Museums

Just back from a holiday in Berlin - UberKool!

The high point of the break was the Pergamon Museum. Firstly we wanted to see Ishtar Gate. Through this gate the Babylonians would view the ninety metre high zigurrat Etmananki - or Tower of Babel. One of eight such gates gave access through a high wall built around the zigurrat. The complex was built by Nebuchadrezzar II around 2500 years ago.

The Gate was on a grand scale; it was difficult to imagine the enormity of the entire site. If ever I have wished for for a time machine to see a part of the ancient world it was on gazing at the gate - to have stood and looked through at the tower and to view the complex as it had been at its peak.

Beatiful enamelled tiles cover the walls many still in good condition. the restoration work, in my opinion allows a good appreciation of what the good citizens of Babylon saw all these years ago.

The museum is named after an ancient Greek city in what is now Turkey. The entire Acropolis of Pergamon was carted back to Berlin and reassembled. It is a shrine to Zeus and is essentially a religious object.

There are other interesting exhibits in the museum, the Greek and Roman marble statues are marvellous but the building was obviously built to house the two massive artefacts and they take centre stage.

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Among other sights, a visit to the Jewish Museum was also well worth the trek; we missed the turn off but found it eventually. The interesting architecture was the first thing that struck me; modern metallic but avoiding the 'tattiness that metal buildings acquire after some time,

I was in a rather dozy mood and somehow missed the start of the exhibition but when I did, found a very well planned and structured display, almost a tour laid on.

Well laid out, airy and somehow not made oppressive to me with the memory of the Holocaust. That was my verdict, some of the exhibits were moving, but the positivity that was present overrode the negative aspects. and I did learn many new things about the origins and achievements of the European Jews. Those expecting a Holocaust museum would not find one, rather a celebration of a people.

The lost Yiddish culture of Europe is a current interest and I would have liked more in that vein but perhaps the subject calls for a separate museum..

It was easy to feel empathy for the displaced and persecuted Jews who were forced to suffer near extinction and desperately restricted freedoms, and many other barely describable horrors - Axel 28th February 2007