World history: Exhibits from the collection of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve presented at the exhibition in the British Museum

6 March 2014
Source: portal “Culture of the Novgorod region”

March 6, 2014 in the British Museum in London opens the exhibition “Vikings: Life and Legend”. The Novgorod Museum-Reserve is exhibiting 73 items from treasure jewelry of the X - the first half of the XI century from the Ilmensky Lakeland (Lyuboezhi).

The largest exhibition, dedicated to the Vikings, was developed by the National Museum of Denmark and the State Museum of Berlin, with the support of the British Museum. The idea of the exhibition focuses on the main periods from the end of the Viking Age from the end of the VIII and till the beginning of the XI century. The Viking Age is considered in a global context, emphasizing the significant impact associated with extensive cultural contacts. The emphasis is on the multinational, cosmopolitan nature of Viking culture and its geographic scope.

The exhibition “Vikings: Life and Legend” will demonstrate this amazing era not only as a separate phenomenon, but also as one of the most influential periods in Europe. The main exhibit of the exhibition was the longest Viking ship (one of the largest ships), which was discovered in Denmark in 1996. This ship is longer than 37 meters.

Among the exhibitors – the National Museum of Denmark, the Museum of Prehistory and Early History (Berlin), the British Museum, the National Museum of Ireland, the University of Oslo, the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde (Denmark).

The member of Russia is the State Historical Museum and the Novgorod Museum-Reserve.

The treasure of jewelry of 112 items, more than half of which the Novgorod Museum exhibits at the exhibition, was found during plowing the fields. The objects, made of silver, constitute a single complex of monuments of jewelry. Treasure reflects ancient Novgorod trade relations with neighboring territories, primarily Scandinavia and the Mediterranean culture. The complex contains 15 coins and coin imitations; all of them were used as decorations.

The exhibition “Vikings: Life and legend” which promises to become one of the main European cultural events of the year, will last till June 22, 2014.