
STRIKE THE POWER
Conspiracy theory suggesting that noses were broken off because of negroid features debunked
Curator Edward Bleiberg of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian art galleries research into the issue of why many pharaonic statues and flat reliefs had broken and defaced features became the subject of an art exhibition. “Striking Power: Iconoclasm in Ancient Egypt.”
The exhibition held last year, showcased statues and reliefs dating from 2400BC to 100AD with damaged features to those with complete features.
Egyptian art was infused with political and religious vocations according to egyptologists. The numerous foreign invasions and power struggles through almost 3000 years of ancient Egyptian history ultimately left their mark on the visual arts.
Bleiberg said that due to the simple fact that the art objects had power led to iconoclasm. A statue of a deceased pharaoh was alive in the afterlife. Therefore cutting of his nose or arm degrades his power. He cannot smell the roses of the afterlife. A broken arm means he cannot offer sacrifices to the gods, if ears were struck off, he was unable to hear the gods and cries of his subjects.
So by defacing statues, rulers were able to rewrite history and the iconoclasts were not simply vandals but highly skilful individuals that could read and write that is why specific art objects were targeted.
“Visual imagery is a reflection of who has the power to tell the story of what happened and what should be remembered.” He added.
Source: AP
About Post Author
felastory
Share this:
- Click to print (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
More Stories
Dear Annalena
German Chancellery takes notes of foreign minister's diplomatic gaffes concerning Russia and Africa media reports growing rifts in Berlin German...
Tinubu’s Mysterious Logo
The logo of the Nigeria's ruling party's presidential candidate Bola Tinubu has set tongues wagging with Akowe delving into the...
Social Media Warriors
British Army's secret unit the 77th Brigade fought dissenters on social media questioning UK's pandemic policies The UK Ministry of...
Pfizer Programming
Pharmaceutical giant admits it engineered treatment resistant Covid-19 strains after executive says the company was creating more potent variants US...
Mutating for Profit
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer executive admits in interview with Project Veritas that the company was mutating coronavirus so as to be...
Perilous Time
Ukrainian conflict speeds up Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight as fears grow over a nuclear confrontation between Russia...
Average Rating