British Museum - What's on in October

The Scythians are here! They've galloped into the Museum for our special autumn exhibition.  The show has been years in the planning, but what does it actually take to deliver an exhibition on this scale? Curator St John Simpson has written a blog about what goes on behind the scenes – read it here. Scythians aren't the only reason to visit the Museum this October. There are lots of free exhibitions and displays to catch before they close, including The Asahi Shimbun Display Virtual pilgrimage: reimagining India's Great Shrine of Amaravati.

Special exhibition

The BP exhibition Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia Until 14 January 2018   ★★★★★ – Time Out ★★★★★ – The Telegraph ★★★★★ – The Times ★★★★★ – The Observer This extravagant headgear was found in a high-status burial chamber and may have been worn by a chieftain in his final battle. It shows a fantastic eagle holding a deer in its beak, and was attached to a felt hood. The wearer would have stood out on the battlefield, enhancing the intimidating effect of a Scythian warrior.  Discover intriguing objects like this that bring the nomadic warriors to life in our five-star exhibition. Book tickets here › Supported by BP

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Free exhibitions and displays

The business of prints Until 28 January 2018 This amazing print was made using just a single line! It starts at the tip of Christ’s nose and spirals outward to build up the design, using varying widths to change the tone. It was made by French printmaker Claude Mellan in 1649. Most engravers created tone by using crosshatching, but in this instance Mellan has avoided this technique completely to showcase his technical brilliance. Discover the power of prints and the business of printmaking in Europe from 1400–1850 in our new free exhibition. Find out more › Supported by The Eyre Family Foundation

The currency of communism 19 October 2017 – 18 March 2018 Communism has existed in numerous forms in the 100 years since the Russian Revolution of 1917, and while money has no role in a utopian society, no state has successfully removed money from its economy.   This small display examines the imagery and iconography of communist money, and the changing roles of currency and exchange in planned economies. Find out more › Research and acquisitions for this exhibition have been made possible with Art Fund support.

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Highlight events

Reni Eddo-Lodge in conversation: Black history and cultural heritage in museums Fri 6 Oct, 18.30–20.00 £5, Members/concessions £3 Award-winning journalist and author Reni Eddo-Lodge is joined by British Museum Curator Chris Spring to discuss race and racism in modern Britain, and the role museums can play in bringing deeper understanding of the history of black cultural identity. Find out more › Myths retold: The Crick Crack Club presents The Curled Tongue Sun 8 Oct, 14.30–17.15 £8, Members/concessions £6 Myths retold is a series of performances of some of the greatest stories in the world. In this special event enjoy a contemporary performance of ancient Irish myths by Clare Murphy. Find out more › Scythians late: steppe it up! Fri 13 Oct, 18.00–21.00 Free, just drop in We're celebrating all things Scythian in a special event that breathes life into the ancient cultures of the Siberian steppe. Enjoy music, talks, performances and craft activities – including an improvised opera about these nomadic warriors! Find out more ›

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