Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
around 1000
B.C
.). The circles on the hat represent the sun, moon, and other celestial bod-
ies—leading archaeologists to believe that this headwear could double as a calendar, show-
ing how the sun and moon sync up every 19 years.
Down on floor 2, you'll find
early history
exhibits on migrations, barbarians, and an-
cient Rome (including larger-than-life statues ofHelios and an unidentified goddess) as well
as a fascinating look at the Dark Ages after the fall of Rome.
Still on floor 2, cross to the other side of the building for the
Egyptian
section. On
the way, you'll pass through the impressive Papyrus Collection—a large room of seemingly
emptyglasscases.Pressabuttontowatcha3,000-year-oldpieceofprimitive“paper”(made
of aquatic reeds) imprinted with primitive text trundle out of its protective home.
Then, finally, in a room all her own, is the 3,000-year-old bust of
Queen Nefertiti
(the
wife of King Akhenaton, c. 1340
B.C.
)—the most famous piece of Egyptian art in Europe.
Called “Berlin's most beautiful woman,” Nefertiti has all the right beauty marks: long neck,
symmetrical face, and the perfect amount of makeup. And yet, she's not completely ideal-
ized.Noticethefinewrinklesthatshowshe'shuman(thoughtheseonlyenhanceherbeauty).
Likeamoviestardiscreetlysippingaglassofwineatasidewalkcafé,Nefertitiseemssome-
how more dignified in person. The bust never left its studio, but served as a master model
forall other portraits ofthe queen. (That'sprobably whythe left eye was never inlaid.) Stare
at her long enough, and you may get the sensation that she's winking at you. Hey, beautiful!
How the queen arrived in Germany is a tale out of
Indiana Jones
. The German archae-
ologist Ludwig Borchardt uncovered her in the Egyptian desert in 1912. The Egyptian De-
partment of Antiquities had first pick of all the artifacts uncovered on their territory. After
the first takings, they divided the rest 50/50 with the excavators. When Borchardt presented
Nefertiti to the Egyptians, they passed her over, never bothering to examine her closely. Un-
substantiated rumors persist that Borchardt misled the Egyptians in order to keep the bust
for himself—rumors that have prompted some Egyptians to call for the return of Nefertiti
(just as the Greeks are lobbying the British to return the Parthenon frieze currently housed
in the British Museum). Although this bust is not particularly representative of Egyptian art
in general—and despite increasing claims that her long neck suggests she's a Neoclassical
fake—Nefertiti has become a symbol of Egyptian art by popular acclaim.
The Egyptian Collection continues with other sculptures, including kneeling figures
holding steles (stone tablets inscribed with prayers). On floor 1, a fascinating exhibit ex-
amines how depictions of the human image evolved during the 3,000-year span of ancient
Egyptian culture. You'll also see entire walls from tombs and (in the basement—floor 0) a
sea of large sarcophagi.
