Museums can be Wierd

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So the title of this is "museums can be wierd" this is true. So in a continuation of the "list" previously discussed I decided to visit and in this first case, re-visit some museums.

Part 1: The Capitoline or "The A Team"

I had been to the Capitoline once before, but it was La Notte Bianca and I really didnt get a chance to enjoy it. But going back I really loved it, I started off with the side I hadnt seen before, and they had a lot of great ancient Roman things, including the Bust galleries of some noted notables. The Hall of Philosophers (Everyone from Homer to Virgil), the Hall Emporers (Including Emporer "Pupinius" pronounced "Poop and Anus" and if you don't think that's funny they'res something wrong with you) etc. They also had the famous and imfamous "Dying Gaul" statue, which was worth the trip alone.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/d/d4/Dying_gaul.jpg

Why is this important? Why would you come to see this one specifically? Did'nt the Romans conquer the Gauls?

The Romans would have killed thousands of these people in their conquering them. Here we see them in an attempt to humanize these future-franco-phonic phellows. In making their enemy noble, they are basically saying "we must become even more noble to truly earn our victory"
or
if you want to be an idiot and look for the obvious meaning "omg! lolz, pwnd!!!!111"

There were some amazing paintings as well, including some by the baroque knife-fight-rambo Caravaggio. The way Caravaggio captures drama and passion through oil is remarkable, but he was a dramatic passionate guy, so I guess his art must be a reflection of personality. Only difference is his art did'nt die of heat stroke while trying to escape exile.

Eventually I made it around the Capitoline and came into the courtyard.

INTERMISSION

Where these two ladies from Ohio asked me if I knew how to get to the Pantheon, I told them I was heading there myself and would be glad to escort them. So we walked and talked I told them I was an architecture student studying abroad and they told me that they were trying to get to everything in three days under the helpful gaze of "Rick Steves: Italy 2007". Eventually we began talking about the Pantheon and they asked me if I knew anything about it. I told them I knew a little bit if they would like to hear it, and so I walked them around, told them what I knew of the history, the structure, the terms and the monuments inside. Eventually I told them I had to leave and they said they wanted to give me money for the tour. I declined, but it got me thinking, if those guys on the street can trick you into paying 5 euros for a piece of string tied around your wrist, I could probably make some money giving under ten min. tour of the Pantheon. So if i'm ever low on cash look for a sign that says "The Thirsty Student's Guide to The Pantheon - 2 Euros"

Part 2 The Museo Di Roma or 'I'm always on B-Squad!''Yes, But You're the B-Squad Leader.'

The Museo di Roma is located at the northern end of the Piazza Navona which is an entoxicating place, originally built on top of roman ruins you can see through the grates, it's prime- people-watching real estate. There are a bunch of tourists as well as street preformers and pick-pockets. At the time I was there, there was a feast day for what I believe to be the patron saint of Civil Servants. There were lots of people dressed in multi-colored jumpsuits and nuns with megaphones. They had a band there as well, and aside from looking like the Italian's version of an Uhmm-Pah-Pah band, they were pretty standard. After this was over, I went inside. The museum was interesting because it was all the stuff that wasnt good enough to make it into the Capitoline. Basically the Capitoline B-Squad. Lots of Busts of Cardinals, painted ceilings, 18th c. watercolors and some portraits. Maybe it was because it was so ecclectic that I liked it so much. I don't think I would ever go again, but it was definately worth the trek.

My favorite part was probably the carving on the walls of two lions flanking what appears to be a block structure heavly resembeling a Jenga set. But one of the lions has a what is either a pinecone or a pineapple on a stick and is trying to place it inside the Jenga set. I don't know, you explain it to me.

Part 3 or "Looks Like someone's got a case of the Muun-days"

This morning I went to class, remembering that one must "study" at "study abroad". It can't all be nuns with megaphones and hellenistic statues of giant babies. For my photography class he said he enjoyed my photos, but techinically I didn't "do" the assignment.

Prof: "They're interesting, but these are not still-lives."
Molly: "Sure they are."
Prof: "These are statues."
Molly: "Well, are they moving?"

I hope one day to be the thorn in the side of art and architecture. mccormick offline.