There is so much to see at the Museum that I only ended up only having a brief look at some sections and focusing on others. The Ancient Egypt section, for example, I was not interested in as much. I found the Ancient Greek and Roman section and the Enlightenment period sections the most interesting. The Ancient Greek artefacts reminded me of doing Classics in year 11 VCE. There was an abundance of patterned water jars and bowls with depictions of stories, particularly Greek myths such as the Trojan War and Homer's The Odyssey which I remember studying at school.
I took photos of objects that interested me the most:
This is a paper sculpture of a bull by the Iraqi-American artist Michael Rakowitz. He uses disposable materials to replicate objects which were stolen/damaged in the Iraq Museum invasion (theft and bombing) in 2003. I like its symbolism of the fragility of cultural heritage, and I like the way it has been crafted (abit like origami).
Jizai - Japanese iron sculptures of crabs
made in the 1800s
These are mosaic pavements on the walls as you go down the stairway.
This is enamel paint on a copper plate c. 1580 depicting a scene from the story of Joseph, where his brothers find money in their sacks.
'Glazed brick panel showing a roaring lion from the Throne Room of Nebuchadnezzar II'.
The story of Odysseus' journey and his adventures are a popular subject in Greek and Roman art. These jugs and wine bowls depict various scenes from The Odyssey myth including the men's escape from the cyclops Polyphemus.
Discobulus - Roman, 2nd century AD. I remember studying the original of this sculpture, by Myron 450-440 BC, during Classics at school because of its unique expressive pose.
