Headed down to National Musuem on Saturday, cause qin said don't want to come over and rot. So we thought for the longest time, and I remembered the Straits Time article some time ago, promoting this particular exhibition. I'm a genius!!

Right, anyway, for $7.50, it was truly worth it. And this $7.50 includes another entry into the Singapore history gallery. Why so cheap?? Cause it's student's price! Must use this privilege to the fullest! Otherwise it would be $10.

And it's really accessible too. Just walk from Dhoby station towards The Cathy, and then walk towards SMU..Then you'll see this..


..the back of the musuem..qin said I looked like a tourist when taking this picture. because I was so excited..yeah I know, very 'suaku'..but I haven't been to the musuem for so long!

The start of the exhibition!!


These art pieces lined along the corrider, leading up to the actual gallery, are done by mainly year 2 students from NAFA. And it's coolness.




At the entrance, a map which depicts ancient Greece.


You can identify Sparta- '300', and Thelssy and Troy, how they fought the war by sending the thousands of fleets of ships to troy across the Aegean sea, which is 'Love Sea' (Ai Qin Hai) when translated to mandrian.


This is Athena, Goddess of War and Wisdom. Apparently, every army wishes for her to be by their side instead of Ares, God of War. Because Athena has wisdom!! So she grants foolproof strategies which ensures victories.The other heads on her left are also her. The head on her body now is thought to be the best fit..yes, this statue was beheaded. And the original one is made of wood which stands at 12m! That statue was used as a treasury as well as a place of worship, in the past. See, the 12m statue of her was made in nude and gold was used for her drapery. So in times of economic crisis, the 'bankers' simply take some of the gold drapery and melt it!



This un-named woman is supposed to be one of Zeus' lover (he had aplenty!!), sitting on the steps of his palace, i guess. The interesting part of it all is that I waited for about 30 mins to get the lion behind in this picture, completely unobstructed by other visitors. No, actually, this statue shows how sophisticated marble carvings were at that time (about 1 century), with all the drapery falling around her in perfect layers and the sensuality of her facial expression. The lion is really one of a pair which is often placed on top of graves to act as protection for the dead. Strangely similar to chinese's culture..



This has got to be either the saddest love story of all time or the stupidest (in qin's words..) The story goes like this, young couple Orphues and Eurydice were very very much in love, and married, but the bliss was short-lived. Eurydice died shortly after and there were many speculations for the cause of her death. Some said she was bitten by a poisonous snake, others said she was struck down for dancing to Orpheus's music.

Anyhow, Orpheus was deeply sadden and sticken with grieve. Vowing to bring her back from the dead, he pleaded with Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, and moved her with his music. Eventually she agreed on the condition that he would not turn back to look at Eurydice until they are in the light of the day. On the left, Hermes, the messenger who transports the dead to the underworld and back, accompanies them back to the land of the living. But as Orpheus' longing for Eurydice was too much for him to bear, he turned back before Eurydice was in the light, so Hermes clutched his hand around Eurydice wrist and brought her back to the underworld...

Sad..Just look at how painful their gazes are.

Stupid..a few more seconds also can't wait.
Technically, she died twice.



The term Narcissist comes from. I don't really know the story behind it, all I know is that in the end, he holds a mirror in front of him to admire his beauty.


Atheletes in ancient Greek compete in the nude! This is a man getting ready to throw a discus. Apparently, from the Newpaper article today, this chap didn't tie his garments well enough, and while he was participating in a race, it sort of fell off. The audience was so awed by the beauty of a human's bare body that from then on, every sporting even has to be conducted in the nude. Yup..Imagine what a mayhem it would cause today.


The winner of the games gets this. Filled to the brim with olive oil..a very valuable commodity in those days. Again..if the prize was a jug of olive oil today, nobody would want to be an athlete.


This is one of the many objects of Zeus' interest. Yes, he is a young handsome teenage BOY! And also very famous for his beauty. Homosexuality was widely accepted. At least in Greek mythology. The rooster on his left hand is a gift from Zeus to show his love for him. Imagine giving your valentine a freaking rooster.


At the tender age of 3, boys were trained to drink diluted liquor as they would be expected to compete in drinking competitions! Such events were held after every meal..Because all the men would gather after each meal and debate, recite poetry and drink! And it is thought that without drinking, one wouldn't have any inspiration to write poems.

Another point to note about Greek History..Women were like the lowest of the low in terms of social standings. quote, "..a woman needn't be present during the wedding ceremony, much less her consent.."

MEN and their so called systems!


I thought this passage was really funny. Quote, "..war is more common than peace.." Why must have war? Until 2 years of studying elect history, I still don't fathom it.


Aphrodite's, Goddess of Love and Beauty, head sculpture. The details are so intrinsic that you can see each strand of hair. Sadly, more details were eroded away as such sculptures would have been painted as well.


This, fellow friends, is THE MOST PERFECT BUTT PLUS BACK I'VE EVER SET EYES UPON! I was really amazed by the perfectly symmetrical and taut the muscles are! And it's all carved from one big block of marble! This is Ares..the God of War, mentioned earlier on.


Opposite him is Aphrodite, again, (yes, I guess that's where aphrodisiac comes from) but this is not the one oppsite him. This is the 'wet look' version of her.. See how her linens cling to her body? really amazes me how the sculptors of the 1st centry were able to achieve this with only primitive tools.

OOO.ooo...And there's a story about how Aphrodite came to be the Goddess of Love and Beauty. One day, this king was asked to judge amongst Aphrodite, Athena and some Goddess who can grant anyone power (forgot her name), who the most beautiful one was. But this king was too afraid to offend Athena because she was the almighty queen of the land, so he declined.

After many other royalties, who were invited to judge, also decline, P' ris, otherwise known as Paris of Troy agreed. Each Goddess offered Paris a reward if he chose them. As a nonchalent young prince, Paris couldn't possibly need any power, he didn't care for it, so he dismissed that Goddess of Power. Athena promised him victory in every battle that he fought, but he was a young man, and the country wwas in the safe hands of his father and elder brother..he needn't engage in any form of battle.(fat hope!) Lastly, Aphrodite offered to present him the most beautiful mortal on Earth..and being the hot-blooded male that he is, he chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful Goddess.

Shortly after, as promised, Paris chanced upon Helen, whom he stole from the enemy and sparked of the war which destroyed Troy.

So that's the origin of TROY! Stupid Paris..
The apple in Aphrodite's left hand is a gift from Paris, a symbol that she's the most gorgeous of all Goddesses. Apples were particularly rare.


This is Ero, son of Aphrodite and Ares (yes, they were lovers. I mean, when you are married to the ugliest immortal-Hepheatus, God of Metal and Wood, you'd want somebody as hot as Ares right? Afterall, she's a goddess.) Also known as Cupid, he has two sets of arrows- Love or Detest. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of Eros.


The awesomest picture ever!! qin taught me how to darken the surroundings with the cybershot. And it made Ares and Aphrodite pop out from certain angles. As of they were separated by the black abyss and the love for each other runs deep.

In the spirit of the upcoming Olympic season, here's a few quotes from some historian who lived in that era..however negative it maybe..



Maybe he was just jealous he wasn't a champion?? A case of sour grapes.


Very K.I. deep..yes.

Then off to the Singapore history gallery.


Ipod video thingy..erm..not really but this was our trave-through-time buddy. Some sort of guide into the history. Anyway, it was so boring, qin and I took it off after awhile and viewed the stuff ourselves. But..I don't know, Singapore's history just really paled in comparision to Greek Mythology.

Yes, so everybody..go visit! Make sure you follow the guide as he/she will explain the background stories of the Gods/Goddess/Heros more clearly! After that you can start from the very beginning and see every artefact in detail! There's also this play that's going on in the gallery itself..too arty for me. I thought it was quite funny in the unconventional way, but yeah, good effort.

O.o so try the soy smth soups at PS basement 2!! The tomato soup was woah..I've a weird cravings for tomatoes these days.

P.S. JOANNE!! this is the opportunity you've been waiting for! go visit the museum!!