British Museum!
If you are anything like me, the prospect of a summer where free-time is in abundance, and a distinct burning passion for the Ancient Egyptians, then the prospect of a visit to the British Museum is the most amazing idea yet!
With the help of my handy camera, I have decided to share all 400 a sample of my most beautiful photographs with you!
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| The British Museum! |
When first arriving at the museum, I was astonished at just how busy the museum appeared to be, with an abundance of tourists on the museum grounds, it made me wonder just how busy the interior would be!
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| Religion and Ritual small pieces. |
The first sign of Ancient Egypt, a burning, scorching, obsessive passion of mine, was of a small set of humble pieces, that sat there idle, looking dusty and dull. These proud artefacts from millennia gone by lacked the vibrancy and colour that I had honestly initially expected, but their sheer age and symbolic nature exceeded any short-comings, and this was just a taste of what was to come!
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| Ptolemy I - Great General of Alexander the Great |
The first magnificent bust of a highly esteemed Egyptian was this quite simplistic statue of Ptolemy I, a Great General who served Alexander the Great and influenced Egyptian society greatly. What struck me about the bust, was not only the simplicity of it's design, but the symbolic nature this creates. His body is strong and sturdy, his features cleanly drawn but friendly, and his headdress prominent and bold. All these features spark a great deal of interest from me, my imagination gallivanting, as much as I yearned to stand gaping, admiring the piece in a spaced-out vacant manner, I could feel the next piece calling me, wanting my attention. So I moved on.
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| Courtyard Architecture! |
After diverting away from the exhibition room I made my way into the courtyard, nice and airy with marble flooring. The cool airy nature of the courtyard was a strike contrast to the escalating summer temperatures outside!
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| Amenhotep III - Pharaoh of Egypt |
It was then that I saw a doorway, and beside it was the bold and big statue, guarding the doorway, serving as a hint to what treasures we may find inside!
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| Fragment of the Rosetta Stone |
The moment I left the cool marble courtyard and entered the doorway into what I can only describe as an Ancient Egyptian cave of wonders, I was immediately drawn to an item that hid behind crowds of people, each desperately trying to see this most precious of items!
Once I spotted a gap in the crowd, I squeezed myself in and to my astonishment, was met by a cold black slab, inscribed in a third hieroglyphics, a third demotic, and a third Ancient Greek. This was the infamous Rosetta Stone, a gem in archeological history, standing firm in a cage of glass surrounded by people eager to read it's inscription. With a quick snap of the piece, I rushed out of the crowd and my heart inflated like a balloon with helium, and tears began to reach my eyes, as I witnessed the wide array of Egyptian artefacts that prominently decorated the room.
The variety of the exhibition was immense, with grand and carefully engraved mighty columns,
Slabs of carefully inscribed hieroglyphic text, simple and bold, recording history for it's readers,
to prayers painstakingly engraved around thick strong tomb walls, designed to shelter the greatest of greats from the torments of the afterlife,
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| Ramesses II - Ramesses the Great |
to the bust of the king of all kings, Pharaoh of all Pharaohs, greatest and most highly regarded leaders of his era, Ramesses the Great, who's gigantic bust towered over all others, and who's presence inspired outpourings of honour and high regards, even to this day. So high is his influence and reputation, this ancient ruler from years gone by receives royal dignitaries greeting him when his mummy travels to foreign lands, and poets who sing his name in their works!
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
[Percy Bysshe Shelley]
The legend that is Ramesses the Great, or Ramesses II as he was formerly known, was my most sought after item in the entire exhibit, to see an image of the great man.. after seeing this bust I felt there was only one more thing to do...
It's Mummy Time!
Royalty..
Cats!
And even the poor, poor simpleton!
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1 comments:
Brilliant blog post.. the pictures are so nice. Thanks for posting. Received some good info.
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