Marbleous! (British Museum)

Member Name: collingwood21

Product:	British Museum
Date:	09/05/01 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free entry, Superb collections, New exhibits opening all the time

Disadvantages: Can get very busy

The British Museum has to be one of the greatest museums in the world, and an absolute must for anybody seeing the sites of London. I have been fortunate enough to visit it on several occasions, and still there is plenty I have not got around to! It is an institute that I am very enthusiastic about, so please forgive me in advance if I go on a bit – I do hope members will find it useful, though.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM
The purpose of the British Museum is to hold in trust a collection of art and antiquities for both our nation and the world, from ancient cultures to living societies. The collection stands out as one of the finest anywhere in the world, spanning two million years and ten departments (from Greek and Roman antiquities to Ancient Egypt, Japan and Medieval Europe). Access to the collections is free, although a donation is requested from visitors to fund the work of the museum.

Since its foundation in 1753, the three guiding principles of the museum are that:
1) The collections are kept in perpetuity in their entirety
2) They are widely available to those who seek to enjoy and learn from them
3) They are curated by full time specialists

Housed in an impressive example of architecture, the British Museum is one of the most visited public buildings in London, welcoming some five million people annually. The newly constructed Great Court is now the largest covered public square in London – members may be familiar with this development from recent media coverage chronicling the arguments between the museum and the builders who took a few liberties in their choice of materials for the court. Arguments or not, it still looks very impressive!

A (BRIEF!) HISTORY
The British Museum was established with its founding collections in 1753, and is currently governed under the British Museum Act of 1963. The core of the current building was constructed between the 1820s and the 1850s, with additions bei
ng built intermittently from the 1850s (Classical Sculpture Galleries) to the present day (the Great Court).

The natural history collections were transferred from Bloomsbury to their present location in South Kensington (to form what is now the Natural History Museum) in the 1880s, as the catalogue became simply too big for one site to house adequately. The library collections (maps, music, books, manuscripts and stamps) were moved to become part of the British Library in 1973, and now live in a new building in St Pancras.

The museum is funded largely by government grants from the Department of Culture, although additional income is raised through sponsorship and commercial activities, notably the British Museum Company, British Museum Travellers and British Museum Friends. Income also comes via donations from visitors to the collections.

The museum will celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2003.

THE GREAT MARBLE DEBATE
The most contentious of all items housed in the museum is surely the Parthenon Marbles (sometimes referred to as the Elgin Marbles after the man who acquired them for the collections). The marbles came from the Parthenon in Athens, and were removed from their position during the Turkish occupation of Greece in the early nineteenth century - the controversy centres on whether or not these treasures should be returned to Greece by the museum.

The argument for : Well, the artefacts are Greek and were removed from the Parthenon by permission of the occupying Turks and not the Greeks themselves. The authorities also wish to open a Parthenon museum in Athens, in which the marbles would be the central attraction, and therefore a big tourist attraction and money-spinner for Greece. Many people see the acquisition of the marbles as outright theft.

The argument against : Finders Keepers! The marbles were removed by an antiquarian who sought the permission of the authorities of the time, so were no
t stolen, but considered all bought and paid for. The remaining marbles left on the Parthenon has since been destroyed by high pollution levels and inadequate conservation, so Elgin did us all a service by saving and preserving those he took back to Britain with him. The marbles can be seen, studied and appreciated by a greater number of people in the British Museum.

Personally, I favour the argument against return, although in today’s increasingly political correct environment, it would not surprise me at all if the museum were forced into giving up their greatest acquisition.

AND FINALLY….
There is certainly something for everyone in this museum, although do allow plenty of time to get around everything that you want to see there. Famous exhibits (other than the Parthenon Marbles, that is) include Egyptian mummies, the Sutton Hoo burial (a personal favourite of mine), Lindow Man and some truly massive Assyrian sculptures. I found everything to be well laid out and signposted, staff were friendly and helpful, and the free maps are completely invaluable! I love the place and am looking forward to my next chance to visit – I would highly recommend any members with the opportunity to go to take it, as it is a truly inspirational visit.

More information at: www.british museum.ac.uk

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