Archaeoloony

לא טוב היות האדם לבדו

“Existence is not good.” “Man is alone.”

All the other ways of splitting them up are similarly awful. And on the one hand, I think this is really kind of beautiful—how this phrase, which is about togetherness, is so beautiful as a whole but cannot be broken into parts without itself becoming splintered and distorted. The language mirrors the very nature of humanity that it describes.

And forgot about it for two months.

And when I realized what I’d done and yanked it out there was a climax community eco system in there. Like a for real old growth forest.

I didn’t know what to do. Whatever grew in t definitely had to be part of its molecular structure by that point. I was super paranoid no matter how well I cleaned it that it’s still poison my family with some sort of new mutated super pathogen.

But I couldn’t let my mom know what happened.

So I buried it in the backyard.

And I was in the clear for two years, until someone in my family was digging back there, and it was unearthed, and my mom found out everything,

And I walked into my basement bedroom and it was in my window like the damn pet cemetery

Nile shipwreck discovery proves Herodotus right – after 2,469 years

Greek historian’s description of ‘baris’ vessel vindicated by archaeologists at sunken city of Thonis-Heraclion

In the fifth century BC, the Greek historian Herodotus visited Egypt and wrote of unusual river boats on the Nile. Twenty-three lines of his Historia, the ancient world’s first great narrative history, are devoted to the intricate description of the construction of a “baris”.

For centuries, scholars have argued over his account because there was no archaeological evidence that such ships ever existed. Now there is. A “fabulously preserved” wreck in the waters around the sunken port city of Thonis-Heracleion has revealed just how accurate the historian was.

Addition

To begin with, 

In the first place, 

Firstly, 

The first reason

Additionally

Furthermore, 

Another reason why

Secondly, Thirdly, 

Next, 

Pursuing this further, 

Also

Lastly, Finally

In the same way,

Comparison

Similarly,

In the same way,

Likewise,

As with,

Equally,

Contrasting

However,

Nevertheless,

On the other hand,

Even so

Alternatively

At the same time

Otherwise

Instead

Conversely 

Result

Hence

Therefore

Accordingly

Consequently

Thus

As a result

In consequence 

For this reason

For this purpose

Time

Meanwhile

Presently

At last

Finally

Immediately

Thereafter

At that time

Eventually

Currently

Subsequently

In the meantime

Importance

Importantly

Especially

Above all

With attention to

Example

For example

For instance

That is

Such as

As revealed by

Illustrated by

Specifically

In particular

For one thing

This can be seen by

An instance of this

Literary

Clarifies

Conveys

Depicts

Demonstrates

Determines

Displays

Emphasizes

Establishes 

Explains

Exemplifies

Highlights

Illustrates

Indicates

Potrays

Represents

Shows

Signifies

Suggests

Beginnings/Causes/Effects

Affects

Generates

Ignites

Impacts

Imposes

Influences

Initiates

Introduces

Involves

Launches

Leads to

Presents

Promotes

Prompts

Results in

Summary

In conclusion,

To sum it all up,

To summarize,

In the final analysis

You can see why …

Finally,

Therefore,

In summary, 

In short,

Ancient Art from An Encyclopaedia of Colour Decoration

Today we present selections from An Encyclopaedia of Colour Decoration, published in New York by E. Weyhe in 1928. It includes an explanatory text by the art historian, Helmuth Theodor Bossert. The decorative plates we are featuring today are depictions of ancient art, primarily wall paintings. The plates are from very different periods, ranging from the 17th to 2nd century BCE. They are also from different regions, including Greece, Italy, and Assyria. The date and location information can be found in the small print on each image.

Bossert notes that the collection of plates does not put a particular stress on examining the historical background of particular periods, but instead focuses on individual pieces for their aesthetic qualities, writing:

“It seems to the author that it is more in accordance with the spirit of our time to study works of art independently of periods. Particularly decorative painting, which is decidedly a popular art, affords at all times such satisfactory evidence of craftsmanship, imagination and adaptability to local and artistic requirements that we feel justified in drawing attention to the works of those many nameless artists, showing how traditions of the craft have been handed down from generation to generation.”

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View more posts about decorative arts and pattern books.

Archaeology: An excess of creepy dolls in deserted places, everywhere, always.

He became very stony-faced, looked off into the distance and said, completely deadpan and in his thick accent:

“It does not matter. They are dead now.”

I’m not sure if this has been done before, and I’m definitely late to the meme (but what’s a few months or years when we’re talking about a 3000-year-old civilisation?). Here’s my take anyway.

Ḫattušili I: you want to fight the founder of the Hittite kingdom? The guy who conquered a good part of Anatolia and Syria? I mean sure, do it, but don’t expect to live to tell the tale. If you’d rather keep your blood inside your body, however, don’t fight Ḫattušili I.

Muršili I: you thought fighting Ḫattušili I was a bad decision? Try fighting his grandson. This kid decided “rebellious teenage phase” meant “destroying Mesopotamia”. He literally walked to Babylon, sacked it, then walked home, all for no other discernible reason than “for the lolz”. Don’t fight Muršili I. Backstab him instead.

Most of the Middle Hittite kings: sure, fight them. It’s not like they have the power to stop you. You’ll probably end up killed by one of their relatives, though. Middle Hittite time is backstabby time.

Telepinu: look into his eyes. Look into his hopeful, idealistic eyes. Do you really want to fight Telepinu? You don’t want to fight Telepinu. Put down your sword and give him a hug instead.

Šuppiluliuma I: you’ve got to be kidding me. No. Don’t fight Šuppiluliuma I. Unfortunately, you probably won’t have a choice, because Šuppiluliuma I will fight you.

Malnigal: honestly, I’m intrigued to see how this one would go. Muršili II clearly considered her a threat, and she may or may not curse you to death, but it would definitely be interesting enough to be worth it. Fight Malnigal, if only to satisfy my historical curiosity.

Muršili II: seriously? He already had to deal with revolts, plague, the deaths of his brothers and wife, a scheming stepmother, and speech problems, and you want to fight him on top of that? He’d definitely take up the challenge (and likely win, too) but why would you do it? Just leave the poor man alone. If anything, send him to therapy.

Gaššulawiya: physically, you could do it, but emotionally? Imagine the toll. Actually, you don’t need to imagine it, because Muršili II told us himself. It’s heartbreaking. Don’t fight Gaššulawiya.

Danuḫepa: do you want to spend the next generation appeasing her angry spirit with offerings? If you do, sure, fight Danuḫepa. If you don’t, I’d suggest not getting on her bad side.

Muwatalli II: this guy is your best bet, in my opinion. I’m not saying he deserves to be fought, but he led one of the most famous battles in ancient history, so if you want your name to be immortalised, he’s the one to swing your sword at.

Ḫattušili III: OMG YES PLEASE FIGHT HIM. I’M BEGGING YOU. PUNCH HIM IN THE THROAT. KNOCK THAT SMUG LOOK OFF HIS FACE. HE DESERVES IT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.

Puduḫepa: bahahahaha rest in pieces.

Tudḫaliya IV: pretty much everyone else fought him, so you wouldn’t be alone. But please, wait until he’s done with his religious reform and building programmes. Let him give us those juicy ritual tablets, as well as the carvings at Yazılıkaya. Then fight him. Honestly, you have a fair chance of winning.

Most travelers who come to Egypt or who simply want to roam the country merely opt to visit the Egyptian museum in Cairo or the Luxor museum in Upper Egypt, not knowing that the country actually holds a plethora of interesting and well-organized other museums that are well worth the visit. As such, these are the top 10 less-known museums that even the most culture-seeking Egyptian probably hasn’t heard about.

1.THE NUBIA MUSEUM (ASWAN)

When one goes to Aswan, there are many things to keep one busy. Most tourists and travelerss opt to enjoy sunset feluccas on the Nile, or visit Philae temple, but the Nubia museum is one of the few modern buildings that is renown even outside of Egypt. The museum, established as part of the UNESCO International Campaign, actually houses various artifacts and finds salvaged during the UNESCO salvage campaign following the construction of the high-dam. It was first opened to the public in 1997, housing over 3,000 objects, and its focal point is Nubian culture across history.

It was designed by architect Mahmoud El Hakim and it was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001; to this day, it is considered one of the best curated homes to several permanent exhibitions and collections.

Some of the most intriguing things to see at the museum are the replicas of ancient burials grounds, the panoramas of modern day Nubian scenes and the salvage campaign exhibition.

2. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ALEXANDRIA

Inaugurated by ex-president Hosni Mubarak in 2003, this beautiful building is home to over 1,500 objects from ancient Egypt all through the Coptic era, Islamic era and modern day Egypt. The building itself was designed in Italianate fashion. It it spacious, well-preserved, well-curated and the items are extremely fascinating to learn more about. Points of interest that are not to miss are the makeshift Egyptian ‘tomb’ in the basement as well as the underwater exhibition artifacts.

3. CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOSSILS MUSEUM (FAYOUM)

The open-air museum of Wadi El Hittan itself is a good reason to visit the Fayoum Oasis. The valley of the whale is one of the few natural UNESCO world heritage sites in Egypt and one of the most significant as it features important items pertaining to Egypt’s geological history. The indoor museum features substantial fossils and other distinctive items that rightfully narrate the history of Egypt’s climate change around a centerpiece of a 37-million year old whale skeleton.

The museum is small and it was established by the Egyptian Ministry in cooperation with the Italian government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) only to be inaugurated in 2016.

4. ISLAMIC ART MUSEUM (CAIRO – BAB EL KHALQ)

History aficionados cannot get enough of Cairo. In the city of a thousand minarets, one can easily follow the tracks of history by jumping into the Egyptian museum, the Coptic museum and then onto to Islamic museum to learn more about the complexity of Egypt’s identity.

Established in 1905 and considered to be a house of some of the most important Islamic artifacts in the world, the museum houses over 100,000 objects although a little over 4, 000 are actually displayed. The museum’s lighting is fantastic and its use of space is strategic with doors and fountains carefully displayed as to give the visitor a modern rendition of where certain objects were located and how they were used. Some of the most intriguing items of the museum are the ceramics as well as the manuscripts.

5. GAMAL ABDEL NASSER MUSEUM  (CAIRO – HELIOPOLIS)

One of the few gems in Heliopolis is a museum dedicated to the late Egyptian ex-president. Although it is initially hard to access, the museum is a two story building which used to actually be Gamal Abdel Nasser’s house.

The reception area houses three doorways, representing three different typologies, or tracks, of exhibits that the museum is made up of. The first is dedicated to the personal living and working area of Nasser and his family. The second displays the historical developments of Egypt under his rule, where one can view a host of exclusive archival material. The third track shows the president’s personal belongings, including medals of honor and gifts received from foreign dignitaries.

6. ROYAL JEWELERY MUSEUM IN ALEXANDRIA

Not all of Alexandria’s residents know about this museum. As Egypt used to be a monarchy, this building with its fine gardens is dedicated to a collection of royal jewellery. Much like the national museum of Alexandria,the building itself has interesting aesthetics and was built in the 19th century; the gardens were a home to woods and plants imported from Europe and Turkey.

Incidentally, before it was turned into a museum, the palace housed Princess Fatema El Zahraa. Visitors can not only gaze at over 10,000 ornaments and jewelery pieces including crowns and medals, but the decoration of the palace, namely the painted glass are beautiful to look at.

7.GAYER ANDERSON MUSEUM (CAIRO - SAYYEDA ZEINAB)

Particularly popular among students of Islamic art and history, the Gayer Anderson museum is located near Ibn Tulun Mosque in Sayyida Zeinab. It is often known to as the Gayer Anderson museum or Beit El Kertleya (House of the Cretan woman). It is composed of two adjoining houses which were erected in 1540 and 1631 during the Ottoman period. Various families lived in the houses, namely John Gayer Anderson, a British major and army doctor who resided in the house from 19935 to 1942 after receiving special permission from the Egyptian government while he was on assignment in Egypt.

Through his travels in the region, Anderson collected artwork, carpets, antiquities and curious furniture which he kept in the houses. Although Anderson left Egypt in 1942, his house remained popular among visitors who were keen on seeing his collections, so the houses eventually became a museum.

Fun fact: the museum was a location in a James Bond movie: The Spy Who Loved Me.

8. UM KULTHUM MUSEUM (CAIRO – MANIAL AL RODA)

Egypt’s iconic and most famous voice is immortalized in this little museum by the Nilometer in Cairo’s Manial/Al Rodda area. Not a lot of visitors go which means that the museum can be enjoyed quietly and without crowds. Construction of the biographical museum, which was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, began in April 1998.

The museum features various memorabilia from Um Kalthum’s life such as her personal clothes (accessories, bags, shoes), musical instruments, medals received from Arab governments, rare recordings and letters which she had written and received between important figures of her time such as politicians, public figures.

The Bibliothica Alexandrina hall is not to be missed as it contains five computers which contain the singer’s most famous songs, her performances, trips abroad and films. However, for those who prefer documentaries, the museum has a 15 minute one on the prominent singer’s performances in the Arab world.

9. CROCODILE MUSEUM (Kom Ombo - ASWAN)

Located near the Kom Ombo temple lies the crocodile museum. It used to be a police station but the sight was considered jarring for the visitors to the temple and a dent in the panoramic view of the site, so the building was converted into a museum for crocodiles.

Over 20 mummified crocodiles of different age and sizes are displayed in the museum.

Crocodiles used to be particularly significant in ancient Egypt as they used to live in the Nile from that period up until modern Egypt only to be cut access to Upper Egypt’s waters with the construction of the High Dam of Aswan.

In ancient Egyptian religion, the Nile and crocodiles were represented through the Nile crocodile god, Sobek. The museum features different artifacts such as stelaes and statues which represent the god as well as various objects such as coffins and sarcophagi which held the mummified crocodiles.

10.  AGRICULTURE MUSEUM (CAIRO – MOHANDESSEIN)

Egypt’s agricultural development was and has always been of great importance to the formation of Egypt as a nation. Accordingly, King Farouk decided to turn the palace of Princess Fatima Ismail, the daughter of Khedive Ismail and the sister of King Fouad I, into an agricultural museum. The palace was chosen in close proximity to the Ministry of Agriculture to reflect the efforts of its various departments with a certain focus on Egypt’s diversity in fauna.