Photos: Robert Barradi
Texts: Jerome Traverse
English translation: Susan Jacquet

Florilége 1999

But above all, one's attention is quickly attracted by the art gallery – Phoenix Ancient Art. Major works of art are displayed here, against a background of simplicity and elegance.

The objects are mostly from the Mediterranean basin – from Gibraltar to the furthermost parts if modern-day Iran and Afghanistan encompassing Italy Greece and Egypt . Carefully selected by specialists the objects on view are chosen not only for their historical importance, but also for their beauty and artistic value.

Displayed on three floors, the objects are a testimony to different civilizations; the Bird Divinity, dating from the 4 th millennium B.C.; a Palmerian bust of the late 2 nd century A.D. – one of the three most beautiful of its kind in the world; a Sumerian gypsum figure, 3000-2900 B.C.; and an impressive portion from the life-size statue of the Samsu-iluna, son of Hammurabi, kings of Babylon, 1750-1712 B.C. Also present are important objects from the Cyclades , Greek and the Roman period.

One can also discover ancient jewellery as well as gold and silver objects from Mespotamia and Merovingian. Not to mention Islamic bowls and plates from the Fatimid period. The deliberately understated décor of the gallery brings out the beauty and rareness of each object.Visitors find their gaze is caught and held as they are slowly transported back through time.