Tuesday 31 July 2012

The British Museum What's on August 2012


The world-famous Townley Discobolus in the Great Court.
While we celebrate the world coming to London for the 2012 Olympics, why not also discover London as a world city four hundred years ago, captured through Shakespeare’s plays. Discover this in our major exhibition Shakespeare: staging the world.
Plus, it’s the perfect time to be inspired by the free collection. From a free trail on the ancient Games that inspired the modern Olympics, to a display of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medals.
Plus don’t forget the many free exhibitions and displays you can enjoy this summer – everything from Picasso prints to the horse.

Race you to the Museum!
Shakespeare exhibition
now open
The BP exhibition
Shakespeare: staging the world
Until 25 November 2012
Book now ›    Watch the exhibition trailer ›
This major exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Discover the world of William Shakespeare and the emerging role of London as a global city through objects and contemporary performance.

How has Shakespeare spoken to you? Share your brush with the Bard and tell us your tale by visiting Shakespeare in my world ›
£14, Members and under 16s free
Supported by BP.
Part of the World Shakespeare Festival and London 2012 Festival.
 
What’s on for the Olympics

Winning at the ancient Games ›
Until 9 September 2012
Follow the trail to learn about the ancient Olympic Games.

Sui Jianguo’s discus thrower ›
Until 9 September 2012
The Asahi Shimbun Displays

The London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games medals ›

Until 9 September 2012
Supported by Rio Tinto

 
Free exhibitions and displays
Gold medal of Elizabeth I by Nicholas Hilliard. England, c. 1580–1590.

Modern Chinese ink paintings ›
Until 2 September 2012

The horse: from Arabia to Royal Ascot ›
Until 30 September 2012
Supported by the Board of Trustees of the Saudi Equestrian Fund,
the Layan Cultural Foundation and Juddmonte Farms.
In association with the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities.

North American Landscape: Kew at the British Museum ›
Until 25 November 2012
Supported by the American Express Foundation

The Royal Gold Cup. Paris, France,
about AD 1370–1380.
Explore
Going for gold...
Or will it be silver or bronze?
Gold: the Royal Gold Cup ›
Gold has always been highly valued across the world. This late medieval cup is made of solid gold and has had an interesting history. It is lavishly decorated with translucent enamels. The scenes shown on it relate to the life and miracles of St Agnes.

Silver: a silver tigress from the Hoxne Hoard ›
Silver has the chemical symbol Ag, which comes from the Latin name for the metal – argentum. This tigress is part of the Hoxne Hoard, the largest hoard of late Roman silver and gold discovered in Britain. A metal detectorist found it in Suffolk in 1992.

Bronze: a bronze shield from the River Thames ›
Before iron was first made, bronze was the most commonly used metal – hence the Bronze Age. Sheet metal shields such as this were not very functional as they would have become disfigured if used in real combat. It is therefore likely that this shield is parade armour, designed to be worn for display by important warriors.