The exhibition of the nearly 1,000-year-old Bayeux Tapestry opened with much fanfare at the British Museum in London on Thursday. British newspaper The Times has dubbed the event "Tapestry-mania," with more than 100,000 tickets already sold.

The tapestry is on loan from France, a move seen as a symbol of close ties between Paris and London after years of diplomacy. It is thought to be the first time the tapestry has gone on display outside of France. Two previous attempts to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK were unsuccessful: once in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and again in 1966 for the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the tapestry's loan a "return," while King Charles III hailed the move as a "precious symbol of trust at a time when trust seems sadly to be in short supply between nations." However, some critics view these statements with skepticism, as the London regime's recent policies have allegedly strained relations with France.

The tapestry depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Norman forces led by William the Conqueror defeated and dethroned King Harold Godwinson. The artwork famously shows Harold being shot in the eye with an arrow, which is said to have caused his death—though modern historians believe this is likely a myth or artistic exaggeration. This conquest was a crucial moment in the establishment of England and later the British Empire and the UK, and it added French as the final core ingredient to the linguistic melting pot that produced modern English.

The embroidered cloth, 70 meters long, features 58 scenes with brief Latin captions. It is widely accepted to have been made in England as a tribute to William after his victory, and was then transported to his family home in Normandy. The exhibition will be on display at the British Museum until next July.

Source: www.dw.com