博物館全攻略:大英博物館
When the British Museum opened in 1753, it was the world’s first national public museum, free (as it still is) to all “studious and curious persons.” It contains a breathtaking collection of over 8 million objects that paint an interconnected portrait of the world’s cultures. But it also epitomizes the long British traditions of exploration, quirkiness and obsessive collecting. You could spend weeks here. But don’t worry; we’ll guide you through.
大英博物館於1753年對外開放，是世界上第一個國立公共博物館，免費（至今仍然如此）對所有“勤奮與好奇的人”開放。它的藏品達到驚人的800多萬件，爲多種世界文化描繪出一幅彼此相聯的畫卷。但它也體現了英國長期以來探索、怪趣與收藏癖的悠久傳統。你可以在這裏一連呆上幾個星期。但是不要擔心：我們可以爲你做個嚮導。Five Must-Sees
五個必看之處If you don’t have time to idly wander, start your visit with these collections.
如果你沒時間到處閒逛，那就從這些藏品開始吧。
THE KEY TO THE ANCIENT WORLD
通往古代世界的鑰匙The Egyptian Galleries | Room 4
埃及館 | 4號展廳This long, spectacular gallery, stretching almost the length of the museum’s west side, houses sculptures and artifacts from about 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian civilization. It features spectacular busts, elaborately engraved sarcophagi and the museum’s most popular exhibit — the Rosetta Stone, dating from 196 B.C. and inscribed with near-identical texts in three scripts, which allowed linguists to develop an understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs through comparison.
這個長而壯觀的展館幾乎貫穿整個博物館西翼，藏有橫跨3000年古埃及文明的雕塑與文物。其中有壯觀的半身像、精心雕刻的石棺，以及博物館最受歡迎的展品——羅塞塔石碑(Rosetta Stone)，它大約來自公元前196年，以三種文字刻着幾乎相同的文本，令語言學家能夠通過比較來發展對埃及象形文字的理解。Why It’s Must See: These exhibits give an instant idea of the magnificence, ambition and sophistication of ancient Egyptian culture.
必看原因：這些展品能令人立刻了解到古埃及文化的宏偉、抱負與複雜性。What to Look For: A giant sculpture of a scarab beetle, with tenderly carved and curving legs, and an enormous bust of Ramesses II, which inspired Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias.”
看點：一座巨大的聖甲蟲雕塑，有着柔和的線條和彎曲的腿，還有一座巨大的拉美西斯二世(Ramesses II)半身像，正是它啓發珀西·比希·雪萊(Percy Bysshe Shelley)寫下了《奧茲曼迪亞斯》(Ozymandias)這首詩。Nearby: Adjacent to the long Egyptian gallery is part of the museum’s Middle East collection. In Room 6, you’ll find the incredible human-headed, winged lion statues (883-859 B.C.) that formed the gates to the throne room of King Ashurnasirpal II of Assyria (which we now call northern Iraq). And yes, they do have five legs, because they were designed to be seen either from the front or from the side.
附近：長長的埃及館旁邊是博物館中東藏品的一部分。在6號展廳裏，可以看到不可思議的人面獅身有翅雕像（公元前883-859年），它們構成了通往亞述（今伊拉克北部）的阿淑爾納西爾帕王二世(King Ashurnasirpal II)王座宮殿的大門。是的，它們有五條腿，因爲它們是被設計爲從正面或側面觀看的。ART AND MYTH IN ATHENS
雅典的藝術與神話The Parthenon Sculptures | Room 18
帕臺農(Parthenon)神殿雕塑 | 18號展廳These beautiful friezes and sculptures formed part of the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens, built between 447 and 438 B.C. They were removed in 1805 by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, in an attempt to save them from further degradation, but the British Museum’s possession of the Elgin Marbles, as they came to be called, has long been a subject of intense controversy.
這些美麗的中楣橫條(friezes)和雕塑曾經是雅典衛城帕臺農神殿的一部分，該神殿於公元前447到438年之間建成。1805年，英國駐奧斯曼帝國大使埃爾金勳爵(Lord Elgin)爲保護它們免遭進一步損壞，將它們拆下來帶走，此後它們便被稱爲埃爾金大理石雕，但是大英博物館對它們的所有權一直存在激烈的爭議。Why It’s Must See: These intricately carved friezes and stand-alone sculptures offer a richly detailed portrait of Athenian society and mores.
必看原因：這些雕刻精美的中楣橫條以及獨立存在的雕塑豐富詳盡地描繪出雅典的社會風貌與習俗。What to Look For: The riveting horse’s head, with its bulging eyes and veined cheeks, exhausted from drawing the chariot of the moon across the night sky.
看點：雕塑上迷人的馬頭，眼珠凸起，面頰上血脈賁張，它拉着月神的戰車飛過夜空，已經筋疲力盡。Nearby: The Nereid Monument, a large Lucian tomb found at Xanthos (in modern Turkey), in the adjacent Room 17 and is a wonderful melding of Greek and Middle Eastern figures, with nereids (mythical sea nymphs), a Persian king and a Greek army all depicted on its decorative panels.
附近：旁邊的17號展廳內有涅內伊德碑像(The Nereid Monument)，以及在桑瑟斯古城（Xanthos，位於現在的土耳其）發現的一個巨大的盧西安(Lucian)墳塋，這座展廳是希臘與中東文物的精彩融合，裝飾板上描繪着涅內伊德（神話裏的海中仙女）、波斯國王和希臘軍隊。THE INVENTION OF PORCELAIN
瓷器的發明Chinese Ceramics (Sir Percival David collection) | Room 95
中國陶瓷（珀西瓦爾·大維德爵士[Sir Percival David]收藏） | 95號展廳This stunning collection of Chinese ceramics is outstanding for its beauty, rarity and historical value. Some pieces date back to the invention of porcelain around 2,000 years ago.
這個令人驚歎的中國瓷器系列以其美麗、稀有和歷史價值而聞名。一些展品可追溯到2000年前瓷器剛剛發明出來的時代。Why It’s Must See: The gallery has more than 1,700 examples of breathtaking beautiful ceramic objects, both practical and fanciful.
必看原因：展廳內有超過1700件陶瓷器物，既有實用器，也有供人賞玩之物，它們的美麗令人驚歎。What to Look For: The David Vases, probably the most important blue-and-white porcelain pieces in existence, have inscriptions near their tops that date them to 1351. Sir Percival David reunited the vases in 1935, after buying them from two separate collections.
看點：大維德花瓶(The David Vases)，可能是現存最重要的青花瓷器物，其頂部附近的銘文表明它們的年代可以追溯到1351年。1935年，珀西瓦爾·大維德爵士分別從兩個收藏家手中買下它們，令這對花瓶重聚。Nearby: Next to the ceramics gallery is Room 67, devoted to Korean culture and tradition from 300 B.C. to the present. It has an eclectic range of objects, including metalwork, drawings, painting, ceramics and calligraphy, and is well worth a look, even if just to see the re-creation of a saranbang, or traditional scholar’s study.
附近：瓷器展廳旁邊是67號展廳，專門收藏公元前300年至今的朝韓文化與傳統物品。藏品內容非常廣泛，包括金屬製品、書畫，以及陶瓷，非常值得一看，即使只是看看重建的舍廊坊（saranbang，傳統學者的書房），也是值得的。A SPECTACULAR ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERY
考古大發現Sutton Hoo Ship Burial | Room 41
薩頓胡船葬(Sutton Hoo Ship Burial) | 41號展廳The 1937 discovery of an Anglo-Saxon ship dating from around A.D. 600 was an astonishing find of royal treasures. The 88.5-foot long ship was an archaeologist’s dream, packed with treasures, including gold jewelry, Byzantine silverware, a magnificent casket and an iron helmet. It may have been the burial place for an Anglo-Saxon king.
這艘於1937年發現的盎格魯-撒克遜船隻年代可追溯到公元600年左右，在其中發現了驚人的王室珍寶。它長達88.5英尺，堪稱考古學家的夢想，裏面裝滿寶物，包括黃金首飾、拜占庭銀器、一個宏偉的棺木和鐵頭盔。它可能是某個盎格魯-撒克遜國王的墓地。Why It’s Must See: The objects on display are exquisitely crafted and tell us much about Anglo-Saxon England and that the great treasures, epic travels and larger-than-life warriors of the poetry of that time were not far from reality.
必看原因：展出的器物工藝精美，並且能夠告訴我們許多有關盎格魯-撒克遜英格蘭的事情，彷彿詩歌中那些宏大的寶藏、史詩般的旅行和傳奇的勇士距離現實不是那麼遙遠。What to Look For: Made of iron and covered with copper panels that show a range of scenes, the Sutton Hoo helmet is one of only four surviving helmets from the period. It has a distinctive shape and a menacing face-mask with copper eyebrows that are inlaid with silver wire and garnets, ending in a silver boar’s head.
看點：薩頓胡頭盔由鐵製成，外面覆以銅片，上面雕刻着一系列景象，是同時期僅存的四個頭盔之一。它形狀獨特，有着充滿威脅性的面具，銅製的眉毛上鑲嵌着銀線和石榴石，眉毛尾部是銀色的野豬頭。Nearby: Even if you are not interested in clocks, Rooms 38 and 39 house wonderful timepieces that are likely to leave you marveling. Make sure to find the 1589 Carillon Clock that plays music written by Martin Luther, and the 1585 Mechanical Galleon, which has miniature soldiers striking bells and firing guns.
附近：就算你對鐘錶不感興趣，38號展廳和39號展廳精美的鐘表也可能會讓你驚歎不已。一定要找到1589鐘琴(1589 Carillon Clock)，它曾經被用來演奏馬丁·路德(Martin Luther)譜寫的音樂，還要找到1585機械帆船鐘(1585 Mechanical Galleon)，上面有微型士兵敲鐘和開槍。THE SPORT OF KINGS
國王的運動Assyrian Lion Hunts | Room 10
亞述獵獅(Assyrian Lion Hunts) | 10號展廳The sculpted reliefs on alabaster panels that line this gallery illustrate the extravagant hunting rituals of the last great Assyrian King, Ashurbanipal, who lived between 668 and around 630 B.C. The panels depict a full story, from the release of the lions to the subsequent chase, the showering of arrows and the killings that marked the king’s prowess and power.
在這個展廳裏，雪花大理石浮雕描繪了最後一個偉大的亞述王亞述巴尼拔(Ashurbanipal)的盛大狩獵儀式，他生活的年代大約在公元前668到630年。這些石板描繪了一個完整的故事，從放出獅子到後來的追逐，萬箭齊發，乃至最後的殺戮，象徵着國王的力量與權力。Why It’s Must See: The hunt scenes show a world of pageantry, ritual and unsentimental cruelty far from most western sensibilities today.
必看原因：狩獵場景展示了一個充滿盛宴與儀式，殘酷無情的世界，與如今大多數西方人的情感傾向相去甚遠。What to Look For: The little boy who releases the lions from their cage at the start of the sequence is a small, but charming detail.
看點：一系列浮雕開始之時，那個把獅子從籠子裏釋放出來的小男孩是個迷人的小細節。Nearby: In another part of this gallery, you will find remnants of the palace of Ashurbanipal from what is now northern Iraq. Look closely at the stone wall panel, which shows finely observed studies of plants and animals, including the lions that were kept in the royal gardens.
附近：在這個展廳的另一部分，可以找到亞述巴尼拔宮殿的遺蹟，來自如今的伊拉克北部。仔細看看石牆的牆面，上面雕刻着栩栩如生的植物和動物，包括養在皇家花園的獅子。Off the Beaten Path
不走尋常路Lesser-known but not less-important pieces reside in these five galleries.
下面五個展廳裏的藏品雖然不那麼著名，但也非常重要。Oxus Treasure | Room 52
奧克瑟斯寶藏(Oxus Treasur) | 52號展廳This room features around 170 gold and silver objects, found when a group of merchants was rescued from bandits by a British officer near the Oxus River, in what was then the Persian Empire. The hoard contained vessels, sculptures, coins and votive plaques and they show the gold- and silversmithing skills of the Achaemenid period (550-331 B.C). Exquisite griffin-headed amulets, a goldfish with tiny scales and a horse and chariot sculpture are among these wonders.
這個展廳裏陳列着大約170件金銀製品。在當年隸屬波斯帝國的奧克瑟斯河附近，一名英國軍官從土匪手中救下一個商隊時發現了它們。這批寶物中包括容器、雕塑、硬幣和祈願用的牌匾，它們顯示了阿契美尼德(Achaemenid)時期（公元前550-331）的金銀工藝。這些珍寶當中包括一枚精緻的格里芬頭像護身符、一條長着細小鱗片的金魚，以及一匹馬和戰車的雕塑。The Holy Thorn Reliquary | Room 2a
聖荊棘聖物箱 | 2a展廳This jewel box of a room contains some 300 precious objects from medieval and Renaissance Europe, bequeathed to the British Museum by the collector Baron Ferdinand Rothschild in 1898. Among the rarities found here is the Holy Thorn Reliquary, dating from 1397 and made to house a thorn from the crown of thorns placed on Christ’s head at his crucifixion. Look for the 16th-century theatrical cabinet that looks like a mini stage set, and a breathtaking 17th-century jade cup, with two dragonlike figures forming handles.
這個展廳內展出的珍寶中包含來自中世紀和文藝復興時期歐洲的約300件珍貴物品，由收藏家費迪南德·羅斯柴爾德男爵(Baron Ferdinand Rothschild)在1898年遺贈給大英博物館。其中的珍品包括聖荊棘聖物箱，它的歷史可以追溯到1397年，用來盛放基督在十字架上被釘死時頭戴的荊冠上的一根荊棘。還可以去看看一個16世紀的戲劇陳列櫃，看上去像個迷你舞臺；以及一個驚人的17世紀玉杯，有兩個龍形手柄。Mexico | Room 27
墨西哥 | 27號展廳Briefly admire the Huastec goddess sculptures near the entrance, then head straight for the cabinet at the back of the room, which contains a double-headed serpent made from a single piece of cedar and covered in tiny turquoise mosaics. Its fanglike teeth are made from conch shells, its gums and snout from red oyster shell. The workmanship is spectacular, as it is on the two turquoise face-masks in cabinets found on each side of the serpent.
在入口附近欣賞一下瓦斯蒂克(Huastec)女神鵰塑，然後直接去看展廳後部的櫃子，那裏裝着一條雙頭蛇，由一整塊松木製成，上面覆蓋着小塊綠松石馬賽克。它的牙齒是由海貝製成，其牙齦和口鼻是用紅色牡蠣殼製成，做工極爲精美，在蛇的兩側發現的兩個櫃子上的兩個綠松石面具也是如此。Hoa Hakananai’a | Room 24
失落的朋友(Hoa Hakananai'a) | 24號展廳This monumental statue, from the incredibly remote Easter Island in the Pacific ocean, was taken by the crew of a British ship in 1868. It is hard to imagine how they moved the enormous statue, made of volcanic rock and weighing around four tons. With its cavernous eyes and curving mouth, there is something mesmerizing about the statue that repays a long and silent moment of contemplation.
這座紀念雕像於1868年被一艘英國船隻的船員從太平洋上偏遠得令人難以置信的復活節島帶回。很難想象他們如何移動這座巨大的雕像，它由火山岩製成，重約4噸。它有着深陷的眼睛和彎曲的嘴，非常令人着迷，值得安靜地長時間凝視。African Collection | Room 25
非洲藏品 | 25號展廳Although this collection is eclectic, there are superb pieces here, notably the 16th-century Benin Plaques. These rectangular metal panels served as decoration for the king’s palace, and they offer depictions of court life and its rituals, but also of European adventurers, and of gods and their attendants. Every plaque has a story to tell, offering a fascinating glimpse into a complex society. Don’t leave this gallery without seeing the contemporary Tree of Life, a 2004 sculpture made from decommissioned weapons from Mozambique’s civil war.
雖然這個系列藏品兼收幷蓄，但也有一流的物品，特別是16世紀的貝寧銅板(Benin Plaques)。這些矩形金屬板塊是國王宮殿的裝飾，它們描述了宮廷生活及其儀式，以及歐洲探險家、神和神的侍從。每個板塊都有一個故事要講，非常迷人，令人得以瞥見到一個複雜的社會。來了這個展廳，就一定要看看當代作品“生命之樹”(Tree of Life)，它是一座2004年的雕塑，由莫桑比克內戰中廢棄的武器製成。Unexpectedly Quiet Spots
意外的安靜地點If you need a break from the crowds, there are a few places that always seem peaceful.
如果你需要遠離人羣，休息一下，有幾個地方看上去總是那麼平靜。THE ENLIGHTENMENT GALLERIES | ROOMS 1 AND 2
啓蒙運動館 | 1號和2號展廳These long galleries, outfitted with oak and mahogany floors, classical columns, balconies and glass-fronted bookcases, offer a sense of another era. They were added to the original museum in 1823 to hold King George III’s collection of over 60,000 books, and now house a cabinet of curiosities that represent the insatiable curiosity and investigative spirit of the Age of Reason, from a 350,000-year-old hand ax to 18th-century plant specimens. In many ways, the Enlightenment Galleries feel like another museum altogether, and they are mostly tranquil and hushed.
這幾個長長的展館裝有橡木和紅木地板、古典式立柱、陽臺和玻璃門書架，感覺像是另一個時代。1823年，它們被添加到原始的博物館當中，用來保存喬治三世(King George III)的6萬多本藏書，現在則用來陳列那些象徵理性時代無止境的好奇心與探索精神的珍品，從擁有35萬年曆史的手斧到18世紀的植物標本。在很多方面，啓蒙運動館感覺像是另一個博物館，這裏大部分時間都是寧靜安詳的。THE STAIRCASES
樓梯Instead of taking the elevators to the second or the third levels, take the wide staircases at each end of the museum and spend some time looking at the artwork that everyone else walks past. The North stairs feature an extraordinary white marble Amitabha Buddha from northern China that rises through the museum’s four stories. The West stairs boast stunning mosaic panels from the 4th and 5th centuries.
不要坐電梯到第二層或第三層去，要走博物館每一端都有的寬樓梯，花一些時間看看那些其他人只是匆匆經過的藝術品。北部樓梯有一個來自中國北方的漢白玉阿彌陀佛像，非常驚人，高度直達博物館的四層。西部的樓梯擁有來自公元4世紀和5世紀迷人的馬賽克面板。THE PRINT GALLERIES | ROOM 90
印刷館 | 90號展廳Tucked away on the fourth floor, the print galleries hold an astounding archive of more than two million prints, dating back to 1400. The display here is always changing, but you can ask to see any of the prints, in the adjacent study room. Consult the online archive ahead of time.
印刷館隱藏在四樓，它擁有一個驚人的檔案庫，收藏着超過200萬份的印刷品，時間可追溯到1400年。這裏的展品總是在變動，但你可以要求在旁邊的研究室內觀看任何印刷品，不過要事先研究在線檔案。INTIMATE TREASURES
內部珍品Carved Jade Terrapin From Allahabad | Room 34
阿拉哈巴德玉龜(Carved Jade Terrapin From Allahabad) | 34號展廳This 90-pound terrapin is carved from a single piece of green jade and was found at the bottom of a water cistern during engineering excavations in 1803. The wonderfully lifelike piece is thought to be from the early 1600s. Note how the slightly off-center head creates the impression that the creature is moving forward.
這隻90磅的水龜是用一塊綠玉雕刻出來的，1803年一次工程挖掘期間，人們在一個水箱底部發現了它。這件栩栩如生的物品被認爲來自17世紀初。注意稍微偏向一側的頭部是怎樣給人帶來它正在向前移動的感覺。Chinese Ceramic Tomb Guardians | Room 33
中國守墓陶俑 | 33號展廳Look at the detail and variety of these color-glazed burial figures from the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-906). There are two guardian figures, called lokapala, a military official, a civil official and two fantastical beasts. Don’t overlook the bird of prey on the military official’s hat.
這些彩釉墓葬俑來自唐朝（公元618-906年），注意它們的細節和種類。有兩個守衛者，稱爲“天王”，還有一位軍事官員，一位民事官員和兩頭神獸。不要漏過軍官帽子上的猛禽。Painting and Calligraphy Gallery | Room 91a
繪畫書法館 | 91a號展廳This changing display of painting and calligraphy from China includes the delicately wrought “Admonitions Scroll” (A.D. 344-406), an early example of the integration of the arts of poetry, painting and calligraphy. A digital interactive version is available when the scroll is not on display.
這個中國繪畫和書法展廳的展品隨時都有變化，其中包括精美的《女史箴圖》（公元344-406年），這是詩歌、繪畫和書法藝術融合的早期例子。當這幅圖不出展時，可以觀看它的數字交互版本。Gems From Ur | Room 56
烏爾的珍寶 | 56號展廳These items are from one of the earliest cities in the world, Ur in Mesopotamia, and date back to around 2500 B.C. The Standard of Ur is a box, with inlaid mosaic showing incredibly elaborate war scenes on one side and scenes of tribute and banqueting on the other. The Royal Game of Ur, also known as the Game of 20 Squares, is one of the oldest gaming boards in existence (and shows that board games were as popular then as they are now).
這些物品來自世界上最早的城市之一，美索不達米亞的烏爾，時間可追溯到大約公元前2500年。“烏爾軍旗”( The Standard of Ur)是一個盒子，盒子一側鑲嵌的馬賽克展示了極爲精緻的戰爭場面，另一側則是進貢和宴會的場景。 烏爾王族局戲(The Royal Game of Ur)，也被稱爲廿格戲(Game of 20 Squares)，是已知最古老的棋類遊戲之一（並且表明當時的棋類遊戲像現在一樣盛行）。The World of Alexander | Room 22
亞歷山大的世界 | 22號展廳If you haven’t had time to see the Greek and Roman galleries, head here for a condensed look at artifacts from a time when the Greek world was at its height of power, influence and artistic patronage, under Alexander the Great (around 330 B.C.). Look for the beautiful marble statue of Demeter and the decorated column fragment from the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
如果你沒有時間看希臘和羅馬展廳，那就到這裏來做個精華概覽吧，這個時期希臘世界在在亞歷山大大帝（Alexander the Great，約公元前330年）領導下，正值其權力、影響力與對藝術的贊助達到頂峯之時。尋找美麗的德米特(Demeter)大理石雕像，以及以弗所的阿爾忒彌斯神殿(Temple of Artemis)裝飾柱的殘片，這座神殿是古代世界的七大奇蹟之一。Going With Kids?
和孩子一起去？Strategize your visit to the British Museum to make it a day they’ll never forget either.
安排好參觀計劃，給他們也留下一個難忘的回憶。?DON’T LEAVE THE KIDS AT HOME
別把孩子留在家裏The British Museum is particularly child-friendly. The family desk provides backpacks with suggested child-appropriate routes, notes on the objects they will see, and small coloring books. Digital guides ($7) provide games that are linked to different displays, best suited to those under 10. The museum’s website offers a calendar of family events and suggestions of child-friendly activities. If you want to pick a few things to see on your own, here are four note: Don’t try do too much with children – the museum is large and usually crowded, and there aren’t many places to sit down. One or two well-chosen spots will probably be enough for visitors under 10. Remember, you can come back – it’s free!
大英博物館是格外照顧孩子的。家庭服務檯提供的揹包有關於適合孩子的參觀路線建議，介紹了他們將看到的展品，還有小小的塗色書。數碼導覽（7美元）提供了跟具體展覽相關的遊戲，最適合10歲以下的孩子。博物館網站提供了一個家庭活動日程表，建議了一些適合孩子的活動。如果你想選一些自己去看的東西，以下有四個建議。注意：不要安排太多和孩子一起做的事情——博物館很大，人通常很多，也沒什麼坐的地方。對10歲以下的孩子來說，一兩個精心挑選的點可能就夠了。別忘了，你還可以再來的——不要錢！MUMMIES | ROOMS 62-63
木乃伊 | 62-63號展廳This may sound a little ghoulish, but children are bound to be fascinated by the richly decorated and carved sarcofagi that fill this room – and charmed by the sacred animals (cats, bulls and crocodiles among them) that were also mummified.
聽起來可能有點恐怖，但是這個擺滿了裝飾華麗的雕刻石棺的展廳，孩子們肯定着迷的不得了——那些同樣被製成木乃伊的神獸（貓、牛和鱷魚等等）也會很吸引他們。THE LEWIS CHESSMEN | ROOM 40
路易斯西洋棋 | 40號展廳These elaborately carved chess pieces, thought to date back to 1150, are made from walrus ivory and whale teeth, and were found on the Scottish Isle of Lewis in 1831. Children will notice that each piece has a different, curious expression (some rather glum) – and that they are familiar from their larger-than-life cameo in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
這些採用海象牙和鯨齒精心雕刻而成的象棋子出自1150年，但直到1831年纔在蘇格蘭的路易斯島被發現。孩子們會注意到每一枚棋子都有一個不同的、有趣的表情（有幾個相當不開心）——在《哈利·波特與魔法石》(Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)中的大號炫酷客串演出讓他們成了熟面孔。NATIVE AMERICAN HEADDRESSES | ROOM 26
美洲原住民頭飾 | 26號展廳Here are wonderfully expressive, colorful masks and headdresses, some representing ancestors, others worn for dancers and actors, or exclusively by chieftains. Kids will have fun imagining who the characters could be, and picking their favorites.
這裏有表情豐富而生動的面具和頭飾，有些代表先祖，有些是舞者和演員穿戴的，或者是酋長專用。孩子們可以想象是什麼人物在穿戴，從而獲得樂趣。Tips for Visiting
參觀小貼士GETTING IN
入場The museum’s exhibition spaces open at 10 a.m., seven days a week. However, the museum’s Great Court, its extensive bookshop and ground-floor café all open at 9 a.m. Tip: go early, have a drink, browse the seriously tempting bookshop, and admire the lofty space and wonderful sculptures of the Great Court. Then be first to get into the exhibitions, which are relatively quiet for the first hour.
博物館展覽空間每天上午10點開放，全周無休。不過博物館的大中庭(Great Court)、巨大的書店和一樓咖啡館都是上午9點開放。貼士：早點去，喝點東西，認真逛逛那個誘人的書店，欣賞一下大中庭的雄偉空間和精美的雕塑。然後成爲第一個進去看展的人，一開始比較安靜。Want to go later? Expect crowds. Consider visiting after 5 p.m. on a Friday, when the museum is open until 8.30 p.m. (It closes at 5:30 p.m. on other days.)
想晚點去？人會很多。可以考慮週五下午5點去，當天博物館開放時間延遲至晚上8點半。（平常是5點半關門。）Admission is free for the museum and its main collections, although you must pay to visit the featured exhibitions. (There are usually two of these at any one time.)
博物館以及主要展覽是免票的，不過一些特展需要花錢。（通常同一時間會有兩場特展。）Use the back entrance on Montague Street to avoid the long lines at the front. You will still go through a security point, but there are always far fewer people here.
從蒙塔古街(Montague Street)的後門進，可以躲開正門的長隊。你還是需要過一道安檢，不過後門人少很多。PLAN YOUR DAY
做好規劃Finding your way around is not easy, even with the helpfully detailed official map, which you should grab immediately. Our map can help, too. But the British Museum is enormous; expect to get lost, but enjoy the amazing exhibits you stumble into.
儘管有詳細而貼心的官方地圖——這個要第一時間拿到手，但要找到目的地還是不容易的。我們的地圖也會有幫助。大英博物館非常大，做好迷路的思想準備，不過那些誤打誤撞的展覽一樣可以欣賞一番。The audio guides ($8) are especially helpful, if you’d like to follow one of the tours it suggests.
音頻導覽（8美元）格外有用，如果你打算跟着它提供的其中一條線路走的話。
Want a proper afternoon tea? Avoid the busy café on the ground floor, and head up to the Great Court restaurant on the third floor. (The quickest way to do this is to walk up the stairs on either side of the huge circular dome — which usually houses temporary exhibitions — in the middle of the Great Court.) The restaurant is a delightful haven from the noise and bustle.
想要一次體面的下午茶？別去一樓那個熱鬧的咖啡館，到三樓的大中庭餐廳去。（最快的方式是從大中庭中間的巨型圓頂屋兩側的樓梯走上去——圓頂屋裏通常也是有臨時展覽的。）餐廳是一個躲避喧囂的清淨地。There are restrooms all over the museum, but crowds tend to form around those behind the bookshop and giftshop in the Great Court. It’s worth seeking out less frequented spots, all marked on the map.
整個博物館各處都有衛生間，但是人羣通常會擠在在大中庭書店和禮品店後面的那幾個。有必要去找找那些人沒那麼多的點，在地圖上都有標示。DON’T MISS THE BOOKSHOP
別錯過書店The British Museum bookshop is exceptional, with a particularly strong children’s section that might provide good gifts. If you fancy a smaller-scale version of the Great Court lion, or of a horse’s head from the Acropolis, visit the collections shop to the right of the main entrance, which sells more expensive items, including replicas of statues and other pieces.
大英博物館的書店是非同尋常的，在童書方面尤其卓越，可以作爲不錯的禮物。如果你想要個縮微版的大中庭獅子，或是雅典衛城的馬頭，到正門右側的收藏店去，那裏出售一些比較貴的東西，包括雕像等藏品的複製品。
