The bronze head and hand preserved from the statue of Goddess Anahit dating back to the II-I century BC have been transferred from the British Museum to the History Museum of Armenia.
On September 21, 2024, the History Museum of Armenia will host a major international exhibition entitled “Mother Deity: from Anahit to Mariam” with the support of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Republic of Armenia. The exhibit is delivered to Armenia for a six-month temporary display.
ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Armenia John Gallagher and Director of the History Museum of Armenia Davit Poghosyan attended the handover ceremony of the exclusive exhibit at the museum entrance.
The exhibit was solemnly delivered from “Zvartnots” airport to the History Museum of Armenia in compliance with all safety regulations. Public Television Company presented a live broadcast of the entire transport of the exclusive exhibit and had a talk with ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Armenia John Gallagher, Director of the History Museum of Armenia Davit Poghosyan and Acting Director of the Cultural Development Foundation Karen Avetisyan.
ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan stated that this day is symbolic since the History Museum of Armenia has the opportunity to launch an exhibition of international quality in collaboration with one of the world’s most prestigious institutions - the British Museum.
“The preserved fragments of the bronze statue of Goddess Anahit are the key exhibit of the exhibition and hold special significance for our public. Every child will have the opportunity to see the picture up close familiar still from the textbook. This exhibition is vital to me in many ways: both in terms of revitalizing and enhancing the quality of museum life and in terms of fostering a deeper connection between society and culture, as well as in the direction of internationalization,” said the Minister.
Regarding the significance of bilateral international cooperation in the museum sector, Zhanna Andreasyan noted: “Prior to this, there have been numerous exhibitions at prestigious museums which usually featured samples from Armenian museums. Today is also a unique opportunity in the sense that Armenia borrows the exhibits of prestigious museums and shares them with our public. The state encourages such cooperation of museums in every possible way. I should remind that the law “On Museums” has been adopted this year, which also provides new opportunities for cooperation in the museum sector. This year, the budget for replenishing museum collections has been restored after a 14-year suspension, enabling our museums to acquire new and valuable exhibits.”
The Minister highlighted the exhibition's key theme of motherhood and women, emphasizing the historically significant role of women in public life.
“I think it's a valuable opportunity to observe how the role of women has evolved over time, demonstrating various patterns while their importance has remained unchanged. Women are of particular importance in the development of statehood, and I hope that the opening of the exhibition on Independence Day will facilitate this vital conversation.”
Speaking about expectations, Zhanna Andreasyan noted that she expects to see long queues at the exhibition, emphasizing that this is not an exhibition of a single exhibit: as part of the “Mother Deity: from Anahit to Mariam” exhibition, which features fragments from the bronze statue of Goddess Anahit—her head and hand—in the style of a historical gathering, the History Museum of Armenia will also showcase priceless exhibits pertaining to the theme of motherhood, spanning from the New Stone Age to samples from the Christian era. There will be various events and discussions within the framework of the exhibition, making it a significant highlight in cultural life.
“This exhibition, in terms of its volume and quality, requires joint efforts and, of course, is organized in partnership with various organizations. Undoubtedly, the idea of the exhibition concept belongs to the History Museum of Armenia in cooperation with the British Museum, but the joint exhibition was organized with the engagement of state authorities and the private sector,” stated the Minister.
According to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Armenia John Gallagher, this significant cultural event is a very important and inspiring occasion in the context of relations between the two countries: “I can imagine how significant the exhibition of the head and hand of Goddess Anahit is for Armenians. I highlight the significance of the collaboration between the British Museum and the History Museum of Armenia, which made this event possible. I hope the exhibition attracts many visitors.”
Director of the History Museum of Armenia David Poghosyan, in the context of the exhibition “Mother Deity: from Anahit to Mariam”, touched upon the history of the discovery of relics of the bronze statue of Anahit and its journey to the British Museum. The director also addressed the safety issues and storage regime of the exclusive museum exhibit and added that it is necessary to maintain this process with utmost accuracy.