When I came back to linger at the British Museum‘s exhibit in the National Museum of Singapore, I hopped to the ancient Western Civilization from African artifacts. These jars are Mycenaean.
Obviously Greek
Cyprian or Turk, cannot remember.
Not so ancient but still old. This is a medallion, Queen Elizabeth I of England.
And this is a very intricate German clock
Now to Asian Civilization
From India, I believe.
Funny how the rest of Asia is sewed together by the epic of Ramayana. Some of the artifacts from Southeast Asia have references to it. Even Lanao in Mindanao has its Ramayana. Unfortunately, there was no guided tour when I came back to the Asian exhibit. This I think is from Southeast Asia.
This one, I’m sure, is from Thailand (I carefully read the label). It’s a five-headed water creature coming out of the mouth of a dragon.
I skipped the Philippines, which embarrassingly was just a 16th century rebulto of St. Joseph. I was expecting something more, like the Laguna Plate with the ancient script. But no, it was so bland.
Didn’t take photos of ancient China, Vietnam etc. because frankly I’ve seen much better artifacts. Especially since I’ve been to the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, which houses the treasures from the Imperial Palace. Yes, the one in Beijing. Yes, the treasures that Chiang Kai Chek brought to Taiwan when the mainland was being overrun by Japanese troops, and then later the Communist Party took over.
And now on to Melayu and Polynesia. My sister (having worked at the ADB and lived in Australia for a couple of years) told me that people from Melayu (in the Pacific Islands) are offended if they are called Polynesians. They are two different sets of race. The former is smaller in built, like the rest of Asians and the latter are bigger, like the Samoans and Maoris.
This one is a macabre shield from one of the Polynesian island chains. This is displayed in front of a warrior’s house and the protruding sharp thingies there on the sides are where they hang the skulls of those they killed.
Other totem poles and house guards from Melayu-Polynesia. They look like they came from Ancient Aliens in History Channel.
It’s not all grim and scary at the museum. There are cutesie stuff for the little kids and there are activity areas at the second and third floor of the Singapore National Museum.
Dinosaur made of little toys
And I want one of these
If you have the time to spare, I recommend you visit the Treasures of the World exhibit. It’s for a limited time, I think.
Next time I’ll check out the National Gallery. It seems like my visits to Singapore would be more frequent than expected now that I have bigger responsibilities at work.