By CGTN's Yang Ran
The first batch of cultural relics for the exhibition "British Museum - A History of the World in 100 Objects" arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to tell the story of humanity.
Organized in partnership with the British Museum in London, the National Museum of China in Beijing will play host to the major exhibition on world history.
Tang Dynasty Tomb Pottery Figure (618-907 CE) /CFP Photo
The antiques, selected from a collection of some 8 million items from the British Museum, will be more than 200 relics on display including the Gilgamesh flood myth from Iraq and the Lewis chessmen carved in walrus ivory.
"The global exhibition, which was planned by the British Museum, wants to showcase objects that can tell us how the world has developed through the perspective of global history," said Karen Birkhölzer, Conservator of stone, wall paintings & mosaics in British Museum.
Tang Dynasty Tomb Pottery Figure (618-907 CE) /CFP Photo
Item number 100 is a solar-powered lamp made in China. It's been chosen to reflect ingenuity and the challenges humanity faces in the 21st century.
"There is a usual practice for the world tour of the '100 Objects.' That is, the hosting museum should choose the 101st object to be displayed. What's the 101st object this time? I hope we can keep it a secret. The public should go to the museum to see it in person," said Yan Zhi, an associate researcher in the National Museum of China.
Lewis Chessmen (12th Century) /CFP Photo
The exhibition is based on the book "A History of the World in 100 Objects," inspired by a ground-breaking BBC Radio series. The book, which took over 500 experts four years to accomplish, explores world history from two million years ago to the present via 100 objects.
Objects featured in the book will be included in the exhibition at the National Museum of China. They include the Egyptian Mummy of Homedjitef, the Olduval stone chopping tool, the Arabian bronze hand, the early writing tablet, the Chinese Zhou Dynasty's ritual vessel.
Lewis Chessmen (12th Century) /CFP Photo
"They are coming from Australia. The book has been translated into different languages. The Chinese readers can see the real objects soon," Birkhölzer added.
The two-month exhibition will be open from March 1 to the end of May.
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