A day at the museum

[Geoffrey S]

Over New Year I was in London, and couldn't resist spending yet another day at the British Museum. This time, however, I had a camera, although it was mainly the shiniest objects which caught the eye of my lens... Regardless, I figured there'd be interested people here so here goes. Please note that I can't quite remember what exactly everything was, so I've lumped them together into groups.

Celtic




Assyrian


Hellenic




Saxon



Other (v.l.n.r. Sassanid coin (Sargon II?), Baktrian coins, Byzantine work, Sabaean monument, decorated Roman helmet)



And as a conclusion, I urge anyone visiting London to check out the British Museum. I've been there several times, each time spending a whole day in awe of the incredible collection present. I could well imagine anyone interested in the historical aspects of EB finding it utterly fascinating, and as an added incentive it's free!

Enjoy!
Geoffrey

[LorDBulA]

Great pictures. Thanks for posting.

[TWFanatic]

Yes they're much appreciated. Makes me want to travel to London.

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Wonderful piccies! I swear I've seen those coins somewhere before

[Horst Nordfink]

Yes they're much appreciated. Makes me want to travel to London.

If only London wasn't such a dump! I can't stand the place.

[O'ETAIPOS]

While in London I spent like 5 days about 5 hours each in there. And I have to say I only seen properly greek and roman part. I went through Egyptian and Mesopotamian also, but to reach barbarians I'd need probably another week ...

[Andronikos]

I was in London with my school so the choice of excursions was on our teacher but fortunately we spent a nice day there. I have photographs of many of shown artefacts but in worse quality.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Thanks for the piccies Geoff!
.

[Birka Viking]

Wonderful pics Next time I visit London I must go there

[Reverend Joe]

Gotta dig that Madonna bra helmet.

[RomulusAugustusCaesar]

Saxon

Saxon, hmm? Kind of reminds me of a figure from the old Norse game "Nefatl" (sp?), also known as "King's Table". Fun game, actually.

[Geoffrey S]

Saxon, hmm? Kind of reminds me of a figure from the old Norse game "Nefatl" (sp?), also known as "King's Table". Fun game, actually.

Actually, I don't think they were Saxon looking back on it. They're part of the famous chess set discovered on the Isle of Lewis dating to the twelfth century. They're Scandinavian, but not necessarily Saxon. Must admit it's not a period I know anything much about.

[Frostwulf]

Very nice Geoffrey S, thanks for the pictures. If I get a chance to get there I now know where I will be visiting.

[Hooahguy]

very nice photos, ill have to visit there when i go during the summer!
post 666.....

[Hooahguy]

just posting so the devil will die....

[fatsweets]

Great pictures! I being from California and probably not getting the chance to visit London any time in the near future brings up a question, wondering where most people are from, who visit this forum regularly? Seems to me there is quite a few people from Great Britain and Europe?

[Thaatu]

I being from California and probably not getting the chance to visit London any time in the near future brings up a question, wondering where most people are from, who visit this forum regularly?

At the moment I'm in hell.

[Strategos Alexandros]

Finland = Hell?

[monkian]

Finland = Hell?

Hellsinki ?

[RomulusAugustusCaesar]

Actually, I don't think they were Saxon looking back on it. They're part of the famous chess set discovered on the Isle of Lewis dating to the twelfth century. They're Scandinavian, but not necessarily Saxon. Must admit it's not a period I know anything much about.

Makes sense. Many historians believe King's Table to be the precursor to Chess. The rules were different, but the idea was the same.

[Lovejoy]

Since finland pretty much have snow all-year-long and santa claus lives there you wouldnt think finland to be hell... but what do i know?


Great pictures btw. Its so cool these things have survived to this day. And its fun how many of the things you recongnize from eb! I wish to go there one day, but its hard to find company to such a trip :P ... need to find some new friends! :P

[bovi]

At the moment I'm in hell.

Visiting Norway?

[Strategos Alexandros]

[Gebeleisis]

LOL @bovi

@Geoffrey

Those pictures have imense potential for a photoshoper to make some skins!
If you ever go to the museum again or if you have more photos pls send them to me or post them,thoe are a treasure chest!

Ballon for you m8!

[Thaatu]

Worse.



Edit: Actually now that I've escaped for the weekend (but am too lazy to change my location), I'll give my contribution. Does anyone know the coin on the top left? Watchman need not apply.


(From the Finnish National Museum)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

If you don't know, you need to play EB. If you've played and still don't know, go see a doctor.

[Gebeleisis]

mnai :D?

[Ozymandias]

I'm guessing its a Ptolemaic coin.

[The Persian Cataphract]

Other (v.l.n.r. Sassanid coin (Sargon II?)

Heh, nice pictures

That coin actually depicts emperor Chosroës II "Âparvîz" (The Victorious, as he was called due to his successes against the Maurikian Byzantines), and he is mostly known for his very unique crown, abandoning the corymbus/korymbos crest in favour of a pair of wings, which has been verified by the bas-reliefs at Tâq-î Bûstân, where we see his investiture above an equestrian depiction.

This mint is also infamous, because it did, along with the mint of his great predecessor Chosroës I "Ânûshîrevân, serve as the basis for the coinage struck by the Caliphate in times where the mintagery went particularly slow; The adoption of the Sassanian minting standards (Basically the drachma), as dirham, during the early Islamic conquests solved quite a bit of issues; The model for those two coins in particular was especially widespread.

[Thaatu]

I'm guessing its a Ptolemaic coin.

Correct, in fact it's exactly the same design as EB's Ptolemaic icon. Plus, it's copper, so it's worthless!

[keravnos]

Thanks for the pic Thaatu!

That coin in Finland reads "ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ" (=Of King Ptolemaios), it depicts the Ptolemaic eagle (eagle was the bird of Zeus) holding a thunderbolt of Zeus in its claws, the horn of Amaltheia (from which neverending wealth is pouring out) is on its left. (Many ptolemaic coins depict the horn of Amaltheia signifying the wealth of Egypt). Between the claws of the Eagle a small monogram can be seen. It is the name of the city in which the coin was minted, and it combines many greek letters into that single letter (monogram means "one letter (word)" loosely translated). All major cities of any Hellenistic kingdom minted coins.