British Museum

Submerged under the sea for over a thousand years, two lost cities of ancient Egypt were recently rediscovered. Their story is told for the first time in this blockbuster exhibition.

Vanished beneath the waters of the Mediterranean, the lost cities of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus lay at the mouth of the Nile. Named after the Greek hero Heracles, Thonis-Heracleion was one of Egypt’s most important commercial centres for trade with the Mediterranean world and, with Canopus, was a major centre for the worship of the Egyptian gods. Their amazing discovery is transforming our understanding of the deep connections between the great ancient civilisations of Egypt and Greece.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Admission

Adults £16.50, under 16s free

Website

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/sunken_cities.aspx

This small display celebrates the traditions associated with love, courtship and marriage in Iran and neighbouring regions.

‘A heart without love is a body without a soul. A soul lives forever because of love.’ So wrote the Persian poet, scholar and mystic, Jami (1414–1492), on love – of all subjects, perhaps the most universal to humankind. In Persianate culture, the theme of love has permeated literature, art and music for thousands of years.

In the display, love and courtship are explored through drawings, illustrated manuscript pages and objects, depicting intimate scenes and classical Persian accounts of celebrated romances. Illuminated Persian marriage contracts (ghabaleh), along with a Judaeo-Persian example (ketubbah) and an Old Babylonian contract carved onto a clay tablet, reflect the legal and social aspects of marriage and its roots in ancient tradition. The works are complemented by a number of richly embroidered textiles, including wedding garments and accessories.

Dating mainly between the 1500s and the 20th century, these objects situate love and marriage within the histories, narratives and contexts of people from the Middle East and Central Asia.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/love_and_marriage_in_Iran.aspx

This free display looks at how money has affected everyday life – from the cash we carry in our pockets to financial concepts such as taxation and inflation.

Money’s central function has remained the same for thousands of years – it’s a convenient way to transfer wealth or pay for things. However, over the centuries, people’s personal relationships with money have developed and its role has evolved along with political systems. In this display, discover the world of money and your relationship with it through a selection of objects drawn from different societies through history.

The display will focus on several key financial concepts through history, including taxation, globalisation, inflation, assets, banking and debt. Financial terminology has always featured in idioms and everyday sayings, giving the impression that these concepts are somehow modern inventions. The display instead reveals that many micro and macroeconomic concepts and functions are actually rooted in history – from debt in Roman Egypt to inflation in revolutionary France.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/money_matters.aspx

From the earliest examples of human curiosity and creativity to cutting-edge contemporary works, discover the fascinating history of South Africa through art.



In this exhibition a diverse range of art from across the ages tells a story that stretches back to the Early Stone Age. From rock art made by the country’s earliest peoples to works by South African artists at the forefront of contemporary art, the exhibition features beautiful and important works, which illustrate South Africa’s rich history.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Admission

Adults £12, under 16s free

Website

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/south_africa.aspx

A gallery talk by Irving Finkel, British Museum.

Gallery talks last 45 minutes.

They are given by Museum staff or guest speakers and are suitable for all levels of knowledge.

Admission

Free