And join us to print and paint at the Museum!
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A picture paints a thousand words!
Rock art drawing of people riding camels.

Dear Andrew,

World Emoji Day is Thursday 17 July, and to start celebrations early, we're exploring the connection between pictures and language.

Before writing developed, many cultures used pictures to explain places, things and ideas - we call this a pictorial language. Today, we use emojis so when you send smiley face ☺️ or a thumbs up 👍, you're using the same idea that humans have used for thousands of years!

This week you can...
⭐ Write your name in hieroglyphs
⭐ Discover the history of Manga
⭐ Test your knowledge of cave drawings

And for older Young Friends, learn what the Rosetta Stone actually says, with a Museum curator. Finally, coming up soon, join us at the Museum for a Print and Paint event, featuring special art workshops and object handling. Keep reading to find out more!

The Young Friends and Schools and Family Programmes Teams

Activities to try at home!
Photograph of hieroglyph cartouche.

Write your name in hieroglyphs

Have a go at hieroglyphs - an ancient Egyptian writing system.
Get writing
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Manga style drawing of large figure looking over historical objects including Sutton Hoo Helmet.

A brief history of Manga

Manga is a type of storytelling originating from Japan. Discover its history and tips on how to read it!
Get reading
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Discover more at the Museum
Scroll painting of the snake goddess, Manasā.

Print and paint

Join us for this special day of free, fun family activities inspired by the exhibition Ancient India: living traditions. Try woodblock printing, paint your own ancient Indian forest and get hands-on with some exciting objects!

This event is free, and suitable for children aged 5+. 

Saturday 19 July, 10.00–16.30
Find out more
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Connections in the collection!

Some of the earliest examples of pictograms are rock art, made over 40,000 years ago! Rock art has been found across Africa and an important way to learn how people lived in the past. Can you work out what animals are in the photographs below? Use the emojis as helpful hints!

🦏 🐎🦒🐪
Collection of photographs showing rock art.
Young Friends wearing handmade mosaic masks.

Remus

Visit our digital archive to dive into new and past issues of our magazine for young people.
Read now
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Older Young Friends
Curator stood next to replica of Rosetta Stone.

The Rosetta Stone and what it actually says

The Rosetta Stone is one of the most famous objects in the British Museum. But what does it actually say? 

Dr Ilona Regulski, Curator of Ancient Writing, explains the object that unlocked ancient Egypt.
Watch now
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Connections answers (left to right)

🐪 - A camel. The art is located in Oued Djerat, Algeria.
🦏 - A rhinoceros. It was found in Twyfelfontein, Namibia.
🐎 - A horse. The drawing is located in Tarssed Jebest, Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria.
🦒A giraffe. This art was found in Brandberg Namibia.

Connect with us

Images:

Painted scene of Libyan-Berber warriors riding camels, accompanied by infantry and cavalrymen. Kozen Pass, Chad. 2013,2034.7295 © David Coulson/TARA

Temple lintel of king Amenemhat III, Hawara, Egypt, 12th Dynasty, 1855–08 BC.

Hoshino Yukinobu (b. 1954), Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure. 2011. © YUKINOBU HOSHINO/SHOGAKUKAN INC.

Engravings of a female camel with calves. Oued Djerat, Algeria © TARA/David Coulson.

Block-pecked rhinoceros. Twyfelfontein, Namibia © TARA/David Coulson.

Painted human figure and horse. Tarssed Jebest, Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria © TARA/David Coulson.

Fine-line paintings of giraffes and line patterns. Brandberg, Namibia © TARA/David Coulson.

Gurupada Chitrakar (b. 1965), ​The story of the snake goddess, Manasā. Scroll painting, 2000–2006.

Children at the British Museum with handmade masks.

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