Roman Cavalry Helmet To Be Star Attraction At Royal Academy Exhibition

by Sean McLachlan on


A new exhibition at the Royal Academy in London will feature one of Britain’s most stunning archaeological discoveries of the past few years.

Back in 2010, a metal detectorist found this brass helmet in a field in Cumbria, northern England. It dates from the first to third centuries A.D. and is one of a few rare ornate cavalry helmets dating to the Roman period. These helmets were worn for tournaments and parades rather than battle.

Now it will be part of “Bronze,” an exhibition of works made of bronze or brass from the prehistoric period to the present day. More than 150 works from Africa, Asia, and Europe are organized into themes such as the human figure, animals, groups, objects, reliefs, heads and busts, and gods. Examples come from such widely different cultures as ancient Greece, Etruria, Benin, Renaissance Italy, and modern Europe.

To learn more about these helmets, check out this page on Roman parade helmets and this page on more standard-issue Roman cavalry helmets.

Bronze runs from September 15 to December 9.

[Photo courtesy Daniel Pett]

National Museum Of Afghanistan Struggles To Rebuild

by Sean McLachlan on


Afghanistan has a rich heritage. As a crossroads of trade it spawned numerous civilizations that were influenced by cultures as far away as Macedonia. There was even a thriving Buddhist culture in Afghanistan that created art inspired by Classical Greek models.

It’s also been rocked by decades of war that saw the destruction of many of its ancient sites and museums. The National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul was especially hard hit. During the 1990s it was shelled and caught fire. When the Taliban took over, they destroyed about 2,500 of the museum’s statues for being un-Islamic. Gold and silver artifacts were stolen and melted down or sold on the international antiquities market.

Now the museum is slowly rebuilding, Art Daily reports. An international network of police forces and museums has been tracking down the museum’s stolen artifacts, as well as those illegally excavated in lawless parts of the country, and returning them to Kabul.

The museum staff surprised the world in 2003 by producing a wealth of artifacts they had hidden during the years of Taliban rule. These included thousands of pieces of gold jewelry and coins from the Bactrian era, more than 2,000 years ago. Those pieces are now on tour around the world as part of the exhibition “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul.” The exhibition just closed in Norway and is now headed to Australia.

There are still problems for Kabul’s museum. Power cuts are a regular occurrence, and the Taliban still threaten countryside. They and other Islamic extremists would love to smash a few thousand more statues. Moderate Muslims, like the staff at the museum and the locals who come to visit, see the Buddhist statues and other pre-Islamic artifacts as the heritage of their nation, not threats to their religion. One hopes that moderate Islam wins out in a country flattened by warfare, and that Kabul’s archaeology museum, once the finest in the region, can keep its doors open without fear.

Check out the photo gallery for a sample of Afghanistan’s magnificent ancient heritage.

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Controversial Nude Sculpture Opens In Former Coalmine

by Jessica Festa on



After two years of construction and a cost of $4,801,200, “The Lady of the North,” an enormous sculpture of a naked woman, has opened to the public at the former Northumberland coalmine in England.

The 1,200-foot piece of art, with breasts rising almost 100 feet, is carved into the landscape, with the goal being to compete with the Angel of the North, a contemporary angel sculpture, and earn over £1million (about $1,600,400) each year. Visitors can now stroll along a four-mile system of paths along the woman’s curves to various viewing platforms on her face, breasts, hip, knee and ankle.

Originally intended as a gift to the public to atone for the mine’s disruption, The Banks Group, the mining company that extracted the coal, worked with Viscount Ridley, who owns the estate, and American artist Charles Jencks to create the masterpiece. However, the sculpture is causing controversy from people who think it’s ridiculous and demeaning to women.

“I don’t believe it is demeaning to women, men or the human species as a whole, in fact it celebrates all of that,” Jencks told the Daily Mail. “… I profoundly believe that, given time, people will not find any offense in this, and will grow to love her.”

What’s your opinion?

New Chinese Skyscraper Resembles A Pair Of Pants

by Jessica Festa on




China is well known for innovative architecture, like their rooftop bike club, The Piano House and the China Central Television Headquarters. Their newest endeavor, however, takes novelty to a new level, being touted as one of the world’s strangest skyscrapers. Costing $700 million, the Gate to the East skyscraper in Suzhou is being ridiculed for resembling an enormous pair of pants.

According to news.com.au, the 74-story building was meant to look like an dramatic archway, with hopes of it becoming an “iconic gateway to the East.” In fact, the creators of the building, architectural firm RMJM, said the arch was designed to “represent the significance of China in the world today.”

Thus far, it seems as though most people are seeing the iconic masterpiece as a joke.

On China’s blogging website Weibo, one user commented, “This should be called the Pants of the East, not the Gate of the East.”

The Shanghai Daily also questioned the structure, asking, “Is it an arch or just plain pants?”

The skyscraper is set to be completed by the end of the year.

[Image via RMJM]

Barry McGee At Berkeley Art Museum

by Elizabeth Seward on

I’m so thankful for artists everywhere. Art is one of the fundamental facets of interesting travel for me. Whether I’m admiring architecture, murals or spending time in a gallery, the people in this world who take the time to create beautiful things truly do enhance it. And so with that, I share with you the news that Barry McGee currently has an exhibit running at the Berkeley Art Museum that seems worth checking out if you’re in the area. Laughing Squid wrote about the exhibit and stated that McGee will be displaying artwork created as long ago as the 1980s. From painted bottles to a recreated bodega, this exhibit appeals to all senses. The Berkeley Art Museum is open Wednesday-Sunday in Berkeley, California.