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Gifts to the Gods

Neil MacGregor focuses on offerings, including gifts to the goddess Athena at the Parthenon in ancient Greece, and gold figures consigned to the waters of Lake Guatavita, Colombia.

Neil MacGregor continues his series on the expression of shared beliefs in communities around the world and across time, and focuses on offerings.

High in the Andes in Colombia, the indigenous Muisca population consigned highly-wrought gold figurines to the waters of Lake Guatavita.

Records of the treasures stored in the Parthenon, Athens, dating from around 400BC, reveal numerous gifts for the goddess Athena - gifts with a double role. The Parthenon was also a kind of central bank, capable of operating as a lender of last resort, creating an intimate connection between the temple of a goddess and the finance of the state.

Producer Paul Kobrak

Produced in partnership with the British Museum
Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

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14 minutes

Last on

Fri 24 Jun 2022 14:45
麻豆社 Radio 4 FM

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The House of God

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Holy Killing

See all episodes from Living with the Gods

  • The legend of El Dorado

    Neil MacGregor tells the story of the 鈥済olden man鈥� who commits treasures to the deep.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 7 Nov 2017 09:45
    麻豆社 Radio 4 FM
  • Tue 7 Nov 2017 19:45
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 24 Jun 2022 14:45
    麻豆社 Radio 4 FM

Animations

Neil MacGregor tells the stories of some of the key objects in the series.

Podcast

  • Living with the Gods

    Neil MacGregor explores the role and expression of shared beliefs around the world.