Treasures of The MET

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is America's largest art museum. Located along Manhattan's prestigious Fifth Avenue and right next to Central Park, the "MET" (as it is lovingly called), is home to over 2 million treasures spread out over 17 departments; comprising over 3 thousand years of human history.

* And along with being the most famous art museum in the United States, the MET is the third most visited museum in the world, after the Louvre and National Museum of China.

* In fact, the museum is so famous that even its steps are iconic!

* Being the favorite lunch spot of Blair Waldorf and Serena Ver Der Woodson, fictional characters from Gossip Girl, one of our favorite television series' of yesteryear.

* It's not a reputable museum if it doesn't have Greek artifacts!

* Hercules rockin' that lion-skin cardigan! 

* Halt! She's only sixteen!

* Do I still look pretty?

* Wardrobe malfunction circa 300 BC.

* Keeping up with the Joneses.. taken too far.

* The Instagram models of their day!

* The Vengabus is coming!

* Somehow reminded me of the Daft Punk "Around the World" video.

* Ancient Greek gentleman proudly showing a Funko Pop of his era.

* It's like shopping in IKEA.. but in classical antiquity!

* The MET is also home to a priceless collection of African art.

* Peculiar looking statues and sculptures!

* Such wild imaginations; not sure if these were gods or aliens to the ancient Africans.

* That's not... creepy at all...

* These gents could definitely fit in Mos Eisley Cantina.

* A typical family balancing on top of a rabbit.

* That one guy with his back turned.. such a rascal!

* Might as well have been the setting of the museum scene in Black Panther!

* To this day, it still astounds me, as to how these treasures ended up in Western museums.

* An argument could be made that these pieces should be returned and featured in their regions of origin: Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, etc.

* Conversely, an argument can also be made that they belong to ALL of humanity, and deserve the best preservation and conservation efforts that institutions can provide.

* It is an ongoing debate for serious people, with serious consequences.

* Nonetheless, I'm just happy that we humans can enjoy, appreciate, and be inspired by the works of our forefathers.

* For art is meant to be shared to all of mankind.

* Moving on to that section of IKEA with the amazing home decorations.

* Back in the day, these items were considered symbols of wealth and power.

* Reserved only for royalty and nobility; definitely not for peasants.

* I mean take a look at this room, which was pretty much someone's living area back in the day!

* You break it, you buy it!

* Given the United States' European founding roots and shared cultural history, it's no surprise that the MET contains a vast showcase of medieval and Renaissance pieces.

* From Byzantine (Eastern Roman) mosaics

* To religious objects like this statue of Saint Denis, martyred patron saint of Paris, who supposedly walked around preaching the gospel after he was beheaded!

* To entire Italian courtyards, complete with all the accessories!

* To items that eventually inspired modern-day brands... Starbucks anyone?

* No more grapes for you, mother!

* The John Mayer of ye olden times!

* Covet not thy neighbor's property!

* How very Germanic!

* When ivory was still considered "guilt-free luxury".

* The ending of every Passion Play!

* K-Pop group 600 years early!

* The well-lit Charles Englehard Court.

* Offering fantastic views of Central Park from the high-ceiling glass windows!

* Classical discipline of man's best friend.

* Philosophizing for centuries now!

* Posterized after a slam dunk!

* Always high-five thy guardian angel!

* One of the more mind-blowing exhibits in the MET is the actual Temple of Dendur, completely lifted from its original spot near Aswan, Egypt.

* Built in 15 BC, the temple was dedicated to Isis and Osiris, both Egyptian deities. 

* Packing and transporting the entire site from Egypt to America took over 600 crates and an entire freighter; a massive feat of engineering!

* Emojis of antiquity!

* Friendship over donuts?

* Must have enough room for all my toys!

* Tough crowd!

* Probably guarded the entrance of some sacred secret chamber!

* Step right up, kind sir, for the wonders of the orient!

* It wasn't me, I promise!

* Good luck reaching-in to recover whatever's inside!

* Gates to a former world center (Babylon), now in the current world center (New York).

* Ladies be workin' hard to keep this fireplace up!

* I'll just take a 20 minute power nap...

* Classical ring girl to an ancient UFC pay-per-view.

* Casually trotting down 5th Avenue like..

* "Hectoooooooor" - Achilles

* What? Only 300 Spartans stand in our way? LOL

* Saladin's finest!

* Lifewear when Empires were forged by blood and steel.

* Friendship day for these warring Japanese kingdoms.

* Samurai Showdown!

* Señor Conquistador wants to know by which blade you wish to get cut with?

* I'll take the dagger, please!

* This is America!

* I.. don't want to know what's going on here..

* Okay.. moving along..

* Adrien Brody in better days.

* Van Gogh showing us how it's done!

* I swear I saw this on a phonebook cover one time!

* The wonders of Ancient Pergamon, the highlights of which are now found in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin (more on that on a later blog entry!)

* A giant among men! Probably the center of his legion's basketball team.

* I swear I saw an Instagram Story filter of this one time..

* Ahh my arm.. so near yet so far.

* While occupying a much smaller space and item count, the Asian exhibit of the Met is still pretty impressive!

* This way to Enlightenment!

* Mastering the art of the standing nap.

* A day in the museum, amongst some of mankind's greatest achievements, is a day well-spent!