When ancient civilizations leave no written history, all that may be left of their existence are artifacts that help us piece together who they were and how they lived their lives. The Everhart Museum will host the exhibit Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands from May 21 through Sept. 6 to give those in Scranton a fascinating glimpse into the nomadic cultures of Mongolia and Central Asia by displaying the art those people left behind.
On loan from the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, a world-renowned organization that collects relics from early Asian cultures, Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands shows how the mobile, horse-riding cultures that flourished during the late second and first millennia BCE in the steppes region used animals as a source of symbols to indicate their tribes, social ranking, and their connection to the spirit world. The exhibit is made up of 80 distinctive pieces, including bronze weapons, pendants, plaques, ornaments, and belt buckles.
“The Ancient Bronzes exhibit features really incredible artifacts crafted by the peoples of the Asian steppes, many of which are hundreds to thousands of years old, that tell the story of these ancient nomadic peoples,” explained Nezka Pfeifer, curator of the Everhart Museum.
“I feel that people should come to see the exhibit because it resonates with people today, as many of us are migratory ourselves, but we also treasure those objects that we keep with us to symbolize ideas, people, and things that are important to us. Much of what we know about these ancient nomads of the steppes comes from archaeological digs and burial objects, as they did not leave a written record, yet they fashioned these beautiful things to be used continuously and were important for their tribal groups,” she continued.
This isn’t the only connection Asia has to Scranton. Another exhibition, Migration: A Journey from Bhutan to Scranton, will compliment the Ancient Bronzes exhibit by demonstrating the “nearly 20-year journey of families from the mountainous nation of Bhutan to a Nepali refugee camp, and eventually to homes in Northeastern Pennsylvania.” Both exhibits are on display from May 21 to September 6. The Everhart Museum is open Thursday, Friday, and Monday from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, $2 for children 6-12, and free to Everhart Museum members. For more information, call 346-7186 or visit www.everhart-museum.org.
Source: ScrantonEdition