Babylon Myth and Reality at British Museum
New Exhibition Looks at the Truth and Legends of an Ancient City
Nov 14, 2008
For two thousand years, poets, philosophers, writers and artists have drawn inspiration from tales of Belshazzar's Feast, the Hanging Gardens, the Tower of Babel and the Fall of Babylon.
The British Museum's latest groundbreaking exhibition, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, is simply stunning. Three institutions, the British Museum, Musée du Louvre, Paris and Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin have pooled their resources to create this magnificent exhibition.
Babylon
Babylon: Myth and Reality seeks to reconcile the ancient Mesopotamian city's history with its legend. The exhibition asks: Where does reality end and myth begin? The display features historical evidence showing the fabled city at the peak of its existence when ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562 BC) and its subsequent fall. Archaeological treasures reveal the reality behind the myths. For hundreds of years, Babylon has been re-imagined by artists the world over. The installation displays Old Masters and contemporary art side by side with Babylonian artifacts. The show concludes by looking at threats to the archaeology of the site since 2003.
Highlights of the Show
The key exhibits are enamelled wall panels showing lions and a dragon in relief on a glazed blue background. They were part of the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way and date from the 6th Century BC.
Another important artifact is a map of the Mesopotamian world. Engraved on a tiny clay tablet, it shows Babylon in the centre (the rectangle in the top half of the circle). Other places are also named, including Elam and Assyria. The top section shows an incomplete cuneiform inscription describing various regions, plus great heroes and mythical beasts.
A key work is William Blake's Nebuchadnezzar (circa 1795/1805). The colour print illustrates text from the Book of Daniel telling how Nebuchadnezzar became insane and 'did eat grass as oxen.'
Michael Lassel's Tower of Babel (Der Turm Babel, 2001) is created from asylum seekers' shoes topped by photographs. It demonstrates how the city's enduring reputation has ensured that artists are still inspired by tales of Babylon two thousand years later.
The show tells how Babylon has been the subject of many films and even a pop song. The rock band Queen used Babylon as the theme of one of its recordings:
The Miracle (1989)
"The wonders of this world go on,
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon,
Captain Cook and Cain and Abel,
Jimi Hendrix to the Tower of Babel."
What the Babylonians Did for Us
The exhibition also highlights a Babylonian legacy that will outlive time itself. The 60-part division of the minute and the hour are something we take for granted, but we owe our watches and clocks to these ancient scientists. (The British Museum holds one of the world's finest collections of time pieces.) Babylonian astronomers also developed the 12 signs of the zodiac.
Threats to Babylon from Modern Warfare
Babylon: Myth and Reality concludes with a photographic essay illustrating damage to archaeological remains caused by contemporary events and war. The display tells how British Museum experts are working with UNESCO and the Iraqis to assess the damage and conserve the archaeological evidence that remains.
Two Publications
The official 224-page exhibition catalogue, Babylon, Myth and Reality, edited by curators I. L. Finkel and M. J.Seymour, is a full-colour publication. ISBN: 9780714111704, price £25.
Babylon: City of Wonders, also edited by I. L. Finkel and M. J. Seymour, is a 240-page full-colour publication. ISBN: 9780714111711, price £9.99.
Events - Talks, Films and Performances
Babylon Myth and Reality will show until 15 March 2009 and is accompanied by a full programme of events, including gallery talks, family events, films and live performances. Full details of events, plus tickets for the exhibition can be obtained from the British Museum.
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