Aigina treasure
- Audio guide stop: 223
- Gallery: Room 12b
- Audio guide: one commentary for a group of objects shown together
- Museum: The British Museum
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About these objects
In front of you is the "Aigina treasure," a fascinating collection of Minoan gold objects dating from around 1850BC to 1550BC. This hoard was unearthed on the island of Aegina, in the Aegean Sea. Though the pieces were likely crafted in Crete—or perhaps by Cretan artisans working on Aegina—they showcase advanced goldworking techniques and a striking artistic style with links to Egyptian influences.
Among the highlights is a gold pendant showing a nature god, the "Master of Animals," who holds two geese and stands among lotus flowers. This is a remarkable example of Minoan relief work and spiritual imagery.
Also worth noting are a pair of large gold earrings shaped like a two-headed snake, with hounds, monkeys, and owl pendants. They're both intricate and impressive in scale.
You’ll also see a gold cup with a central rosette and running spirals, and a necklace made of dozens of gold beads and small pendants. Some of these items may have been used in ceremonies or belonged to someone of great status.
Taken together, these pieces reveal the rich artistic world of the Minoans and their mastery of decorative goldsmithing.
See it in person
Aigina treasure is on display in Room 12b at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 223, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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