We went to the Frye with scarlettina  to see their exhibit of Napoleon on the Nile. it is an excellent exhibit (although I would have been happy for more plates from Description de l'Egypte!) showing some of the extraordinary engravings, and telling the story of Napoleon's foray into Egypt. Although the campaign was primarily a military expedition, Napoleon took a crew of over 100 scientists and engineers (savants) to catalog the wonders of this strange land. It opened up Egyptology. They cataloged everything from ancient ruins to algae with loving care. They suffered eye problems (some going blind), heat stroke, and cholera while collecting enough information to compose a phenomenal set of works that informed science and the arts for a long time.

I was excited to see this exhibit for a couple of personal reasons. The engravings from Napoleon's expedition depict the artifacts from ancient Alexandria (this is one of my favorite artists of Alexandria, leave it to the gamers!) before they were lost. This 19th century aquatint shows one of the few columns left from the original Canopic Way, the first broad way, 100' from side to side. It's now hidden beneath the city, likely under Tariq abd el Nasser. There isn't even a piece of stone left that I know of now.

Also, I own one of the expedition engravings! Yes! While in Canada I purchased an engraving from one of the loose leaf suites that were issued to subscribers. I remember at the time I felt a pang of guilt for purchasing an item away from it's friends. I pang no more, but love my bats. This is what they look like.

Sometimes you come across an object, and it simply transports you back in time.  You can just see the the place and person and it sweeps you off your feet. 

This coin is one of those objects for me.  It just makes my heart sing. Check out the feathers on that Macedonian eagle, you just know Ptolemy's chin had a cleft in it. Just gorgeous.  In Greek, it says, Ptolemy Basileus (King)

Why do I think this bad boy is so cool?  This next image. Look for the little triangle behind the ear.


That triangle is actually a delta, and is the initial of the engraver in Ptolemy Soter's Mint in Alexandria who engraved this and other coins throughout his and Ptolemy Philadelphus' reign.  Unlike other engravers, this Demetrius, or David, or Darius, was an artist and very proud of his work, and he put his initial somewhere on the coins he engraved.  Of course, in Egypt, he might have a Diana or Deborah, but it's unlikely.  Coulda, but unlikely.

I look at that, and I see him working in a shop, somewhere near the harbor.  I can hear the seagulls.  I know he's thinking about walking to the agora and getting some wine on the way home.  Maybe making plans to go to the hippodrome with some friends when the races are running on two-day.  And I just want to go buy him a drink for giving me this moment.

My appreciation to this charming website, http://members.verizon.net/vze3xycv/Jerusalem/conflictsum.htm (Jerusalem through coins) for a very special, heart-singing moment.