Travels with Jenny and Lani
What I learned at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
the reflecting pool is no longer a restaurant (waaah)
the cafeteria in the basement is way cool
they’ve moved the statue of the god Priapus (always a favorite)
and ba-ba-ba-ba-bas-reliefs (to the tune of you know what) are amazing.
This is Lani and me (I’m the zaftig blonde) in front of one of the bas reliefs, not too dissimilar to the one our girls discover in the secret room where Kami lurks. The stuff is breath-taking — I just sat and stared in awe — these were originally polychrome (as in, painted many colors) but of course everything was long worn away.
Lani and I were both taken with these guys (literally as well as figuratively). It was Jenny who had the camera, and since it was in her brand new iPhone there was no way she was letting us get our grubby hands on it to take one of her, and the last thing we were going to do was ask someone else to do it. The iPhone would be long gone. But I’ll take pictures of her as we tramp through Australia and NZ.
Anyway, there were two of these guys guarding a portal — winged horses with the head of a king, and both of them looked completely sly. One was more of a wise-ass, so we went with the sneakier of the two.
And then there was my favorite, the hottie with the wings and the bird’s head. For some reason everyone with wings carried purses, but we’re open-minded about such things. Maybe they needed to explore their feminine side.
Jenny’s the research wonk, so she’ll post more of the goodies, but in the meantime we also checked out the Japanese section (you think I’d leave without it?) and we found a room full of boddhisatvas, including an exquisite Kuan Yin. There were two ceramic green statues of men call “lohan” — the term for a monk who’d attained enlightenment. I guess poor Lindsay has fallen pretty far from the family tree.
And of course we shopping. Most deliciously, and now we all have matching Sumerian earrings (along with magic socks knitted by Lani). Life is good.
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Lani & Krissie–
Thanks so much for the photos–and Jenny, too, of course. Can’t forget the photog. Such wonderful things. How does it feel to you to stand so close to things so very, very old? Do they let you touch it? The Getty has these guards . . . nice guys as long as you keep your hands off the art.
You have been so inspiring! I’m glad you’re having a wonderful time. Wish I were there.
Thanks for sharing your adventures and inspiration! Can there be pictures in the book? Just line drawings would be fine - though it’s a bit disconcerting to imagine the bas reliefs all brightly colored. I wonder if they would lose a bit of dignity that way…
Krissie, can’t wait to see you and Jenny at the conference over here in Australia! 12 days to go!
What a fantastic post! The photographs make everything come to life. And yes, ‘the hottie with the purse’ is a far better description that the wise god Apkallu and his cleansing bucket. [The British Museum in London also has fab exhibits.]
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/gods/explore/exp_set.html
More please. And shopping, and food. Is there a post-New York diet? And how many extra suitcases did you take to carry your loot back home? LOL Ray-Anne
http://mischiefandfilth.blogspot.com/
Have a ball Down Under, you guys. I wouldn’t mind one of those bas reliefs in my huge bathroom with the sunken tub and the solid gold faucets…as soon as I have one of those. It would take something really magnificent to justify that scale.
I think all Mesopotamian winged hotties need a man-bag. They were obviously before their time
The Queer Eye guys take note.
I think all Mesopotamian winged hotties need a man-bag. They were obviously before their time
The Queer Eye guys take note.
I like his dress too. Must contact his fashion designer.
Have a great trip and lots of fun Down Under. Look forward to your return and more antics here.
Yes, there are some of the guardians in the British Museum, although I tbink there they are described as winged lions, not horses.