A Popular Handbook to the Greek and Roman Antiquities in the British Museum

THERE are so many points of view from which a collection of Antiquities can be approached, there are so many and such excellent aids to the study of the British Museum already in existence, that it may be well to explain the limits and scope of this "Popular Handbook." Some years ago I published a "Popular Handbook to the National Gallery." It dealt mainly with the sentiment of the pictures. It brought together some of the best that had been known and felt about the painters and their works. Its endeavour was to interest the general. It found, and continues to find readers. In the British Museum there are exhibited treasures of a different kind, but it had long been my belief that they admitted of similar treatment. The present volume is an attempt to apply to one branch of the Museum the method of popular compilation which has been found acceptable by visitors in the case of the National Gallery.

The present Handbook is limited, with some few exceptions, to the Greek and Roman Galleries. It includes however, somewhat more of the Collections than is comprised in the Department of those Antiquities. The sculptures from Cyprus are described as being largely Greek, and closely connected with other antiquities from that island. I have also included the Anglo-Roman collections. In making the tour of the Room of Gold Ornaments and Gems I have not limited myself to the Greek and Roman objects, but have dealt also with those of later times which are exhibited in the same room. I have also devoted a chapter to the Greek coins, which

are shown in electrotype in one of the public Exhibition Galleries.

The order of arrangement in the chapters follows that of the Galleries. For the convenience of readers who may desire to find notes on particular groups of antiquities, I have supplemented the list of contents with a terminal index.

The Handbook is intended primarily for use in the Museum, though I am not altogether without hope that, in parts, it may be found readable at home. It is not a complete catalogue of the collections. I make no attempt to notice all the objects exhibited in the Galleries. I have taken occasion to refer the reader (generally in a footnote at the beginning of a chapter) to the official publications wherein all the objects are enumerated and described,1 and to mention also some of the best-known or most accessible general treatises wherein further information may be sought. To those who desire to make special study of the British Museum, the writings of the successive Keepers of the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities-the late Sir Charles Newton and Dr. A. S. Murray 2—are especially valuable, owing to their close familiarity with the Museum collections, and to their frequent reference to antiquities therein. In citing the critical or expository remarks of archæological experts and esteemed judges of ancient art I have endeavoured in all cases to acknowledge the source of my quotations; if I have anywhere failed in this respect, I beg to apologise for the inadvertence. In large measure such quotations are from periodical literature, or the publications of learned societies.

This Handbook, as the reader will speedily perceive, is

1 In addition to the special guides and catalogues there are also published by the Trustees a general Guide to the Exhibition Galleries (price 2d.), and a fuller Guide to the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities (price 6d.); this latter is by Mr. Arthur H. Smith, Assistant in the Department.

2 I refer more especially to Newton's Essays on Art and Archæology (Macmillan), and to his Travels and Discoveries in the Levant (Day and Son). The latter work (abridged from his larger History of Discoveries at Halicarnassus, Cnidus, and Branchidae) is a most interesting book of travel. To Dr. Murray's works on special subjects I refer subsequently. Of a more general character is his Handbook of Greek Archeology (John Murray).

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