A Bronze Head and Hand of the Goddess Anahit to be Displayed in Armenia

On September 21, 2024, a major international exhibition titled "Mother Goddess: From Anahit to Mary" will be held at the History Museum of Armenia, supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom, and the Embassy of the United Kingdom to Armenia. This was announced by the Ministry of Education and Science.

A press conference took place today at the History Museum of Armenia to officially start the preparations for the exhibition and to sign the loan agreement for the head and hand of the bronze statue of the goddess Anahit from the British Museum. The speakers at the press conference included Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Armenia John Gallagher, and the director of the History Museum of Armenia David Poghosyan.

During the press conference, the loan agreement for the head and hand of the bronze statue of the goddess Anahit, already approved by the British Museum, was officially ratified by Director David Poghosyan of the History Museum of Armenia. According to the loan agreement signed with the British Museum, the bronze head and hand of the goddess Anahit, dating from the 2nd to 1st centuries BC, will be transported to Armenia for a six-month temporary exhibition.

Minister Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the significance of this initiative and highlighted the importance of collaboration between the museums of the two countries. "I believe that the exhibition will spark great interest among various segments of the public, including schoolchildren and representatives from different age groups. This international cooperation between our museums will be ongoing," Andreasyan stated, also referring to the Anahit statue found in the historical capital of Artashat (a half-figure) that is currently exhibited at the History Museum of Armenia.

“This will be an exceptional and wonderful opportunity to witness the convergence of two historical realities and preserved artifacts in the same space. It opens up prospects for us as we see the connections and understand the broader realities that are a vital part of our history. Such collaborations should be encouraged and continued by the state. I am pleased that our museums are very active and proactive. Cooperation with other major museums around the world is a continuous policy of the state. We will support the implementation of such programs, as museums hold significant importance in public life, becoming venues for both educational and cultural processes,” the Minister added.

Zhanna Andreasyan also referred to the adoption of the "Law on Museums," which regulates the museum sector for the first time since independence, aiming to expand museum activities. "I believe the title of the exhibition is very significant. We often speak about the valuation of women's roles, and this exhibition will serve as a practical opportunity to also emphasize the importance of women's contributions to society. This discourse can begin from historical times and continue to our day, thereby inspiring our women and girls to develop the appropriate standards of behavior. It is also symbolic that we can commemorate our nation’s independence day with such an important event this year," the minister stated.

Director David Poghosyan of the History Museum of Armenia welcomed the attendees, stating that today marks the start of the work for an important and noteworthy international exhibition. In his view, this exhibition can serve as a unique gift for Armenian women in celebration of Motherhood and Beauty Day, as it is held under the title “Mother Goddess: From Anahit to Mary.”

Detailing the concept of the exhibition, David Poghosyan noted, "This idea was born from a collaboration with one of the world's renowned museums, the British Museum. In 2023, the British Museum opened an international exhibition titled 'Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece,' in which the History Museum of Armenia also participated, showcasing three exceptional cultural artifacts: a golden breastplate found in Armavir, a clay bull-shaped ritual vessel (6th-5th centuries BC), and a clay bear-shaped ritual vessel found in Artashat (1st century BC). It was a very interesting exhibition, where one of the bear-shaped vessels found in historic Artashat was juxtaposed with the bronze face of the Anahit statue, which is kept at the British Museum. At that time, we also discussed organizing a joint exhibition of values found in historic Armenia in our country alongside unique samples kept at the History Museum of Armenia."

According to David Poghosyan, from September 21, 2024, to March 2025, the History Museum of Armenia will have the chance to showcase and historically organize the meeting of these items.

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Armenia, John Gallagher, stated, "I am extremely pleased that the British Museum will temporarily provide the bronze half-figure of the goddess Anahit to the History Museum of Armenia. The British Museum is renowned for its extensive collection and its commitment to displaying its treasures in various countries around the world. By providing over 5,000 specimens every year, the museum serves as a global hub for cultural exchange, fostering dialogue and mutual understanding beyond borders. I warmly welcome the growing collaboration between British and Armenian museums. The upcoming exhibition in Armenia is a significant event in cultural exchange."

It is noteworthy that the exhibition will present a significant selection concerning the Mother Goddess from the rich collection of the History Museum of Armenia, ranging from ancient times to Christianity and our days. Previously, the History Museum of Armenia has collaborated with the British Museum and provided its collections for various international exhibitions. However, this will mark the first time that items of such symbolic and particular importance to the Armenian people will be displayed from this prestigious museum.