British Museum - What's on in September

.

What's on September 2017

Our major exhibition focusing on the fearsome Scythians opens in less than two weeks! You can buy advance tickets here. Frozen tombs and preserved burial mounds have revealed a wealth of information about these nomadic tribes of warriors who roamed the vast plains of Siberia. Gold treasures, extraordinary clothing and even ice mummies have been found in the thousands of burial mounds that dot the landscape of the steppe. Find out what mysteries these reveal on our blog.  Plus, see ancient myths, legends and epics retold like never before this September. We're hosting a series of wonderful performances in collaboration with the Crick Crack Club – find out more.

Special exhibitions

The BP exhibition Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia 14 September 2017 – 14 January 2018   Made over 2,300 years ago by the Scythians, this spiral neck ornament is decorated with feline predators – perhaps tigers. Their long tails end in vulture heads and are inlaid with turquoise. Fantastic animal imagery appears across Scythian objects – on jewellery, weapons, clothing, saddlery and even tattoos – and carried a deep significance for them. See stunning objects like this and journey from the edge of China to the Black Sea in our next special exhibition exploring these fascinating nomadic warriors. Book tickets here ›   Supported by BP

BOOK NOW ›

Tours

Special morning tours: an introduction to the British Museum Explore the oldest space in the Museum and discover the history of the collection in these special tours before the galleries open to the public. Learn how the world was understood by Europeans in the 18th century in the Enlightenment Gallery, then trace the beginning of the British Museum and the development of the extraordinary collection in the Collecting the world Gallery. The tours provide a wonderful introduction before exploring other galleries in the Museum. Places are limited to a maximum of 20 to ensure a unique visiting experience. £30 per person Price includes a British Museum souvenir guide book

BOOK YOUR PLACE ›

Free exhibitions and displays

The Asahi Shimbun Displays Virtual pilgrimage: reimagining India's Great Shrine of Amaravati Until 8 October The Great Shrine of Amaravati was one of the most important Buddhist monuments in ancient India. Pilgrims from many walks of life funded the construction and adornment of the Great Shrine over hundreds of years. Curator Imma Ramos explains the fascinating stories of these individuals and gives an overview of the history of the site in this blog post. Explore the shrine and its devotees as they are brought to life using innovative new technology in this free display. Find out more › Supported by The Asahi Shimbun

Living histories: recent acquisitions of works on paper by contemporary Arab artists Until 22 October Produced after the Syrian uprising and the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, this poster is part of a series of works by Alshaab Alsori Aref Tarekh (The Syrian People Know Their Way). It shows the silhouette of a head wearing a helmet, with the back of the head creating the shape of a dove. The inscription reads 'Self-defence is a legal right'.  This powerful piece is on display in our free exhibition featuring work by Syrian artists made in response to the uprisings of 2011.  Find out more ›

ALL EXHIBITIONS ›

Highlight events

Myths retold: The Iliad Sun 10 Sep, 14.30–17.15 £8, Members/concessions £6 Part of a series of performances presented in collaboration with the Crick Crack Club, experience some of the greatest stories in the world starting with the Iliad. Find out more ›   Following the Buddhist path: insights on the nature of mind Fri 22 Sep, 18.30–19.45 £5, Members/concessions £3 Join Theravada Buddhist nun and teacher, Ajahn Sundara, and television presenter and psychotherapist, Alistair Appleton, as they reflect on their own personal experiences of Buddhist practice, philosophy and mindfulness. Find out more › Gay in the Museum: the impact of LGBTQ heritage Sat 23 Sep, 13.30–14.30 Free, booking essential In this lecture, Oxford Professor of Egyptology Richard Parkinson will discuss the development of a recent book about LGBTQ history, and the personal impact that even ancient LGBTQ histories can have on all of us. Find out more ›

ALL EVENTS ›

Join us live on Facebook

Live broadcasts in September On Thursday evenings through September we'll be exploring the Museum after hours with expert curators in a series of live broadcasts on Facebook! Join us on 7 September for a behind-the-scenes look at ancient Greek sculpture. Meet the Scythians on the day our major new exhibition opens, in an exclusive tour on 14 September. Finally, decode hieroglyphs and get an introduction to some of the amazing objects in our Egyptian Sculpture Gallery on 21 September.