Room 1
Enlightenment
Key information
Free wifi available – use a smartphone or tablet
Suitable for all ages
Room 1
Enlightenment
Discover the Age of Enlightenment (1680–1820) with these fun family missions.
This room is the oldest in the current Museum building. It was originally a library built to house the library of King George III which was gifted to the nation by his son George IV. Today it's full of displays which help us to explore how British people 300 years ago tried to understand the natural and human world by collecting and studying objects. There are collections of fossils, shells, ancient Greek vases and much more.
Explore the amazing decoration of this room and before you leave, look up at the ceiling and try to find the golden royal emblem of King George IV.
Perform
Find this figure of a 'mermaid' in a wall case near the middle of the gallery.
It's made from a monkey's body and a fish tail. Around it are a vast and varied range of different objects. They're displayed in a way similar to how collectors in the past used to show off their diverse collections in 'cabinets of curiosities' over 300 years ago.
Record a video of you describing as many objects as you can in one minute, starting with the 'mermaid'.
Discuss
Discuss
The astrolabe is an early piece of technology that shows a model of the universe, including the Sun and other stars. It was used by astronomers (scientists who study astronomy – the scientific study of the universe and objects that exist naturally in space, such as planets, stars and moons) to find out about outer space from as early as the 6th century. But it was also a useful tool for working out the time before mechanical clocks were invented and for navigating and making maps. Some astrolabes could be used to identify prayer times or find the direction to Mecca, which is of great importance in the Islamic faith.
Walk around the glass case to get a good view of the many lines, shapes, numbers, letters and symbols on this astrolabe, which was made over 700 years ago.
Technology continues to change and evolve over time. What do you use to remember important dates, events, and festivities or to navigate the busy streets of your town? Discuss with your family which tools you use today and how they compare with those others have used in the past.
Look
Ancient Greek pots were made in many different shapes and sizes depending on their function. They were used for storing, pouring and drinking, and commonly contained perfume, wine and oil.
Look high and low to see if you can find a pot matching each of the shapes shown here.
Pottery is a very hard material that can last thousands of years and that's why you'll find numerous ancient Greek pots in the British Museum. There are so many you could fill this entire room with them.
Pose
Figure of Krishna
Seated figure
Library shelves
Bust of Hercules
