Ode to a Different Grecian Urn

The British museum is quite a large place. It is three stories tall and the entire place is practically a labyrinth. There are rooms upon rooms, hallways that lead into more hallways, and thousands of things to see and gawk at. All that being said, I went to the British museum looking for one item in particular. Seems impossible right? Well it is...especially when the one item you are looking for isn't even on display anymore.

In class we are reading "Ode to a Grecian Urn" by John Keats which is apparently about a stone, marble vase that was exhibited at the British Museum. Apparently not anymore. Either way, I found one particular Grecian vase that stood out to me. It was called Paradise Garden: The realm of Aphrodite. This orange and black vase had idyllic scenes of elegant woman in flower filled gardens. Several of the woman were personified as Harmony, Happiness, and Good Fortune. These peaceful designs were common to escape from the grim realities of the wars, plague, and raiding enemies.

Like in the poem, all these characters and woman portraying Harmony and Peace are frozen in time. They will never age or die. They will forever be harmonious and peaceful. In the poem, the urn displays lovers about to kiss, in a moment of pure love that will last forever. For my vase, I saw happiness and a sense of calm that shall never fade. Because the title and short description of the vase did not give much away, it is up to the imagination of the viewer to decide the exact story of the characters. These elegant women can be anyone. Anyone that you relate to. The feeling of happiness, good fortune, and harmony may bring the same feelings to everyone but causes different effects on each person. Our life will never be like the urn- only moments of joy and peace. Life is full of ups and downs. But a vase, painted with figures, can capture a small moment and make it last.  That to me is what is beautiful about these vases. The fact that they can freeze time in the snapshots of pure, raw emotions of love, happiness, joy, or peace.

The vase that Keats wrote his poem about. There are two lovers about to kiss,
a tree that will never have to shed its leaves, maidens, deities, and mortals
all as happy as humanity could hope to be. 

The two lovers about to kiss