1. NEWS LETTER
Monthly Staff News Letter
11th November 2009 Issue 11
British Museum Exhibits the Real Atlantis
…An exhibition which
will change human history
T
In This Isue
he British Museum,
as the first museum
in the world, will
Real Atlantis
open its doors for the p. 1
new exhibition ‘The Real
Atlantis’. Scientists can Theft of “St George”
now prove the existence p. 2
of the underwater world of
Atlantis; it was discovered Iran Gives British Museum
outside the coast of North 2-Month Deadline Over
West Africa near the Canary Cyrus Cylinder
Islands on the floor of the p. 2
Atlantic Ocean. The objects
they found are loaned to
the UK Museum for a Event for the Whole Family
short period of time before p. 3
the exhibits continue their was washed away under water with a
journey around the world. The rare and focus on the changing role of the people Future Exhibitions
beautiful objects will arrive to London on living in Atlantis in an historical and p. 3
the 6th of November 2009 and remain at social timeline.
the museum for two months. Neil MacGregor, director of the British Current Vacancies
The exhibition will display what Museum, said: “ the world has never p. 4
archeologists have discovered under water seen an exhibition like this, showing the
in the Atlantic Ocean. The collection spectacular finding of a lost civilization
The Real Atlantis
has over 500 objects recovered from everyone believed to be a myth. The
the excavations; some of the objects are majority of the objects have come straight
partial remains of an ancient civilization,
which was hidden under water for
from the excavations, and will show the
magnificent lifetime has forgotten. None
Competition
thousands of years. It will show images of these objects have ever been showed
of the underwater world and artifacts that Have an opportunity to win a fieldtrip to
exhibited to the public; Londoners will the excavations of the Atlantis. This com-
were found on the site. Also illustrating be the first to experience this amazing
the changing role of the people living petition is for all the kids who send in their
discovery of a lost civilization.” drawings of what they experienced at the
in Atlantis in an historical and social Dr Sarah Marshall, the curator for the
timeline. exhibition. The winner’s drawings will be
exhibition added: “the London visitors exhibited in on of the rooms of the Atlan-
The exhibition will also hold a will have the first ever opportunity to see
conference where scientists will give tis exhibition. For more information see
for them selves that Atlantis is no more a www.britishmuseum.org
different theories to explain how Atlantis myth.”
Theft of “St George”
The famous Russian painting “St nised persons succeeded in abstracting Read more on page 2
George” was stolen from the British Mu- the 850.000 £ masterpiece by putting the
seum between 10 pm and 1 am last night. security system of the museum out of op-
Disguised as security guards, unrecog- eration.....

2. Page 2
Theft of “St George”
The famous Russian painting of ‘St Metropolitan Police and according to The Director of the State Historical
George’ was stolen from the British Met Chief Sir Ian White: “The suspects Museum promised a reward of £10,000
Museum last night between 10.00 pm are being questioned as we speak and we for information leading to the return of the
and 1.00 am. Unknown perpetrators are also checking the CCTV footage from artwork.
succeeded in abstracting the £850.000 outside the museum.”
masterpiece by putting the security system The Director of the British Museum,
of the museum out of operation. Neil MacGregor said: “I am deeply
The Byzantine icon from the 14th shocked about this incident and I hope
century, on loan from Moscow’s State that the authorities will solve this
Historical Museum, was to be exhibited in organised crime as quickly as possible.”
the British Museum until July 2010. The Sarah Smith, Chief Security Officer of the
‘St George’, which is part of a valuable Museum added: “We are still investigating
collection of five icons that all illustrate why the security system did not detect the
orthodox saints, is now missing. perpetrators and how the alarm system
Highly sophisticated gadgets were used was disabled.”
to penetrate the security system without The State Historical Museum has been
being detected by the CCTV cameras. notified of the theft and they have offered
Four suspects have been detained by the to work closely with the British Museum.
Iran Gives British Museum 2-Month Deadline
Over Cyrus Cylinder
Iran will stop all mutual Museum on October 8th
cooperation with the Brit- 2009. “We are currently
ish Museum unless an an- monitoring the political situ-
cient artefact, the Cyrus ation in Iran, but we hope
Cylinder, is loaned to that we’ll be able to honour
the National Museum of that commitment as soon as
Iran within the next two possible.” “As ever with any
months. Hamid Baqaei, kind of loan, we’d want to
vice president in charge of be assured that the situation
Iran’s Cultural Heritage, in the country was suitable,”
Handicrafts and Tourism she said. The British Mu-
Organization set the dead- seum promised to loan the
line in an interview with Cylinder after its 2005-6 ex-
the state-run Fars news hibition, “Forgotten Empire:
agency. “According to a The World of Ancient Per-
deal between Iran’s Na- sia,” according to Boulton. It
tional Museum and the was made clear at the time,
British Museum, the an- she said, that the Cylinder
cient clay cylinder was would not be loaned until af-
scheduled to be lent to ter the “Babylon: Myth and
Iran in September but the the agreement. Baqaei said: “if the Brit- Reality” exhibition, which
director of the British Museum refused to ish Museum fails to send the Cyrus Cyl- ended March 15. The British Museum also
do so, citing Iran’s post-election political inder in the next two months to be shown wanted the Cylinder shown temporarily in
state,” Baqaei said in the interview carried in Iran, we will stop any mutual activities its new Iranian gallery. Discussions on the
by the Web site of Fars. with them, including archaeological coop- timing of the loan started “only compara-
The Cylinder, dated about 539-530 eration and holding cultural heritage exhi- tively recently,” Boulton said.
B.C. and inscribed in Babylonian cunei- bitions in the U.K.”
form, has been described as the world’s “We certainly have committed to lend-
earliest charter of human rights. Iran has ing the Cyrus Cylinder to Iran, and it is For more information visit
asked the British Museum to explain what fully our intention to do that,” said Han- www.bloomberg.com
political problem stops the fulfilment of nah Boulton, head of press at the British

3. Page 3
Event for the Whole Family
The British Museum hosts its first visitors to experience Christmas from a
Christmas event in the Great Court from new perspective. In a multicultural city
29th November 2009 - 30th December like London where different Christmas
2009. The opening of “The History of customs are brought together, this event
Christmas” will be celebrated by unveiling definitely is a must see.”
a traditionally decorated Christmas tree. During the Christmas event, the
One part of the event will host an children will have the opportunity to meet
exhibition showing a collection of Santa Claus and give him their wish lists.
Christmas ornaments from different For every visitor, the British Museum
countries and centuries. In addition, there will give a donation to Great Ormond
will be a timeline showing the evolution Street Children’s Hospital. Tickets for the
of Christmas as a pagan celebration to a concerts can be purchased online on the
Christian festivity by displaying scripts, museum’s homepage. The proceeds will
illustrations and findings from ancient be donated to the children’s hospital.
times.
During the event several workshops,
concerts and plays will be held. Each
Sunday in advent, several choirs from all
over the world will perform Christmas
carols in the Great Court.
On the opening day, Jim Carrey with
help from Neil MacGregor will light
up the Christmas tree. The Director of
the British Museum, Neil MacGregor
said, “It is a fabulous occasion for our
Future Exhibition
Kingdom of Ife: Fra Angelico to Leonardo:
Sculptures from West Africa Italian Renaissance drawings
4 March – 6 June 2010 22 April – 25 July 2010
The exhibition features superb pieces This major exhibition features 100
of Ife sculpture, drawn almost entirely exquisite drawings by Italian artists during
from the magnificent collections of the the critical period of the Renaissance,
National Commission for Museums and from 1400 to 1510.
Monuments, Nigeria. Drawn from the two foremost
collections in the field, the display charts
the increasing importance of drawing
during this period, featuring works by
Leonardo da Vinci, Fra Angelico, Jacopo
and Gentile Bellini, Botticelli, Carpaccio,
Filippo Lippi, Mantegna, Michelangelo,
Verrocchio and Titian.
For more events visit
www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on.aspx

4. Page 4
3 Step in How-To...
Cure Your Headache without any Medicine
• Simple, natural ways to get rid of a • Now, stretch your neck. Tilt your
headache: Drink a tall glass of water. head to the right and pull slightly
We often times get headaches due with your hand. Hold this position for
to being dehydrated. Water will also 10 seconds. Repeat for the left side.
refresh our insides. Finally tilt neck down as if you were
looking at your chest, hold for 10
seconds.
• Stand up and stretch your shoulders.
Stretch your arms up with your head
looking to the ceiling. Hold this
position for 10 seconds.
After this your headache should be gone.
Fun During Lunch
A sudoku puzzle is a grid of 9 by 9
squares or cells that has been subdivided
into 9 sub grids or “regions” of three by
three cells. See the following diagram:
The objective of sudoku is to enter a digit
from 1 through 9 in each cell, in a way
that each horizontal row contains each
digit once, each vertical column contains
each digit exactly once and each sub grid
or region contains each digit exactly once.
Curent Vacancies at the British Museum
Project Curator: Islamic Coins – ZNM Project Project Curator: Medieval Relics Exhibition
Ref: 76767W Salary: £26,294 per annum Contract: Fixed Ref: 76806W Salary: £22,457 pro rata Contract: Fixed term,
term, 23 months Department: ZNM Project and Coins and 22 months. January – July 2010, 3 days per week; August
Medals Application deadline: 12 noon, 4 November 2009 2010 – October 2011, full time Department: Prehistory and
Europe Application deadline: 12 noon, 23 November 2009
Project Curator: Moctezuma Exhibition
Ref: 76787W Salary: £22,457 per annum Contract: Fixed Corporate Relations Manager
term, until 30 April 2010 Department: Africa, Oceania and the Ref: 76805W Salary: £31,606 per annum Contract:
Americas Application deadline: 12 noon, 5 November 2009 Permanent Department: Development Application deadline: 12
noon, 27 November 2009
Community Programmes Coordinator: Transformation
Ref: 76798W Salary: £25,956 per annum, pro rata Contract: Fixed For more jobs visit
term, 3 months Department: Learning and Audiences Application www.britishmuseum.org/the_museum/jobs.aspx
deadline: 12 noon, 20 November 2009