Two Special Days at the British Museum with Tamara Eidelman
Two days — two extraordinary worlds of art.
On both days, we meet at 11:15 at the British Museum.
August 25, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM — Tour: "Ancient Greece"
Everyone knows that the British Museum houses sculptures and reliefs from the Parthenon — one of the greatest temples of Ancient Greece. But the museum’s classical collection doesn’t end there.
Walking through the British Museum’s galleries dedicated to antiquity feels like stepping into a time machine and traveling to Ancient Greece. Vases and jewelry, sculptures and reliefs...
During our tour devoted to Ancient Greece, we will explore the history of this great civilization — from its earliest days to the era of Alexander the Great. We’ll imagine how the ancient Greeks lived, what they believed in, and which gods they worshipped. We'll talk about the architectural wonders once included in the Seven Wonders of the World — and not just the Parthenon. We’ll see stunning statues and equally stunning vases.
The ancient world in the British Museum has always felt alive to me. What we see are not static exhibits — but life itself. The life of a long-gone, vanished culture that remains so dear to us, and one we want to keep talking about again and again.
That is why I invite you to walk with me through the British Museum’s galleries — and take a journey into the fascinating world of antiquity.
August 26, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM — Tour: "Great Discoveries"
The British Museum is a great treasure trove, home to priceless artifacts from ancient civilizations across the globe.
To truly explore the entire museum, one would have to live there — and, unfortunately, that’s not an option.
So I chose to focus on a subject that has always fascinated me. I’ve always been amazed by how much the great archaeologists have done for this museum. That’s why my tour on August 26 will be dedicated to the most famous archaeological discoveries that have become some of the museum’s greatest highlights.
We’ll talk about the Rosetta Stone, which allowed scholars to read ancient Egyptian texts; marvel at the fantastic Assyrian reliefs; discover remarkable objects found in the royal burials of the city of Ur in Mesopotamia; and explore the absolutely incredible medieval artifacts discovered in Sutton Hoo, England.
Each of these discoveries has its own story — a story about the remarkable people who made these finds possible.
I first read about these archaeologists and their discoveries as a child — and later shared their stories with my students, both in school and in the galleries of the British Museum.
And now, I’ll be delighted to walk with you through my favorite galleries and share how all these treasures came to be here.
When: August 25 & 26, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Tate Britain
Tours will be held in Russian.
The British Museum • WC1B 3DG London, England, United Kingdom
