The Brooklyn Museum of Art has an extraordinary collection of Egyptian, Islamic, Asian and African art. The museum houses over one million objects from ancient Egypt to contemporary art and represents almost every culture. They make note that the Egyptian art is separated from the African art because part historians viewed Egypt as a separate culture that had little contact with or influence from the rest of the continent. The museum does note that times and attitudes are changing and that mostly black scholars have pushed for Egypt to be recognized as an advanced African civilization that has customs and language patterns similar to western and sub-Saharan Africa. .
The first section I visited was "Egypt and Beyond", which began with a collection of Assyrian art filled with half-man/half animal images much like the walls of Egypt. Many ancient cultures believed in several gods and mythical creatures including the Greeks, Africans and Native Americans. Egyptians were farmers, fisherman, herders and hunters who depended on nature and attributed divine powers to the elements. The Nile River is carved as a fat man holding a tray filled with food. Most of the pieces I saw were meant to be used not admired. Tablets and papyrus reeds were the main forms of written communications and display the beautiful art of hieroglyphics. From water jugs to tools to cosmetic cases Egyptians left us with an abundance of objects to be studied and admired.
Islamic art spans over 1,300 years from Spain, the Middle East and Asia. It evolved from nomadic roots of the Turkoman tribes into the art of ancient Iran. The Islamic art collection also had many objects that were meant to be used as well as admired. There were many prayers rugs and wash basins on display because followers of Islam pray five times daily and must cleanse their hands, face and feet before each prayer session. One wash bowl was adorned with the design of a peacock which is a symbol of royalty in their faith.