The exhibition presents the unique pieces of gold, glass, ivory and stone, including the discovery of the famous mound Tilla-Tepe (Golden Hill)

The British Museum exhibition "Afghanistan: Crossroads of the Ancient World" from the National Museum of Afghanistan. Presents unique pieces of gold, glass, ivory and stone.

• Barrow Tilla-Tepe (Golden Hill), Afghanistan
  From the National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul
  Source: bbc.co.uk

Miraculously, these treasures have survived in an environment of protracted civil war and the radical Taliban regime, destroying pre-Islamic works of art. Since 1989, of the Kabul National Museum was made up to 70 percent of the artifacts. Previously believed that the looters and vandals have stolen or destroyed almost everything. However, after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2003 in the basement of the presidential palace were found six safes to store all these years, the most valuable part of the museum's collection - Bactrian gold and other key exhibits.

Collection hid in 1989 th, shortly before the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. It is known that the order to evacuate the meeting gave the last president of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammed Najibullah. This "Tutankhamun's tomb was closed with five keys, which are entrusted to the museum staff of five headed by director Omar Masood Kahn (Omar Khan Massoudi). It was agreed, that in case of death of any of the keepers, the key is handed his eldest son.

The five ministers of science accomplished a real feat. The Taliban have repeatedly up in arms trying to figure out where the hidden treasures, but "housekeeper" silent. When the collection discovered in 2003, it was decided to send her to an international tour: Afghan collection has already been to the USA, Canada, France, Germany and now - all the UK. The proceeds go to restoration and maintenance of the National Museum of Afghanistan's other monuments.

Two hundred artifacts in the British Museum will tell the history of the land of Afghanistan - from the archaeological cultures of the Bronze Age and the Greek city of Alexander of Macedon to the palaces on the Grand Silk Road and mounds of nomads.

One of the rooms of the exhibition is devoted to finds from the Greco-Bactrian city of Ai Khanum in northern Afghanistan, founded in 300 AD BC. er. commander of Alexander of Macedon. In this outpost in the Bactrian steppes it was all in the usual Greek polis: living quarters, temples, gymnasium and theater. The exhibition at the British Museum you can see the value-hanumskie sundial capitals of Corinthian columns and a statue of Hercules.

• Glass, enamel. Begram, Afghanistan.
  From the National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul
  Source: artdaily.com

In another section presents art objects from China, India and the Roman Empire, found in the ancient village of Begram (modern Afghan city of Bagram). Scientists still disagree on: whether it was a great mercantile store values ​​on the Silk Road, or it was a palace of a certain nobleman, where he had hid their treasures from the nomads.

Highlights exhibits - it's certainly the golden objects from the mound Tilla-Tepe (Golden Hill), excavated by Soviet archaeologists began in 1978. Six graves were discovered 22,000 objects - crowns, weapons, ornaments and amulets dating from the first century AD. In these unique objects, which is also called "Golden Bactria, bizarre way it combines different styles: the here and the Persian lion, and the Greek heroes, and Indian solar symbols. This is a wonderful monument of the steppe culture of the Silk Route.

• From the National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul
  Source: thisislondon.co.uk

In the last section of the exhibition demonstrates the plate carved from ivory. These exquisite panels with female figures, exotic animals and mythical beasts adorned the Indian furniture for two millennia ago. Interestingly, these artifacts were in the British Museum in the summer of last year. During training the Afghan show a London dealer offered to the museum for examination of twenty artifacts of ivory. These items were from the collection of the Kabul National Museum, where they were stolen between 1992 and 1994. Mystery donor brought them to the British Museum, that after the exhibition, items returned to Afghanistan. The restorers had to prepare the newly acquired value to be exhibited, and now they can be admired at the British Museum until July 3, 2011.

Source: artdaily.com , thisislondon.co. uk , bbc.co.uk , artinvestment.ru