William Sterling

Head of one of the four horses of the moon goddess Selene from the northern end of the East Pediment of the Parthenon in Athens c. 420 BC, currently in the British Museum. One of the most popular of the so-called Elgin Marbles which Lord Elgin rescued from Athens in the early nineteenth century. The East Pediment showed the birth of Athena as she burst out of the head of her father, Zeus, and the reaction of those who were present. Although all the central figures are long gone at either end are depictions of the sun god Helios rising from the sea with his four horse chariot and the moon goddess Selene returning to the sea with hers showing that Athena was born at dawn. Image © Trustees of the British Museum

  • This event has passed.

Early Mediaeval Europe tour

June 12, 2011 @ 2:45 pm - 3:25 pm

This tour starts at 2:45 each day and also lasts about 40 minutes.  It is mostly in Room 41 but ends with the spectacular Lewis Chess Pieces in Room 40.  The tour starts with the end of the Roman Empire with the dazzling Esquiline Treasure and continues with the story of Early Mediaeval Europe, especially the Anglo-Saxons of which the main highlight is the Sutton Hoo Treasure (left).  The Lewis Chess Pieces and Sutton Hoo Treasure also featured in the BBC’s “A History of the World in 100 objects.”

The tour also covers such finds as the largest Viking Hoard in Western Europe, from Cuerdale and ends with the Lewis Chess Pieces, some of the highlights of any visit to the Museum.

Details

Date:
June 12, 2011
Time:
2:45 pm - 3:25 pm

Top