The Morgans Go European

April 9, 2018 Monday The British Museum

The British Museum's collection numbers some 8 million works! It's the largest and most comprehensive collection in existence. The museum was established in 1753 and is free to the public. I will post the highlights.

The Great Court, Europe's largest covered square, is where you enter the museum.

Perhaps, the most famous item in the museum, the Rosetta Stone. Dating to 196 B.C. the stone was discovered in the Egyptian desert in 1799.

"Let my people go!" When Moses said those words to the king of Egypt, this may have been the stony-faced look he got in return. Ramesses II ruled 66 years- roughly 1290-1223 B.C. This 7 ton statue fragment, made from 2 different colors of granite, was part of a huge statue that once guarded a temple in Thebes.

The scarab was a symbol of resurrection. This one dates from around 200 B.C.

A Cleopatra mummy. Not THE Cleopatra, but one of seven Cleopatras.

Gebelein Man, also known as "Ginger" for the wisps of red hair still visible. This man died 5,400 years ago. The hot desert sands naturally dehydrated and protected his body.

Limestone fragment of the Beard of the Sphinx. It's only 3% of the massive beard, giving an idea of the scale of the whole statue, six stories tall and nearly 250 feet long.

The Thinker by Rodin

The tail end of our trip through the museum. The old room is beautiful in and of itself.

After our time at the British Museum, Rod and most of the kids went home. Grace, Simon, and I stayed in town for an incredible experience! I will ask Grace to fill you in!

We got to see Les Miserables on the West End! It was the best live theatre I've ever seen, and each scene blew me away. Jean Valjean was absolutely incredible, and my favorite scene was One Day More; the wall of sound that emanated from dozens of ridiculously talented people singing at the tops of their lungs was a moment I'll never forget! ~Grace

Simon said, "It was good."