Desire, love, identity

Follow the LGBTQ history trail Exploring LGBTQ histories

This trail highlights 15 objects that You should be able to complete have a connection with LGBTQ this trail comfortably in 60 to 75 history. You can download audio minutes. The objects have been commentaries for each of the objects arranged to create an effcient to listen to on your own device. route. However, you don’t need Search for ‘Desire, love, identity’ in to follow this order, or even see iTunes, Google Play Music, or Spotify. all of the objects. If you’d rather read about the objects, you’ll fnd more information at britishmuseum.org/desireloveidentity

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N’domo masquerade mask A Maya ruler Statue of Ganymede Room 25, downstairs from East stairs, Ground foor Room 1 Room 24 This image of a male Maya In mythology, the god Zeus In many African cultures, ruler was once assumed to (or Jupiter) was overcome gender and gendered roles are be a woman. He is dressed by desire for the beautiful fxed through rituals. N’domo as a youthful maize deity youth Ganymede. He took masks are worn by men but who combines male and the form of an eagle to abduct the masks can be male, female female genders. Ganymede who later became or androgynous. the god’s cupbearer. 4 5 6

Maori Treasure Box The Discus Thrower The Warren Cup Room 1 Room 1 Room 70 This intricately carved wooden This sculpture may have Decorated with two scenes of box features male and female been part of a larger group male lovers, this Roman wine fgures intertwined in sexual of statuary. The beautiful cup could not be displayed union. One scene appears to youth Hyacinth was struck publicly for most of the 20th blur heterosexual boundaries and killed by a discus thrown century. Homosexuality was and gender roles. by his lover, the god Apollo. illegal in England and Wales The discus was blown off until July 1967. course by the jealous Zephyr.

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Hadrian and Antinous Athenian wine amphora Sappho Room 70 Room 69 Room 69 The beautiful youth Antinous Intimate sexual relationships Although little is known for was the emperor Hadrian’s between men and youths certain about the Greek poet lover. When Antinous drowned were an accepted part of Sappho’s life, her poems gave in AD 130, Hadrian made life in several ancient Greek a voice to female desire that him into a god and publically city states, particularly in still resonates today. commemorated him across Athens during the 6th–4th the empire. centuries BC. 10 11 12

St Sebastian Ladies of Llangollen The Ain Sakhri Lovers Room 40 Room 47 Room 51 In recent times St Sebastian Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah This object dates from about has become a gay icon Ponsonby fed Ireland together 11,000 years ago. It is the inspiring flmmakers, writers in 1778. They set up home in oldest known sculpture of and artists. The imagery North Wales, challenging the two lovers. The genders of of him which has become conventions of the era – and the fgures are unclear and so infuential originated in living the life of their choice open to interpretation. All medieval Europe. there for 50 years. that remains is the refection of their love.

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Queen of the Night Epic of Gilgamesh Hor and Suty Room 56 Room 56 Room 61 The Mesopotamian deity This famous poem describes This inscribed stela (stone Ishtar had the power to assign how King Gilgamesh and the tablet) is dedicated to two gender. Some of her cult wild man Enkidu became ancient Egyptian men, Hor members seem to have been close friends. The text and Suty. Is it possible that considered woman-like men describes their relationship they may have been lovers, who did forbidden things to in erotic terms. or were they twins? delight her. Ground foor Level 0

West 24 26 27 stairs Down 2 1 to 25 29a 29b East stairs 20 3 21 4 18 19 9 4 1

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18 17 23 8 4 1

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10 7 4 1 18 15 Great Court

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South 13 6 stairs 2

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Main entrance Great Russell Street

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Stairs

You can download a map of the Lift whole Museum from our website. Upper foor Level 3

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15 6161 62 63 64 65

13 West 59 58 57 56 5455 53 East stairs 14 stairs

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35 12 72 51

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43a South a 6969 stairs 36 40 41 42 10 8 43 9 68 37 3938 11 47 46

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The audio trail is available to stream or download on three services: iTunes, Google Play Music and Spotify. Search for ‘Desire, love, identity’ in your streaming service of choice and Look for this graphic to listen anytime – whether you’re help you fnd the objects. at the Museum or not. Short of time?

If you only have 30 minutes, make sure you don’t miss these three objects:

7 Hadrian and Antinous Room 70 The beautiful youth Antinous was the emperor Hadrian’s (pictured) lover. When Antinous drowned in AD 130, Hadrian made him into a god and publically commemorated him across the empire.

11 Ladies of Llangollen Room 47 Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby fed Ireland together in 1778. They set up home in North Wales, challenging the conventions of the era – and living the life of their choice there for 50 years.

13 Queen of the Night Room 56 The Mesopotamian deity Ishtar had the power to assign gender. Some of her cult members seem to have been considered woman -like men who did forbidden things to delight her. Prints and Drawings

The Museum’s Prints and Drawings Department holds many works on paper with an LGBTQ connection. You can explore the collection online or make an appointment to view works in the Prints and Drawings Study Room.

Books

A Little Gay History: Desire and Diversity across the World R.B. Parkinson This book focuses on 40 objects in the British Museum collection, including most of those featured in this trail.

The following books provide more information about individual objects.

The Warren Cup Dyfri Williams

The Discobolus Ian Jenkins

The Queen of the Night Dominique Collon

Please note that the Museum regularly lends objects to other institutions around the world. This means that from time to time, some of the objects that are part The British Museum of the trail may be temporarily Great Russell Street removed from display. London WC1B 3DG britishmuseum.org Front: The Queen of the Night relief. © 2021 The Trustees of the British Museum Old Babylonian, 19th–18th centuries BC.

05/2021