Art History right now is like a Bible History class. It's kind of strange, because I'm used to religion classes where the teacher doesn't have to say "Christian theory states..." before every sentence, but it's actually very interesting, and I'm learning a lot. Like the fact that everyone used to think Moses had horns.
I never knew this, but I feel like it's something I should have known.
This statue on the left is Moses by Michelangelo, and the statue on the right is Moses from the Well of Moses by Claus Sluter. Both with horns.
My (totally hilarious but entirely creepy looking) professor asked if anyone knew why. It was the first Bible related question he had me stumped on. Some guy had the answer, who said he learned it in Sunday school. I went to a Lutheran school for 13 years and never knew this!
I will let the words of a wise Yahoo! Answers topic explain this odd mistranslation,
"The statue depicts Moses with horns on his head. This is believed to be because of the mistranslation of Exodus 34:29-35 by St Jerome. Moses is actually described as having "rays of the skin of his face", which Jerome in the Vulgate had translated as "horns" (See Halo). The mistake in translation is possible because the word "karan" in the Hebrew language can mean either "radiated (light)" or "grew horns"."
I don't know why this is so fascinating to me. It just took me off-guard.
Now, Obamalama.
Obama is coming to my hometown, and no one really knows why. As in, he's flying to Wisconsin, driving to my city, and then leaving Wisconsin. It was just announced this week, and he's coming next week. My city has like 34,000 people in it. It's not exactly a city that the president spontaneously makes a trip to.
Apparently we're giving him a "special gift." What does that even mean? Do cities do that whole "Key to the City" thing for Presidents? Or are we talking like, iPad special? Maybe it'll just be some beer and cheese. Oh, look... I just ignorantly stereotyped my state. My bad. Haha.
Why I didn't just combine these two ramblings, I am not sure. But I didn't, so now here it is. Moses and Obama for your reading enjoyment.
Off to bed. Goodnight, moon. :]
Woah, I never knew that about Moses! That's actually kind of cool..
ReplyDeleteHaha, that's so random that Obama's going to your hometown. Is he going to give a speech or something?
LOL i did NOT know that about moses either! that's actually really interesting.
ReplyDeleteand i would be so happy if your city gave him cheese. please please let that be the gift.