March 9,2018 - Morning, Vatican Museums
We have to start this post with a celebration and gratitude, that we were able to get Hannah's contacts from the Post Office, yesterday! Yay - Hannah can see again! Just in time to go see Vatican City. Heather's birthday was the 8th, but we celebrated on the 9th, because Mark was at MEDU all day, working. A birthday seeing Vatican City, turned out to be pretty awesome.
The Vatican! Wow! They have whats-its and whose-its galore! The museum complex is extensive, and full of some of the most historically significant pieces of art in the world. But it is such a busy place, and difficult to navigate and know where you are, with people pushing through in great numbers, that it is hard to try to see every bit of it.
We have become great friends with the free, Rick Steves walking tour downloads! They have served us very well, this whole trip. We put them on our phones, and listen with our ear buds. He gives a lot of interesting history, brings locals into his discussions, and helps us find and navigate through some of the more significant sights, while not getting completely burned out by trying to see every little thing. His speed has been just about right for us, and he has kept Hannah thoroughly engaged and invested in the experience, and that is worth a lot!
Rome loved collecting items from Ancient Egypt, to make it crystal clear that they had conquered that opulent society. This is a giant pine cone - the symbol of fertility to the Egyptians, due to its wealth of seeds. I didn't know Egypt had pine trees?!
The Belvedere Torso, from the 1st Century, BC. Loved and studied by many of the great Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo, who called himself "The Pupil of The Torso". The ancient sculptor was Apollonias, unknown except for this masterpiece. The early Catholic Church reserved a luxurious life for the Popes and leaders and this museum was their collection, only to be shown to a select few. Attitudes changed in the early 1800's and the amazing collections were opened to the public. It is really cool that more can now enjoy them!
Anyone for a dip in Nero's hot tub? Made of one solid piece of purple igneous rock that was called Porphyry. This Imperial Grade Porphyry, with the deep purple color, sculpted for royalty, is rare (but found in certain pieces throughout Rome) and all of it was taken from one deposit in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, the only place that it has ever been found of this particular quality. The quarry is still there, but mostly depleted over the centuries.
One of Hannah's favorite areas was the Egyptian displays, with a real mummy, a bit disturbing.
The Vatican! Wow! They have whats-its and whose-its galore! The museum complex is extensive, and full of some of the most historically significant pieces of art in the world. But it is such a busy place, and difficult to navigate and know where you are, with people pushing through in great numbers, that it is hard to try to see every bit of it.
We have become great friends with the free, Rick Steves walking tour downloads! They have served us very well, this whole trip. We put them on our phones, and listen with our ear buds. He gives a lot of interesting history, brings locals into his discussions, and helps us find and navigate through some of the more significant sights, while not getting completely burned out by trying to see every little thing. His speed has been just about right for us, and he has kept Hannah thoroughly engaged and invested in the experience, and that is worth a lot!
Rome loved collecting items from Ancient Egypt, to make it crystal clear that they had conquered that opulent society. This is a giant pine cone - the symbol of fertility to the Egyptians, due to its wealth of seeds. I didn't know Egypt had pine trees?!
A Hall of Heads.
The Belvedere Torso, from the 1st Century, BC. Loved and studied by many of the great Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo, who called himself "The Pupil of The Torso". The ancient sculptor was Apollonias, unknown except for this masterpiece. The early Catholic Church reserved a luxurious life for the Popes and leaders and this museum was their collection, only to be shown to a select few. Attitudes changed in the early 1800's and the amazing collections were opened to the public. It is really cool that more can now enjoy them!
Anyone for a dip in Nero's hot tub? Made of one solid piece of purple igneous rock that was called Porphyry. This Imperial Grade Porphyry, with the deep purple color, sculpted for royalty, is rare (but found in certain pieces throughout Rome) and all of it was taken from one deposit in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, the only place that it has ever been found of this particular quality. The quarry is still there, but mostly depleted over the centuries.
The beautiful mosaics are 2,000 years old, and unbelievable!
When I think how our flooring gets looking old in just a few years, and then see thousands of people walking on 2,000 year old flooring, it kind of boggles my mind.
A porphyry tomb, and more mosaic.
One of Hannah's favorite areas was the Egyptian displays, with a real mummy, a bit disturbing.
The octagonal room of statues and sarcophagi, that was the original Pope's Personal Museum.
The Apollo Belvedere, one of Hannah's favorites. The Greek god Apollo out hunting, but his bow and arrow are both now missing. Thought to be the epitome of beauty and balance, this 2,000 year old statue was unearthed in the Renaissance, and is a Roman copy of an even older Greek original from its Golden Age. Used as a model by many Renaissance artists.
This was Heather's favorite, The River God, used as a model for God The Father, by Michelangelo when working on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
This was Mark's favorite, Laocoon. One of the most famous statues in the ancient world. It was lost for a 1000 years, then unearthed near the Colosseum in Rome, in 1506. What a find! The Pope commissioned Michelangelo to help clean it up and put it back together. The upper elbow was not found until the early 1900's!
I want this in my backyard garden!
We took particular interest in the statue of Artemis, since one of our favorite chickens, at home, is named for this Greek Goddess, due her nurturing nature and her bug hunting skills. But the statue turned out to be a bit of a disappointment to Hannah, who says she has seen enough naked bodies to last a lifetime. Here, Artemis is covered in odd shapes, thus, Hannah's expression. It is debated as to whether they are breasts, signifying nurturing, or bull's testicles, signifying fertility. Either way, Hannah has seen other depictions of Artemis that she much prefers.
The Goddess Dianna was more to her liking.
This was a huge long hall, entirely covered in painted maps of Italy. This was where the Popes and dignitaries would come to examine the details of the empire. It was neat to see what the area looked like many hundreds of years ago.
An endless hall of huge, amazing tapestries.
An excellent window view of Rome,
Where the Pope's people park.
We finally were coming toward the end, and went through the Raphael Rooms, leading to the Sistine Chapel!
Wow!!! What more can we say than that?!!
The second half of the day, at St. Peter's Basilica, is on the next post, with a cool surprise!
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