The Colossal head of the god Serapis at The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo

February 23, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting the Colossal head of the god Serapis at The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. This was created during the Roman period, around the 2nd century AD and is made of marble. It represents Serapis, a deity combining attributes of Osiris and Apis. The cult of Serapis became linked to themes of life after death and agricultural abundance, intertwining aspects of both Egyptian and Greek beliefs. The extensive popularity of Serapis can be attributed to the Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy I, who sought to unify the subjects of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, combining Greek and Egyptian influences. Under Ptolemy I’s orders, a cult statue of Serapis was erected in Alexandria. This

Woman Bathing by Edgar Degas

February 20, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting Woman Bathing by Edgar Degas at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King.

The Granite Statue of Khonsu | Ancient Egypt Revealed

February 16, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting a statue of Khonsu from the ancient Egyptian new kingdom at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. This granite statue of Khonsu is from the ancient Egyptian new kingdom, 18th Dynasty. Khonsu was the ancient Egyptian god of the Moon. He was generally depicted youthfully. His name means “traveller” which probably relates to how it looked like the moon travelled across the sky. He, alongside Thoth, oversaw the flow of time. Khonsu played a crucial role in the genesis of life across all living beings. In Thebes, he constituted a familial triad known as the “Theban Triad,” where Mut served as his mother and Amun as his

The Runners sculpture by Leonardo Lustig in Tromso, Norway

February 14, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting the Runners sculpture by Leonardo Lustig in Tromso, Norway. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. As always, I take all the photos and videos myself on location, ensuring you get an up-close and personal view of the fascinating world of art and culture. Leonardo Lustig’s “Runners” sculpture was created by Leonardo Lustig who was born near Geneo, Italy in 1969 and is of German origin. The 800 kilogramme (10.6 tonne) stone runners are placed upon a pedestal stone which was transported from Larvik. It originally came to Tromso in June 2016 and was a gift funded by the Italian Gianfranco Traverso, who participated in the Midnight Sun Marathon for the twelve years. It’s a gift

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, at the British Museum, London

February 12, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, at the British Museum, London. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, also known as the Tomb of Mausolus, stood as a monumental tomb constructed in Halicarnassus (present-day Bodrum, Turkey) during the period between 353 and 350 BC. It served as the final resting place for Mausolus, the ruler of Caria (377–353 BCE), and his sister-wife Artemisia II of Caria of the Achaemenid Empire, the First Persian Empire. This empire, centred in modern-day Iran, held the distinction of being the world’s largest at the time, encompassing a vast expanse of 5.5 million square kilometres (2.1 million

Amun Ra – King of the gods Statue the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo

February 11, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting a diorite statue of Amun Ra – King of the gods, from the new kingdom, 18th Dynasty at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. This diorite statue from the New Kingdom’s 18th dynasty (1550 to 1292 BC) which was discovered at Karnak, represents Amun, an influential figure among the eight original Egyptian deities. Throughout history, Amun’s significance transformed; during the Middle Kingdom, he ascended to the position of the deities’ leader, and by the New Kingdom, he attained national reverence. Over time, Amun merged with Ra, the ancient sun god, resulting in the amalgamation known as Amun-Ra, with the Karnak Temple serving as the focal point of