Babylon and Beyond

This bronze and gold figure from around 1300 B.C., came from a shipwreck.

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is the sole spot for Beyond Babylon exhibition. Some 300 artifacts from royal palaces, temples, tombs, and even shipwrecks were recovered and brought out for us to see. These objects provide insight into the movements of people, artworks and luxury goods across the ancient Near East and Mediterranean during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages (2000-1200 B.C.). At the MET, these adventures begin in Babylon, the melting pot city made powerful by Hammurabi in the second millennium B.C. Because many of these works have either only recently been excavated or have never been shown abroad, “Beyond Babylon” is a remarkable opportunity for the public to experience the rich artistic and cultural traditions of this period.

As one walks into the exhibit, it can immediately be noticed the wall texts and the maps all around the displays. The walls are a blue color, with dense explanations and histories of the people. It even gave the feel of a comic book, with so many unusual objects, drawings and writings on all walls.

There is enough materials in this one exhibit to see and read about. Many objects are delicate and have to be handled with precise care. Many pieces are small and made to be worn-pieces like jewelry, writing tablets, and objects made out of glass. Some of the objects are especially made to be worn and transported (for sale or exchange) across seas, and passed from hand to hand, into distant markets. From Syria, Mesopotamia, and Egypt in the south to Thrace, Anatolia, and the Caucasus in the north, and from regions as far west as mainland Greece all the way east to Iran, the royal houses built international relationships through the exchange of traded raw materials and goods as well as letters and other gifts.

The objects on display did not only include the practical everyday objects, but also a lot of objects with religious meaning. To the people of that time, God and religion was sacred very powerful and influential. In the exhibit I noticed a particular wand that came from Egypt. It was intended to protect children at night with carvings of mythical creatures and deities.

Other objects which caught my attention were the writing tablets. Some of these contained letters that were exchanged, other contained different writings. It really amazed me how much time one probably had to spend even writing a small tablet. The symbols are all so precisely carved in and so minuscule that I had to strain my eyes to see. Not only that, it contained writing all around the tablet. No wonder not all people could write.     Furthermore, I really enjoyed this exhibition and would recommend everyone to see it. It is truly fascinating to learn more about the people that inhibited Earth before us, and how they lived. Every artifact was truly a jewel and a wonder to look at.