Throughout centuries, the ancient Egyptians created a wide range of artworks and architectural wonders, that amaze contemporary audiences and specialists by their skill and messages. One important part of Egyptian art were the images that decorated the temples, dedicated to the many powerful gods of those times, fascinating by their unique style, details, craftsmanship and materials used. And a major part of this important chapter were the statues of the gods, several of them miraculously surviving the test of time, nearly untouched. Made out of copper, bronze, gold and silver, these statuary creations were full of grace and beauty, the best tribute that an artist could dedicate to the feared and revered gods.
This type of statues, that decorated temples, played a key part in everyday religious ceremonies and beliefs, being worshipped by believers inside the structures, as well an at festival processions that carried them around settlements. The exhibition "Gifts for the Gods : Images from Egyptian Temples", hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, starting on October 16 is bound to be a major cultural event, as it is the first American show to focus on the art of Egyptian metal statuary. Besides presenting some of the best works in existence, loans from prestigious museum. In whole, visitors will have the chance to see around 70 beautiful statues and statuettes, made out of precious metals and copper alloys, more that 2000 years old.
2007-08-23
