The Ashmolean Museum

The Ashmolean Museum is the biggest and best in Oxford. I followed the self-guided highlights tour to get a sense of the space. Later I joined a guided tour.

Guy Fawkes' lantern

The presence of King Charles I in Oxford in 1642-6, during the English Civil War is noted on this coin.

In Athens, I loved seeing the simplicity of Cycladic art, which flourished in the islands of the Aegean Sea 3300-1100 BC. This figure is from 2800-2300 BC. It shows a woman and was carved out of marble 5,000 years ago. Interesting commentary above from a final year medical student.

In 1693, on a peat moor in Somerset, a farmer unearthed this jewel made for the only English monarch known as "the Great."

Powhatan's mantle. The tour guide liked that there was something in the museum from America! The white specks are tiny shells. Museum goers were picking off pieces as souvenirs, so it is now under armored glass.

 This camel made an extraordinary journey from a Tang dynasty tomb, escaping Nazi Germany before reaching the Ashmolean.

 

 From 1560 - A fine suit of armor was an important part of a warrior's status.

 

Another peek-a-boo and another Bridge of Sighs.

One of the oldest libraries in Europe, the Bodelian Library is the main research library of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley.

This artist was celebrated in his lifetime as a master of perspective.

Would a museum really be a museum in Britain without a Turner?

Overseas, I guess you are never too far from some Pastel de Nata!