British Museum - What's on in August 2017

What's on August 2017

Our next special exhibition grapples with the Scythians – nomadic tribes and masters of mounted warfare who roamed the vast open plains of ancient Siberia 2,500 years ago. There's far more to the Scythians than just being fearsome warriors – find out more in our special exhibition opening on 14 September. Advance booking recommended.    The Museum has a broad range of free displays open this August. Two of them are part of the India-UK Year of Culture 2017 – a look at Indian popular prints, and a reimagining of an ancient Buddhist shrine.

Special exhibitions

Hokusai: beyond the Great Wave Until 13 August   Birds and flowers feature prominently in the work of Hokusai. These sensitive and life-like depictions are accurate enough to show the different patterning on flowers like the Mirabilis jalapa shown here. The bird – a grosbeak – features in the artist's series of 15 drawing manuals that were aimed at students and known as ‘Hokusai manga’ or ‘Hokusai’s Sketches’. There's a beautiful collection of products in our shop inspired by this beautiful artwork – tote bags, mugs, bookmarks and more. Browse the range › Advance tickets are now sold out for the exhibition – the best way to see the show is to become a Member. Find out more about Membership ›   Supported by Mitsubishi Corporation

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The BP exhibition Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia 14 September 2017 – 14 January 2018   In battles, the Scythians would use large numbers of highly mobile archers who could shower hundreds of deadly arrows within a few minutes. As late as the 6th century AD, a Byzantine writer described the deadly effect of mounted archers like these: ‘they do not let up at all until they have achieved the complete destruction of their enemies.' George R R Martin's immensely successful Game of Thrones has just started its seventh season. The fantasy world portrayed on screen has many real-world historical parallels – from medieval Europe and ancient Rome to the Scythians, the subject of our next special exhibition. Like the Scythians, the Dothraki in Game of Thrones are horse-riding nomadic warriors, but they also share some more surprising similarities – read more on our blog ›   Supported by BP

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Free exhibitions and displays

Places of the mind: British watercolour landscapes 1850–1950 Until 27 August This shimmering watercolour depicts an ancient temple in Karnak, Egypt. It was painted in 1868 by Henry Stanier who produced numerous views of important archaeological sites, capturing the dust and heat in this luminous style. Karnak is a vast complex of ancient Egyptian buildings that was part of the city of Thebes, and works like this spurred tourism to historical sites. You can see this work in our free British watercolours display exploring 100 years of the medium. Find out more › Supported in memory of Melvin R Seiden

Where the Thunderbird lives: cultural resilience on the Northwest Coast of North America Until 27 August This model of a long house was made in the 1890s and is carved from wood with painted decoration. It is a replica of a real building from Kayang on the Haida Gwaii islands off the coast of western Canada. Long houses were dwellings for extended families, but also acted as centres for community gatherings. The large totem pole recounts the history of the people who lived in the house – the full-size totem is 12 metres tall and stands in the Museum’s Great Court. See this model and other objects that showcase the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Northwest Coast Peoples in our free exhibition. Find out more › Supported by the High Commission of Canada in the UK.  Additional support by Steven Larcombe and Sonya Leydecker, and the PF Charitable Trust.

The Asahi Shimbun Displays Virtual pilgrimage: reimagining India's Great Shrine of Amaravati 10 August – 8 October Founded around 200 BC, the Great Shrine of Amaravati was one of the earliest, largest and most important Buddhist monuments in the world. The site in south-east India flourished for over 1,000 years thanks in part to donations from pilgrims to the shrine. Donations were a way of attaining spiritual merit for devotees – this intricate stone relief made around 50 BC is carved with the names of people who made donations to the shrine. The shrine and its pilgrims are brought to life using innovative technology in this small free display. Find out more › Supported by The Asahi Shimbun

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Highlight events

Myths retold Experience some of the greatest stories in the world in this series of performances, presented in collaboration with the Crick Crack Club. Enter a flickering cave of wonder for a wild exploration of epic and myth. Sun 10 Sep – The Iliad Rediscover the story of the siege and fall of Troy – an extraordinary account of the savagery and mad ecstasy of the battlefield, filled with dark humour. Sun 8 Oct – The Curled Tongue Enter the realm of curses, lost children, transformations, prophecy, fate and betrayal in this contemporary performance of Irish myths.  Sun 5 Nov – Beowulf The oldest surviving story in the English language, this ancient tale explores the journey we all make from the seeming invincibility of youth to the vulnerability of old age. Sun 10 Dec – The Ramayana  Experience a vivid, wild and beguiling world in this retelling of the much-loved Indian epic featuring Rama, Sita and a ten-headed demon king... £8, Members/concessions £6

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Behind-the-scenes video

Conserving the Vulture Peak embroidery This is one of the largest examples of Chinese embroidery, and depicts the Sakyamuni Buddha. The beautiful 8th-century silk embroidery is being prepared for display overseas by the Museum's conservation team. This video explains the history of this impressive 2.5-metre-tall textile, and what previous restoration efforts can tell us. You can follow its conservation journey in a series of videos released every week – subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest on this amazing process.  Watch the video on YouTube › Discover where our conservators and scientists work in free behind-the-scenes tours! In August, learn more about our scientific research labs and in September get an insight into organics conservation. Find out more > Conservation supported by The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, The Idlewild Trust and the Thriplow Charitable Trust. Additional funds by The Nara National Museum. Video supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.