Museums & Galleries

22 British Museum Trivia Questions: History, Artifacts, and Controversies

The British Museum is one of London’s most recognizable cultural landmarks, drawing millions of visitors yearly who come to see centuries of human history under one massive glass roof.

This quiz covers its 1753 founding, famous pieces like the Rosetta Stone, and the ongoing international custody disputes over some of its highly valued antiquities.

After finishing, visit our guides on museums and galleries, explore the world’s most famous historic places, or read about stunning famous buildings around the globe.

In which city is the British Museum located?

Paris

Paris

London

London

New York City

New York City

Berlin

Berlin

In what year was the British Museum founded?

1743

1743

1773

1773

1753

1753

1763

1763

What is the long-standing admission policy for the British Museum’s permanent collection?

Entry by subscription only

Entry by subscription only

Paid ticket entry

Paid ticket entry

Free admission for all visitors

Free admission for all visitors

Members-only access

Members-only access

Whose bequest of a vast collection of objects formed the founding nucleus of the British Museum?

King George III

King George III

Thomas Bruce

Thomas Bruce

Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill

Hans Sloane

Hans Sloane

The British Museum is world-renowned for hosting one of the largest collections of what type of historical items?

Modern technology

Modern technology

Space exploration artifacts

Space exploration artifacts

Victorian-era furniture

Victorian-era furniture

Egyptian antiquity

Egyptian antiquity

Which artifact provided the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics?

Sutton Hoo helmet

Sutton Hoo helmet

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone

Lewis Chessmen

Lewis Chessmen

Parthenon Sculptures

Parthenon Sculptures

The Rosetta Stone contains inscriptions in how many different scripts?

Five

Five

Four

Four

Three

Three

Two

Two

What are the three scripts inscribed on the Rosetta Stone?

Demotic, Hieroglyphic, and Greek

Demotic, Hieroglyphic, and Greek

Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic

Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic

Coptic, Aramaic, and Phoenician

Coptic, Aramaic, and Phoenician

Sanskrit, Persian, and Greek

Sanskrit, Persian, and Greek

The controversial marble sculptures taken from the Parthenon in Athens are commonly named after which British diplomat?

Duke of Wellington

Duke of Wellington

Lord Elgin

Lord Elgin

Lord Nelson

Lord Nelson

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte

To which modern-day country do the Parthenon Sculptures originally belong?

Greece

Greece

Turkey

Turkey

Italy

Italy

Egypt

Egypt

What was the specific title of the man who removed the Parthenon Sculptures in the early 19th century?

5th Earl of Elgin

5th Earl of Elgin

8th Earl of Elgin

8th Earl of Elgin

6th Earl of Elgin

6th Earl of Elgin

7th Earl of Elgin

7th Earl of Elgin

Many modern cultural heritage restitution debates cite which international agreement regarding the illicit import and export of cultural property?

1970 UNESCO Convention

1970 UNESCO Convention

1960 UNESCO Convention

1960 UNESCO Convention

1980 UNESCO Convention

1980 UNESCO Convention

1990 UNESCO Convention

1990 UNESCO Convention

Which entity has been the most vocal long-term advocate for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures?

United Nations

United Nations

European Union

European Union

Greek Government

Greek Government

Vatican City

Vatican City

What was the name of the original building that housed the British Museum collection when it first opened in 1759?

Montagu House

Montagu House

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Tower of London

Tower of London

Who designed the iconic Great Court glass roof, which opened in 2000?

Sir Richard Rogers

Sir Richard Rogers

Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid

Lord Norman Foster

Lord Norman Foster

Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry

What is the name of the largest covered public square in Europe, located at the heart of the British Museum?

King’s Library

King’s Library

Reading Room

Reading Room

Great Court

Great Court

Duveen Gallery

Duveen Gallery

Which famous circular space in the museum was once the primary research hub for literary figures like Karl Marx and George Bernard Shaw?

Treasury Room

Treasury Room

Exhibition Hall

Exhibition Hall

Gallery of Enlightenment

Gallery of Enlightenment

Reading Room

Reading Room

Which significant archaeological find in Suffolk provided major insights into 7th-century Anglo-Saxon life?

Terracotta Army

Terracotta Army

Sutton Hoo burial ship

Sutton Hoo burial ship

Dead Sea Scrolls

Dead Sea Scrolls

Bayeux Tapestry

Bayeux Tapestry

When was the Rosetta Stone presented to the British Museum following the defeat of French forces in Egypt?

1804

1804

1802

1802

1799

1799

1801

1801

Which French scholar is most famously credited with the final breakthrough in deciphering the Rosetta Stone?

William Matthew Flinders Petrie

William Matthew Flinders Petrie

Jean-Francois Champollion

Jean-Francois Champollion

Thomas Young

Thomas Young

Howard Carter

Howard Carter

In what year did the British Parliament vote to purchase the Elgin Marbles for the British Museum?

1820

1820

1824

1824

1816

1816

1812

1812

The founding mission of the British Museum was heavily influenced by the intellectual ideals of which period?

The Enlightenment era

The Enlightenment era

The Tudor period

The Tudor period

The Victorian age

The Victorian age

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution

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If you enjoyed this, check out our trivia on ancient sculpture, read about famous architects, or learn about global world capitals.

My passion for travel seamlessly integrates with my love for trivia, as I spend a lot of time on the road. I create engaging trivia quizzes based on the information I gather about new locations, food, music, customs, and people.

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