehensive collections of objects from the Classical era, amounting to over 100,000 items. Included are elements from the Minoan, Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations; the Greek section features items from the Parthenon, as well as relics from two of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan displays the most extensive assortment of antiquities from Egypt outside Cairos Egyptian Museum. The collection encompasses items from all periods of history in Egypt and Sudan with representative items from virtually every significant archaeological site in these areas. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, a colossal bust of Ramesses II and an immense granite head of Amenhotep III.
Meanwhile the Department of the Middle East contains over 330,000 objects, with artifacts from Mesopotamia, the Arabian peninsula, Persia, Syria, Anatolia, Palestine and Central Asia among other areas. Included are items from the royal library of Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, alabaster bas-reliefs from Nineveh, and many distinctive sculptures. Also on display are many examples of Islamic art.
Not to be missed is the Department of Asia, containing a wide spectrum of objects from the Asian continent, covering many different periods from Neolithic times to the present day. Highlights include a variety of Chinese antiquities, an impressive array of sculpture from the Indian subcontinent, and an assortment of Buddhist paintings.
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