Having some time before I was due to meet xxoos, I decided to look for the Doku-Zentrums zur Geschichte der Mauer (Documentation centre for the History of the Wall). Going up to what seemed to be the right place, I saw only a chapel:
Chapel with a funky design
The address seemed correct, there was no other likely location in the locale and there was a sign on the fence with the name of the Doku-Zentrum. Yet it was nothing like the description in the guidebook and I later saw a picture of the place which looked different so I guess I went to the wrong place.
There was a bible in the chapel opened to Psalms 26, but there was an attendent so I didn't flip to a more suitable page. Besides which, I couldn't think of one offhand (maybe Judges where JHWH sells his own people into slavery).
Those who deride inexact analogies for being ridiculous should similarly reject all metaphors, similes and parables. Case studies and examples should also be suspect, following the same principle.
I had a quick lunch at a roadside kebab stall - they sold mini chicken kebaps for €1,50, doner sized ones for €2 and big ones for €2,50; Turkish pizza was €1,50 and €1 without salat (what would they put inside otherwise?!)
I had a bit of time before the rendezvous, so I went to the Pergammon Museum.
Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) with 19th century art. I didn't enter.
The first sight I saw on entering the museum proper was the magnificent West Side Frieze surrounding a large marble staircase. It made for a magnificent first impression.
West Side Frieze
Herakles, Zeus and Athena from the Pergamon frieze
Herakles struck by Auge's beauty; Building a boat to cast Auge adrift in
Telephos threatening to kill Orestes. The legend of Telephos is a long story of intrigue, prophecies, near-incest and more.
Parrot frieze, originally somewhere near the altar
The green parrot is the most intricate mosaic I've ever seen.
Unfortunately the Market Gate of Miletus was undergoing total restoration and was totally enclosed by a plastic building. Pity.
Porch from tomb in Falenil; Columned hall from Pergamon
Ishtar Gate!
Overview of Ishtar Gate
Bear in mind that this isn't even the whole thing, just the smaller gate - there isn't space to fit the whole thing there, despite the museum's size.
Sides of the passageway reconstructing the street of the Ishtar gate, albeit reduced in size by 2/3.
The same.
Model of the gate
Relief showing a Royal Bodyguard, Susa, Palace of Darius I
There was a copy of the Code of Hammurabi. I wonder if anyone bothered giving Saddam one.
A model of the Tower of Babel. Heaven was very near in those days. As the PC line would have it, all myths contain a grain of truth.
Karandish facade
Seal stones and sample sheets
Reliefplatten (Orthoslaten) mit darstellung ciner lowenjagad, 750BC
2 Sphinxes, 8th century BC. Sam'al.
Nimrud alabaster lion hunt relief, 883-59BC
Palace relief, Nimrud, Alabaster, 893-59BC
The audioguide commented, about the Assyrian section, that the bible presents a one-sided view of the Assyrians. They're lucky they're not in the US.
Assyrian relief in reconstructed Assyrian palace chamber (the place was painted and had simulated torches - too bad about the window)
I then walked through the Islamic Art collection.
Ivory Box, Sicily. 11th-12th centuries.
Prayer niche (Mihrab) from Kashan, 1226
Seljuk ceramics, 13th century
Once again, I was looking for portrayals of the Prophet, but I couldn't find any. I suspect museums hid any examples they had after Jyllands-Posten. The audioguide did note that the prohibition on portraying living things comes not from the Koran, but from the Hadith and even then is not absolute.
One panel claimed the Mongols were stopped by the Mamluks in 1260. Right.
These works come from 7th century Iran. Wth.
Remains of the Palace of Aschatta, 1st half of the 8th century
15th century Islamic armour
Aleppo room, 1600-3. This was owned by a Christian merchant, but the room is decorated in an Islamic style. There's even Arabic lettering.
I just ran through the Classical section quickly.
Propylon from the Athena Sanctuary. 2nd century BC.
Lion from Attica, 320BC
Artemis, Roman Copy of 340BC original
Antonia Minor as Ceres. 18th century adaptation of 5th century original
Hermaphrodite, 2nd Century. I didn't know till I read.
Alexander the Great coins
Gladiators in battle, Gladiators in armour
Reden sarcophagus, 140-50 AD
Wth boat outside the museum.