Treasures of the British Library and British Museum

I had been to London on several occasions, but it’s been ages since I last was here. This was Tim’s first visit, so we began our day with his two “must-sees” – the British Library and the British Museum. We started with the library and took a bus to get there.

We stopped to see the statue of Isaac Newton on our way into the library courtyard and moved to the Treasures of the British Library Gallery.

The British Library

Exploring this collection was an awe-inspiring experience for two lovers of history, books, and maps. Here, the history of 2,000 years of civilization is told through such literary masterpieces as the Gutenberg Bible, the Magna Carta, the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, the writings of Shakespeare, and even the handwritten notes of the Beatles.

The gallery is divided into several thematic displays, including Art and Science, Historical Documents, Maps and Views, Printing, Art of the Book, Sacred Texts, and the Magna Carta, and we eagerly gazed at all these literary treasures.

The lighting in the gallery is low to protect the priceless objects, and the reflections make taking photographs a challenge, but I’m including my favorite images even if they aren’t perfect.

Art and Science

Historical Documents

Maps and Views

Printing

Art of the Book

Sacred Texts

Magna Carta (With the Worst Reflections of All)

Tim in His Element

If the British Library offers a chronicle of civilization through its literary masterpieces, the British Museum tells a similar story through its spectacular objects, both large and small. We started with the Egyptian section, where we saw the Rosetta Stone, statues, and mummies, including mummies of cats. We also viewed part of the Assyrian section, with its massive human-headed winged bulls and other sculptures.

The British Museum

The Rosetta Stone and Other Objects from Egypt and Assyria

It was at this point that I started to feel a bit overheated and lightheaded, so I left Tim to continue his tour while I went in search of something to drink. I sat in the lobby for a while and enjoyed watching the crowd.

I soon felt much better and decided to visit the Parthenon Galleries, which was on my “must-see” list. The Parthenon Sculptures, formerly known as the Elgin Marbles, were removed from the Parthenon in Athens in the early 1800s. Their removal created a storm of controversy that continues to this day and exemplifies questions about the ownership of cultural artifacts and whether such items should be returned to their places of origin. 

Parthenon Galleries

Several respectful protestors holding the Greek flag and placards, were in the Parthenon Galleries today and were happy to engage with visitors and explain their point of view. Tim joined me in the gallery, and he and I both were in awe of these impressive works of art. The detail was amazing, and it was a special treat to be able to view them up close.

Protesters in the Parthenon Galleries

I was disappointed that I was only able to see a portion of the museum, but I was happy with what I did see. After soaking in so many thousands of years of culture, we made our way back to our hotel for a well-deserved rest.