Page 87 - BBC History - September 2017

Out & about

FIVE THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER

Ancient nomads Gold applique showing two
archers back to back, Kul Oba,
400–350 BC
EXHIBITION
MAGAZINE
Scythians: Warriors CHOICE
of Ancient Siberia
British Museum, London
14 September–14 January 2018
S 020 7323 8181
P britishmuseum.org

he Scythian empire is put under the spotlight at the
TBritish Museum this month, with the launch of a
major exhibition – the first in the UK for 40 years – on
the nomadic tribes who roamed the vast landscape from
southern Russia to China and the northern Black Sea
from the ninth to the first century BC. The Scythians
are known for their exceptional skills on horseback and
their heavily tattooed skin. Accounts of their violent
clashes with Greek, Assyrian and Persian adversaries
support their fearsome reputation. But it is thanks to
the discovery of ancient objects preserved beneath
Siberian permafrost that we now know more about
the Scythian culture.
More than 200 of these objects will be on display at
the British Museum, including multi-coloured textiles,
fur-lined garments and accessories, unique horse
headgear and tattooed human remains.
Horses played an important role in Scythian life and
were often buried with their masters so that they could
meet again in the afterlife. Masks, saddle pendants and
covers for the mane and tail will be among the pieces on
show, as well as objects reflecting everyday life: hemp
seeds, clothing, wooden drinking bowls, an ancient
brazier and even 2,000-year-old lumps of cheese!

EXHIBITION EXHIBITION EXHIBITION / FREE ENTRY EVENT
Turkish Tulips Nelson & Norfolk Looking Good: The Duxford Battle of
Bowes Museum, Barnard Norwich Castle Museum Male Gaze from Van Britain Air Show
Castle, Co Durham & Art Gallery Dyck to Lucian Freud IWM Duxford,
Until 5 November Until 1 October Scottish National Portrait Cambridgeshire
S 01833 690606 S 01603 493625 Gallery, Edinburgh 23–24 September
P thebowesmuseum.org.uk P museums.norfolk.gov.uk Until 1 October S 01223 835000
S 0131 624 6200 P iwm.org.uk
Explore the complex history of This exhibition presents P nationalgalleries.org
the tulip at the Bowes Museum some of the most Visitors to IWM Duxford can
this month – from its role as extraordinary objects Male image, identity and experience the thrills of its
connected to
an allegory of aesthetics boyhood in Norfolk appearance from the 16th annual summer air show this
THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM and learning. More than shot bullet that killed him, as 28 works of art are used to pyrotechnics, aerobatics
month, which features a
Admiral Lord
century to the present day
and science to its European
mass Spitfire flypast, daring
Nelson, from his
interpretation as an emblem
are the themes of this
air displays, dog fights,
Edinburgh exhibition. Some
of sophistication, civilisation
to his death at the
and much more. Family
battle of Trafalgar in
30 contemporary artists,
explore topics such as the
entertainment, historic aircraft
1805. Among the items
hairstyles and fashions of
including Damien Hirst, have
and a live showground all help
on show is the 15mm lead
contributed to the museum’s
courtiers and cavaliers in the
to highlight Duxford’s role in
tulip trail.
16th and 17th centuries, as
the Battle of Britain.
well as the undress uniform
well as the emergence of the
Tulip ‘Helen
coat and hat he wore at the
dandy in the 18th century.
Josephine’ (1975)
by Rory McEwen
BBC History Magazine battle of the Nile. 87