The British Museum was a wonderful museum to visit, and I saw several things that I never could have dreamed of seeing. While some pieces obviously stand out- the Lewis Chessman, for example- I found myself drawn to some of the lesser known pieces. I wanted to spend more time in the Ancient Egypt galleries, but unfortunately they were jam packed. (Which seems weird now…) However, I loved the Greek and Roman Sculpture gallery. If I had to pick one piece that stuck with me long after my visit, I would have to choose the statute of Thalia, Muse of Comedy!
Statue of Thalia, Muse of Comedy
According to the British Museum catalogue, this is a:
Marble statue of a woman wearing a chiton and himation. She holds a pedum, a stick associated with the god Pan. Her body is clearly seen through the thin garments that she wears. The separately carved head is ancient but does not belong with the body. The hair is encircled with a wreath of ivy leaves and buds, although most of the leaves are restored…. The statue may have originally represented a young goddess or heroine. The head was perhaps from a statue of a Maenad. The figure is now identified as the Muse of Comedy Thalia, although the original identifications are elusive.
This statue is nearly two metres tall, and is in far better condition than I was expecting. (I mean, the foreign head is another matter…) Although it is debatable whether or not this statue was meant to be Thalia, I find it fascinating that the Muse of Comedy would be so elegant and composed!
Repatriating Works
Unless you have been living under a rock or actively avoiding anything to do with museums, you will know that more and more people are questioning how museums have acquired their collections and what should be done with them. There are many pieces in the British Museum that are from Britain, but there are also countless pieces from other nations and regions. While there may have been no one to stop collectors taking these pieces in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, there is now a strong movement to repatriate these artefacts. I am entirely grateful that I was able to see these and doubt I would be able to see them if they all returned to their home regions, I do think that they should go “home” if the nation in question requests it!
Have you seen the statue of Thalia, Muse of Comedy?
Cheers,
The Historian
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