(no subject)

[twincityhacker]

One of my assignments for Classical Mythology was to go to the art museum and fill out a worksheet about the mythological scenes depicted on the various pots and containers and dishes.

But the most interesting thing there was not in the section of Greek/Hellenistic/Roman art, on the other side of the wall in the near middle east section. There was a collection of Chaldean pottery, from 3000 BC. They were red, edging toward salmon, with crooked white zig-zags going around the pot.

When I looked at the pot, I tried to conjure up the woman who used it. She kept dried lentils in that pot, which she was so proud. It was a gift from her sister, and it was so very fancy. While she was waiting for the water to boil, she and a friend gossiped about a neighbors down the way that had such outrageous manners she sometimes she could barely contain her horror.

I like to think of this woman. For some reason, it makes me feel better that existed, even though she lived and died over 6000 years ago. We have the same nature, if nothing else.

And maybe one day, some other student will come across something of mine in a museum, and wonder who I was. And whether I liked lentils.

Comments

[myrthrilmercury.livejournal.com]

You know what might be a great idea for that class? Write a story about that woman. I've noticed that whenever I've done things like that, not only do the professors like it, but most of all, I feel great about myself, the same way you feel when you think about that woman.

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

I wrote a little, but nothing about Chaldean civilization. When I was little I was really into Ancient Egypt, so I can extrapolate some things. I can't imagine small farming communities in Mesopotamia would be that different from those in Egypt.