Saqqara

[JohnStevenson]

I was in Saqqara a couple of weeks ago and it was suggested to me that the stone columns resembling rows of rounded beams were a throwback to the days when columns were made of wooden poles lashed together (see the photo at THE STEP PYRAMID -- it is the middle photo).

Opinions?

[turanclancath]

Good Morning Dr.Stevens.
The theory is already very old.


As a student ,we used the books of Walter Emery  and henri Frankfort.
Walter Emery writes already the stone colums were developped out of
papyrus bundles therefore they kept later the cannelures.
I have to go to my bookshelf Egypt to fetch the book and look for title and page.



in this tour egypt site you find also that the origins are reed/plant bundles

Egypt: The Columns of Ancient Egypt
turanclancath:)

[turanclancath]

In Cyril Aldred.The Egyptians( .London 1961)New York 1963 paperback edition

:

pp.83   "Since prehistoric times building had advanced..........though many decorative adjuncts were still determined  by an older form of construction using lashed bundles of papyrus stalks ,......"

And R.R.Sellman .Ancient Egypt.London 1960.

:
pp23   "....and in the stone colums....... we can trace the reed bundles .....wich continued in simple houses.

The flat roof of the mud house ..... and supported  by reed pillars ,is reproduced ......carried by colums shaped to resemble papyrus or lotus. "

I hope with both  postings you can start.

have a good weekend
turanclancath:)

[eliyahu hanavi]

I was in Saqqara a couple of weeks ago and it was suggested to me that the stone columns resembling rows of rounded beams were a throwback to the days when columns were made of wooden poles lashed together (see the photo at THE STEP PYRAMID -- it is the middle photo).

Opinions?

Turan covered it well. The idea seems reasonable and logical. Throughout the ages, construction material obviously advances, but often the builders keep certain "looks". I rather like the design myself and it certainly adds character! I enjoy this aspect of cultural study especially as it relates to the development based upon what said culture/society had to work with from the beginning as they continued to advance.

Else, how did the rest of your trip go? I can only imagine and wait for the day when I can "break these financial chains" at the homestead and do some more travelling myself! Any other interesting items up for discussion? Also, did you get that near overwhelming sense of awe that I sometimes get just from seeing some of the ancient sites? I love it! Cheers!

[JohnStevenson]

The idea seems reasonable and logical. Throughout the ages, construction material obviously advances, but often the builders keep certain "looks". I rather like the design myself and it certainly adds character!

It makes sense, though I noticed the same design used a thousand years later in the Karnak Temple Complex (see attached photo).  It is evidently a look that caught the mainstream.

Had an excellent trip, though it is sad that photography is no longer permitted inside the Cairo Museum.  I've placed photos at Egypt 2008 Photos .

[RamboPreacher]

it was kind of a bummer last year when I was at the museum in Cairo and i couldn't take my camera. 

[JohnStevenson]

At the archaeological museum in Rome, they allowed cameras (no flash) but no camera stands.  Go figure.

[notalent]

At the archaeological museum in Rome, they allowed cameras (no flash) but no camera stands.  Go figure.

Yes, that seems a perverse restriction, for if one cannot use a flash indoors, one must have a stand to keep the camera immobile for longer exposures.

[turanclancath]

British Museum - Access and facilities

Even the British Museum allows Photography also with flash

nice weekend.

turanclancath

I will look for the Louvre, the Vatican  and the National Museum in Athens.

And our van Gogh museum of course.

Van Gogh Museum - Openingstijden en toegangsprijzen

in van Gogh nothing  allowed !!!( see under house rules )

the Louvre is hybrid in some sections nothing in some sections without flash


How To Visit the Louvre Museum | eHow.com


see tips/warnings nr 4

And how is the situation in the USA the Metropolitian for instance ?

[JohnStevenson]

Even the British Museum allows Photography also with flash

I will look for the Louvre, the Vatican  and the National Museum in Athens

Thanks for that!!!  My wife and are are looking into a future trip to the British Isles.  Last time I was in Athens, the museum was closed for the upcoming Olympics, but they DID allow photography in the Parthenon museum.

I am also interested in hearing about the policies of corresponding American museums, especially those in the NE and in Chicago.

[turanclancath]

Photographing museums and galleries

Our National Pride the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam( Rembrands Nightwatch etc )  free  Photography !!!

Helas the Rijksmuseum is in full reconstruction.

Dr  John, if you  visit  the Netherlands especially

Amsterdam it  will be  a pleasure for me to be your guide .!

turanclancath

[RamboPreacher]

At the archaeological museum in Rome, they allowed cameras (no flash) but no camera stands.  Go figure.

Yes, that seems a perverse restriction, for if one cannot use a flash indoors, one must have a stand to keep the camera immobile for longer exposures.

Off topic - actually with new digital cameras, and burst shots; I get rather good pictures with no flash in normal room lighting.  In fact, most of the pictures I take for our church website (lots of pictures everytime we have any kind of special event), I almost never use a flash anymore.

yes, that means that I need to go through all my pictures and delete the "bad" ones, but it is worth it.  when I went to Egypt, Jordan and Israel, I took, if I recall correctly, wwll over 7000 pictures.  once I was done with the removal of the dupes and bad shots, I had about 2000.  for me, about 1:4 for keepers is a great ratio, and within those, about 1:100 are really good pictures - but hay, I am not a prophessional photog, either. 

fyi... the first link in my sig has my Egypt/Jordan/Israel pictures
[/OT]

[JohnStevenson]

Our National Pride the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam( Rembrands Nightwatch etc )  free  Photography !!!

I've flown into the Amsterdam airport on several occasions (it is one of the better airports in Europe) but never had time to visit the Rijksmuseum, though my wife has mentioned on numerous occasions her desire to see it.  It looks like we will be in the USA for the rest of this year, but we shall see what takes place in the future.

Much thanks for your gracious offer!

[eliyahu hanavi]

To be fair, I do understand the reasoning for some of the restrictions. However, I don't see where digital cameras would be an issue so if even those are restricted, it would most likely be due to maybe concerns over merchandising?

One has to bear in mind that thousands of flash pictures taken over decades can indeed damage older artwork, but there is also the issue that many people are there just to enjoy viewing the exhibits (art or otherwise) and flash photography by many people around you can get annoying. I would recommend digital all the way (whenever possible and allowed). Plus, the pictures are easier to share...

[Elijah]

30 years ago i enjoyed the Oriental Institute when my mother desired to go see it in Chicago just an hour drive south of us. It was small, quickly thru it and done unless you had the expertise to read cuneiform. But it put things in perspective when it comes to collections or artifacts and the colleges that do so.