WHAT? Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece 

WHERE? The British Museum, Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG

WHEN? Now until 13th August 

WHY GO? For a clash of cultures. Who was the more powerful, the Persians or the Greeks?  If luxury defines power, the Persians win hands down, but if it’s more about skillful political manoeuverings, then top marks to the Greeks throughout their centuries of conflict.

This exhibition is a cultural history lesson of polarised views with ancient artefacts to dazzle and tasty facts to devour. 

The Persians wore racy eye kohl, while the Greeks disapproved, focusing more on cerebral issues like creating the classical statue of Athena for the Parthenon and never the twain should meet until eventually Alexander the Great conquered Persia and succumbed to their extravagances. 

Luxurious gold drinking vessels are exhibited alongside gold torcs that displayed wealth on a superstar scale with reconstructions of costumes that divided the elite; purple apparently being the prized colour should we wish to emulate it all today. 

All this skilled craftsmanship reinforces the concept that luxurious objects were always a powerful tool in negotiations, much as they still are today!

IN THE KNOW  Forget gold trinkets, food is often the fastest way to unite rivals as luxurious Persian sweetmeats rapidly became favoured by the Greeks! 

Learn more about decadent Persian delicacies from food historian Tasha Marks with recipes inspired by the exhibition, and who doesn’t love a Baklava, the most famous of all Middle Eastern treats?