h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My favourite exhibit is that man they found in a peat bog (or somewhere marshy.) I have no idea why he's so fascinating but I always go and visit him first.

I used to like walking through the Kings Library. A huge room, full of bookshelves and books. Shame it's now empty as the books have been moved to the new British Library at St Pancras.

Although I was an engineering major in college, I managed to take a history of art course. The text was H.W. Janson "History of Art", universally called "Janson", and the professor showed slides of worldwide art almost the entire time. I was quite impressed, being from the sticks of the American midwest. Having been to the British Museum last year, I now know that all they did was go there with a camera - its all there.

As an aside, the British Museum has no problem with taking photos (unlike the Maritime Museum which claims copyright concerns on the Internet), so I have two Kodak Photo CD's full of mostly shots from the Museum. So now I'll give the lectures

Cool! Can you post some of them as a guide entry and give virtual lectures? That would be a hoot, I've never been lectured on any of the stuff in the BM!

H&K
Z

Isn't there a mummy with a curse in the museum somewhere?

One sank with the Titanic en route from the BM. Have to go to work now, but I'll dig out the book and post up a version of the story later if you like.

Calling my bluff, huh? (deep swallow ...)

Well, I do have the pictures, but the explanations might be somewhat different from, uhh, the facts. Keep in mind I was an ENGINEERING major.

But seriously, sort of ... the BM is great, where else can you see most of the Parthenon? (Wrong answer: Greece). AND, they've got free/affordable booklets that give REAL explanations.

- Steve K.

BCG, please tell the story!
Steve K - virtual lecture too please - but I might sit at the back and pass notes to the researcher next to me.

"Virtual Lecture" is probably beyond my ability, but let me look at the photo CD's (I'm in a hotel this weekend) and see what I can remember - how do I put a JPG image on H2G2?

I do remember that one of the most impressive areas was the Greek art, especially the Parthenon. The Greeks basically established what we all routinely accept as "beauty" - the male and female form, a sense of balance and proportion, even mathematical "beauty" as evidenced by Euclid's geometry, an amazingly simple set of statements which lead to an overwhelming number of applications. Architecture in particular is a form of science and art combined that we owe to the Greeks. Of course, the Romans had to come along and "spread the word" to the rest of the world - mostly with a gun to their heads - including England, which picked up on the "empire" idea ... I recently learned the name of the first Roman to "colonize" England. Anybody else know?

- Steve K.

*thinks hard*
Certainly Caeser liked my part of the world, and described thre people here as "by far the most civilised" despite a terrible appearance in battle. However, having "been here and done that" (I there might be a different phrase) he did not "get the t shirt" (too blue and painty for his liking).

So... my guess - Claudius, and Agricola as the map maker?

Well, I thought it was Julius Caesar, but now I can't remember where I read it. Seemed like having overrun France ("Gallia est divisa in tres partes ...", I knew my Latin would come in handy some day), he decided to hop the channel - same thing occurred to Napolean, Hitler, etc. but I guess the Roman lesson showed the Brits how to stop that crap.

Certainly Caesar sailed from France to have a look first, but only to get put off a bit by the rain! He worked out that there was corn etc to feed an army.
It really wasn't until about 100 years later that Claudius came back, and then the Romans stayed for about 350 years (but didn't much like our weather!).

No it was those pesky kids... sorry French Normans, 1066 and all that. The romans just improved things like roads, villas, spas, the english wine industry.

"and what have the Romans ever done for us?"

I shall resist the temptation (having thought of that already and forgetting the reply )

I think you already gave it with roads, spas wine etc.
Ever been to Lullingstone or Fishbourne?

Nope, but I have walked part of Hadrian's Wall. Thinking about walking along the side of the wall, where many have trod was quite humbling though. I'm glad I did it in summer, rather than winter when it's chucking it down with sleet and you can't see out of the door.

Imagine how the Romans felt! They hated our weather.
In the houses I mentioned, the mosaic floors which worked so well in Italy kept sinking into the mud in Britain. Their answer was to put another mosiac on top, but that would sink too.
No wonder they went back home in the end.
Ever been to Bath or Caerleon?

I've been to Bath a few times, but I've never braved the hordes of people to see the spas themselves. I did have a look round the Abbey the last time I was there though. There is something about these big old medieval churches that just has to be experienced.

I have not really felt this in England, but last summer I did several day trips to Brugges and Ghent, including visiting churches there for the artwork, but the places had a very powerful effect.
I see you have an entry on Brussels, so you will know how I felt perhaps?