Now there is no other way of putting this, I am about to show you quite a lot of holiday snaps so if that thought does not make you slightly breathless with anticipation, now is your chance to leave the room.

In case you are still with me, these are not (well maybe just one or two,) snaps of sun-kissed landscapes and wine dark sea – more of what made me laugh in Athens museums.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a museum and like very much looking at history and great works of art, but sometimes there is, intentional or not, amusing stuff.

See what I mean?

Now this is calling out for a better caption writer than me……

My best guess is the unseen censor is being told in no uncertain terms that it is well past six pm and no, music does not do the trick.

Now just because something is old, it may not mean that it is automatically a very good example of the potter’s art.

It may well have been found during the archeological dig of a rich person’s house, but hey who hasn’t kept something with no intrinsic artistic value but some sentimental attachment.

I rest my case

This made me laugh out loud which is not de rigeur in museums but really…..

I do realise that she may well have been a woman of a certain physique, but come on. Lechery is one thing, coy peeping of a nipple is another, but to distort her to fit round the dimensions of a chair……

Now, these are the images of Mohammed’s footprints which he left on the rock when he went to heaven in 621 for one night to talk to the prophets and Allah and brought back messages for the Muslim faithful.

Apparently.

All I can say is that apart from the slightly odd second toe being longer than the big toe, they look remarkably well conditioned feet providing a good basis for supporting a body.

My pilates teacher would be delighted, I thought but then on a whim I looked up what it meant to have a second, longer toe and guess what……

‘A Morton’s toe otherwise called Morton’s foot or Greek foot or Royal toe is characterized by a longer second toe. This is because the first metatarsal, behind the big toe, is short compared to the second metatarsal, next to it. The longer second metatarsal puts the joint at the base of the second toe (the second metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint) further forward. It is a type of brachymetatarsia.’

And, ‘It’s widely believed that a longer second toe is associated with being ill tempered and it’s recommended to keep one’s emotions in check.’

Who knew?

Meanwhile, Livy, a Roman writing about the appearance of Bacchanalia arriving from Greece offered ‘a scandalized and extremely colourful account of the Bacchanalia, with frenzied rites, sexually violent initiations of both sexes, all ages and all social classes; he represents the cult as a murderous instrument of conspiracy against the state. Livy claims that seven thousand cult leaders and followers were arrested, and that most were executed. Livy believed the Bacchanalia scandal to be one of several indications of Rome’s inexorable moral decay. Modern scholars take a skeptical approach to Livy’s allegations. (Wikipedia)

I love that last sentence.

Anyway, Bacchus and his followers are all over art – shedding their grape vines and overflowing cups around the place – and often there are satyrs.

So here’s hoping these are depictions of should-know-better satyrs and not young children with inattentive parents.

And finally, just because I can’t resist it….