| Title | : | Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1426202954 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781426202957 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published May 20, 2008 |
To help create the exhibit and book, archaeologist and National Geographic Society Fellow Fredrik T. Hiebert inventoried the artifacts at the request of the Afghan government. Gorgeously photographed and elegantly packaged, the collection shines in this official companion to the much anticipated and widely covered tour.
For the eager audiences who will visit, and for legions of art and history lovers across the United States, Hidden Treasures provides a beautiful, affordable keepsake, a handsome gift, and a rare opportunity to appreciate this matchless tradition of artistry and the steadfast human spirit that preserved it.
Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul Reviews
-
The most moving thing about this book is the heroic work of museum staff and others to preserve many of these treasures from the general predations of decades of war and the particular iconoclastic rage of the Taliban. Some of these objects have lain hidden behind walls and in basements for years like something out of a adventure movie. People who were paid pitiful wages or nothing risked their lives and risked torture kept their mouths closed to preserve their cultural heritage. It is truly inspiring.
The most intriguing thing about this book is the witness it bears to hundreds of years of syncretism in the area of what we now call Afghanistan. We see dozens of examples like, say, figures bearing the iconography of Dionysus and the round faces and slanted eyes of the steppes, or vice versa, or Hercules' club beside a Buddhist lotus. There is something truly inspiring about the creativity engendered by the melting of Roman, Greek, Parthian, Bactrian, Kushan, Gandaharan, Mauryan, and other cultures that manifests in these objects.
Less interesting to me are the objects themselves, which for the most part are decorative and not great craftsmanship. Pretty or flashy golden emblems of status or bangles. There are some wonderful exceptions.
The book has many authors and the prose varies from excellent to pedantic. It turns out that Hamid Karzai, or some one using his name, writes well.
The illustrations are excellent. -
Hello, today a picture of a gold ring with an amethyst stone made me emotional
Turquoise has never looked so amazing. Garnet is a new favorite rock. Field sketches of princess tombs took you right to the Tillya Teppe. Beautiful images of Afghanistan lie ahead! -
This is a rich and beautiful document, illustrating not only the rich history of early Afghanistan, but the tragedy of the consequences of the Russian invasion and the war with the Taliban. Many years ago, I first read of the many treasures found in the National Geographic magazine. Subsequent to this, it was suggested that these pieces had all disappeared, suspected destroyed in the Russian invasion and subsequent Taliban attacks. The exhibit that this catalogue accompanies, came to North America in 2009, and is the result of some very brave men and women who hid the moveable treasures in a variety of undisclosed locations in Afghanistan, not discussing or telling anyone that the artifacts still existed. Once opened and revealed to the world, the decision was made to send many of the saved pieces out of Afghanistan, to travel from Museum to Museum, until it was deemed safe to bring the artifacts home.
-
Great coffee table book and a good reference to the historical art of the area.
Some beautiful pictures
