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 efficient 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 find more information at britishmuseum.org/desireloveidentity

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The Discus Thrower Maori Treasure Box* Statue of Ganymede Room 1 Room 1 Room 1 This sculpture may have This intricately carved wooden In mythology, the god Zeus been part of a larger group box features male and female (or Jupiter) was overcome of statuary. The beautiful figures intertwined in sexual by desire for the beautiful youth Hyacinth was struck union. One scene appears to youth Ganymede. He took and killed by a discus thrown blur heterosexual boundaries the form of an eagle to abduct by his lover, the god Apollo. and gender roles. Ganymede who later became The discus was blown off the god’s cupbearer. course by the jealous Zephyr. 4 5 6

A Maya ruler N’domo masquerade mask* Queen of the Night East stairs, Ground fl oor Room 25, downstairs from Room 56 This image of a male Maya Room 24 The Mesopotamian deity ruler was once assumed to In many African cultures, Ishtar had the power to assign be a woman. He is dressed gender and gendered roles are gender. Some of her cult as a youthful maize deity fi xed through rituals. N’domo members seem to have been who combines male and masks are worn by men but considered woman-like men female genders. the masks can be male, female who did forbidden things to or androgynous. delight her.

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Epic of Gilgamesh Hor and Suty The Warren Cup Room 56 Room 61 Room 70 This famous poem describes This inscribed stela (stone Decorated with two scenes of how King Gilgamesh and the tablet) is dedicated to two male lovers, this Roman wine wild man Enkidu became ancient Egyptian men, Hor cup could not be displayed close friends. The text and Suty. Is it possible that publicly for most of the 20th describes their relationship they may have been lovers, century. Homosexuality was in erotic terms. or were they twins? illegal in England and Wales until July 1967. 10 11 12

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 life Sappho’s life, her poems gave in AD 130, Hadrian made in several ancient Greek city a voice to female desire that him into a god and publically states, particularly in Athens still resonates today. commemorated him across during the 6th-4th century BC. the empire.

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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 fl ed Ireland together 11,000 years ago. It is the inspiring fi lmmakers, 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 fi gures are unclear and so infl uential originated in living the life of their choice open to interpretation. All medieval Europe. there for 50 years. that remains is the refl ection of their love. Ground floor Level 0

West 24 26 27 stairs Down 4 to 25 29a 29b East 5 stairs 20 3 21 2 18 19 9 4 1

22 18b 1

18 17 23 8 4 1

18a 16

10 7 4 1 18 15 Great Court

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South 13 6 stairs 2

12 6 3

2a

Main entrance Great Russell Street

1 Room numbers

1 Trail stop number This map shows the locations Stairs of the objects in this trail. You can pick up a map of the whole Museum at the Information Desk Lift in the Great Court. Upper floor Level 3

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8 6161 62 63 64 65

6 West 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 East stairs 7 stairs

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35 15 72 51

71 50

9 70 49 10

43a South 69a 69 stairs 36 40 41 42 13 11 43 12 68 37 38 39 14 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 find 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:

6 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.

10 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.

14 Ladies of Llangollen Room 47 Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby fl ed 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. 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 of the trail may be temporarily removed from display.

* From approximately 1 August 2018 to late December 2019 these objects will be part of a The British Museum Desire, love, identity exhibition Great Russell Street touring four UK venues. London WC1B 3DG britishmuseum.org Front: The Queen of the Night relief. © The Trustees of the British Museum 04/2019 Old Babylonian, 19th–18th centuries BC.