Byzantine Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is one of the largest art museums in the world and they were not kidding. There were several galleries here each dedicated to different regions. I seem to be moving from the east and heading towards the west. The next in line is what I would consider the near east but in a different time. At that time this area was the Byzantine Empire. My knowledge of world history escapes me and I don’t know much about this era. This era was also called the Eastern Roman empire which survived the fall of the Roman empire. It occupied the Mediterranean up to modern day Turkey.

The Byzantine Empire became Christian in its early decades and like numerous other civilizations, it produced a lot of religious themed art. It does make one wonder did religion give rise to art? Seeing how a lot of ancient art is religious themed. I think that is a very difficult question to answer. The exhibits here feature artifacts associated with that era. I think this was a very interesting period since it feels like a bridge between the old and the new. Exhibits here are mostly related to Christianity such as Bibles, crosses and other items. It is surprising to see how such art has changed little over the centuries.

[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/MetropolitanMuseumofArtNewYork.kmz} zoom=19]