Berlin Museums

When we lived in Berlin one of our favorite things was visiting the incredible museums they have.  I had always been frustrated not being allowed into East Berlin at the time to see the even more famous museums there.  On our first Berlin mission we did get a chance to see museum island, five museums in the city center and this time I just had to go again. 

Most people will recognize this Queen Nefertiti bust made about 1300 years before Christ's birth.  The Germans were very successful archeologists in the late 1800's and early 1900's and amassed an incredible collection from the mid east. They are currently renovating the museums to include an architectural setting more in tune with the ancient time periods from ancient Egypt like this necklace and the bust. 

And then on to Greece and Rome...

and even further back to Mesopotamia ... and many others.

Two of the most impressive acquisitions are the Ishtar Gate and the Pergamon Alter.  Impressive for two reasons: the sheer size of the piece and that they actually moved it and rebuilt it.

This is a postcard from the museum showing the full Gate.  You can't really get this picture without people so below is the view we see and giving you an idea of the monumental size of the thing.  Even more impressive is to realize that it was one of the lesser gates into the city of Babylon.

The Pergamon Alter was from the city of Pergamon in the area now in Turkey and built in about 200 BC uncovered by a German archeologist in the late 1800's.

This postcard picture again does not give a real idea of the mass of the thing.  With people in the picture you can get more of an idea.  Can you find Waldo?

I think what strikes me most about seeing things made by man so long ago is our modern arrogance thinking that WE are the only ones who create amazing things.  Children of God, from Adam on, have been as amazing, creative, wonderful and yes, petty and arrogant as we all are now.  This earth life is pretty much the same no matter what time period or where you live.  The same test is presented to all of us.   Our challenge is to live the best we can and let our light shine.