Babylon - Myth and Truth
If you’re in Berlin before October 5, or in London between November 13 and March 15, then catch the exhibition Babylon – Mythos und Wahrheit, at the Pergamonmuseum and the British Museum respectively. It is a fantastic display of Babylonian history, followed by its Western reception history, remade as a symbol of power and destruction. The history is a mix of artefact (and some replicas of other museum’s artefacts, and reconstruction, which display you enter through the Ishtar gate. I found myself wondering (this has never seemed obvious in pictures) about the phallic design of the famous Codex Hammurabi stele. I’m sure someone somewhere must have commented on this, but it’s not my area of expertise.
The exploration of the myth is equally fascinating, embracing everything from Revelation via William Blake to Bob Marley.
Unfortunately, while photography is allowed in the permanent collection, it wasn’t allowed in this exhibition. There are however some good photos and illustrations on the Pergamonmuseum website.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:40 am
I listen to Bob Marley. I think he’s a good liberation theologian.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
‘No woman, no cry’ is liberation theology? Babble on!
August 9th, 2008 at 3:25 am
“Redeem yourself from mental slavery…?” That’s from one of his classics.