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Why the British
Museum is special
The British Museum in London, England exhibits a wealth of cultural masterpieces including famous antiquities
and historic documents. Its four most celebrated crowd-pullers
are the:
Rosetta Stone
Elgin Marbles
Great Court

Rosetta Stone

The 2200 year old Rosetta Stone (see photo) stands only one meter high but is of towering significance.
Its discovery in 1799 enabled archaeologists to decipher the hieroglyphics chiseled on ancient Egyptian
temples. This was possible because an identical message is repeated on the Rosetta Stone using three
different written languages. One of them is hieroglyphics. Because the
archaeologists knew the other two, they learned how to interpret hieroglyphics.

Elgin Marbles

These ancient Greek sculptures once adorned the Parthenon in Athens. In the nineteenth century, Lord Elgin
shipped them to England.

The Elgin Marbles have embroiled the
British Museum in a growing controversy. A number of individuals and cultural organizations argue
that the museum should return these artistic masterpieces to Greece because Lord Elgin "stole" them (that
is, he took them without obtaining proper approvals from the Greek government and people).

Great Court

The eye-catching Queen Elizabeth II Great Court is a sizable courtyard covered by an immense
curved glass ceiling and lined with Greek-facaded museum galleries.

The Great Court's focal point is the Reading Room
edifice, which dramatically rises from the middle of the courtyard. This round structure houses a large,
old-fashioned research library boasting a high-domed ceiling and long tables fanning out from the room's hub
like wagon-wheel spokes. The ambiance is invitingly traditional. Use of this famous room was once limited to
the few, but is now open to any museum-goer for walk-around sightseeing or for casual or serious reading at
tables once used by celebrated writers and scholars.

Magna Carta is gone

This renowned 13th century document of freedom had long been one of the top draws of the
British Museum. The Magna Carta was recently relocated permanently to the British Library.




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