I visited the Naturhistorisches Museum!

This morning I did something I have been longing to do for quite some time. I visited the Naturhistorisches Museum! I was only able to view one floor before having to leave, but this experience was still beyond phenomenal. I love natural history museums but this was far beyond anything I have ever before experienced. The specimens were mind-boggling. The first several rooms of the museum were filled with stones. As a chemist, I was amazed at the variety of specimens, from different parts of the world. Not only were they beautiful in an aesthetic sense, but this experience aided to a general recognition that I have been making over the course of this trip. I have been realizing the universality of many qualities of humanity, sentiments, emotions, values and arts. I do not claim that all people are alike, or that all share values, just that there are more similarities than were previously obvious. The notion of war or terrorism is shocking and distressing to me now, more than ever before. It is wonderful to see foreign places and people, recognizing similarities. It puts global relations in a different light. I can now better understand Stefan Zweig’s sentiments regarding intellectual brotherhood. I agree with his claim that further travel encourages people to respect one another and find more ways of agreeing. I feel that I have heightened respect for foreigners now, and I feel that this respect would be held by all who travel abroad.

The collection of fossils and artifacts in the NHM was purely phenomenal. There was one specimen of a lizard’s skull which still had parts of skin on it. The manner in which the chemicals surrounding it had collected caused the skin to decay at an extremely slow rate. It was incredible to see the skin of this animal that lived so many thousands of years ago. One highlight of the NHM was certainly the Venus of Willendorf. Displayed in a dark room, away from other artifacts, this object’s lure and importance were ever more radiant. A fascinating aspect of this object is the fact that it is so extremely old and that its purpose, or use, is unknown today. How very exciting to see this object – it has been in many history and anthropology texts, and is referred to frequently. I consider it a privilege to have been able to view this artifact.

This morning I did something I have been longing to do for quite some time.

A large part of the attraction of many objects and places is their age. I have been considering this a lot recently, and it is fascinating to me. Things that endure through time are generally valued – whether they be paintings, gems, or kitchen appliances. There are two reasons I can think of for this phenomenon: practicality and aesthetics, or possibly a combination of the two. This is especially intriguing as an artifact is valued for its age, even if it would not be otherwise valued. Such artifacts provide us with a way to connect with, and understand, the past. For this reason, it is reasonable to value artifacts for their age.