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

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The Lewis Chess Set: archetype of Mediaeval Society

July 29, 2013 @ 10:30 am - 4:30 pm

The British Museum holds astonishing artefacts which colour our understanding of Medieval society. We offer an overview of the period in the morning and study key artefacts, including the Lewis chessmen in the Museum in the afternoon.

The British Museum dates the start of the Middle Ages from the acceptance of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire by Constantine in 312. The Middle Ages ended with the Renaissance but there is no specific event marking this event sometime in the C15th. During that thousand years there were many changes in Europe and a variety of styles in art and design. Works examined include the Esquiline Treasure, the St Michael ivory, Sutton Hoo burial, Franks casket, Cuerdale Viking hoard, Lewis chessmen, Royal Gold Cup and Holy thorn reliquary.

 

Details

Date:
July 29, 2013
Time:
10:30 am - 4:30 pm
Event Tags:
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Venue

City Lit (& British Museum)
Keeley Street
London, WC2B 4BA United Kingdom

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