Berlin 4: Misc. Churches and the Neues Museum

The Domkirche, Berlin's cathedral.  The original architecture dates back to the mid 15th century, but much was reconstructed after the War.

Both the interior and exterior were modeled on St Peter's in Rome, to make it the Protestant equivalent in the north (except in size, as it is tiny in comparison).  Typical of protestant churches, there isn't a lot of art or decoration except for the high altar, seen here.

But, meh.  I'm a snob, and I prefer the real St Peter's.

View from the dome of the church, looking towards Alexanderplatz.

Another church, the Marienkirche, built in the 13th century.  See what I mean about the TV tower?  You can see it from everywhere!

Interior of the Marienkirche.  Normally I love stark interiors like this, as they emphasize and highlight the architecture, but since it was restored after the War it's so new looking and looks almost fake.

I will give the Protestant churches this: they know how to build a beautiful organ.

Facade of the Nikolaikirche, the oldest church in Berlin.  The upper portion of the church was badly damaged in the War, and hence the odd juxtaposition of styles seen in the facade.

The area around the Nikolaikirche is a really charming neighborhood of restored medieval buildings and houses.  It was the only area of Berlin that I felt a sense of how the city must have been like before the War.  Even today, there is so much of the city that is still being restored or rebuilt, and there is constant construction everywhere.

At the Neues Museum, which is best known for its amazing collection of ancient Egyptian art.  This is a relief of the Pharaoh Akhenaten (on the left) with his wife Queen Nefertiti and their three daughters.  The sun god in the center is blessing them with rays that have little hands at the end that almost touch their faces.

A portrait of Akhenaten.  I love him not only because he was a fascinating Pharaoh who changed the entire system of worship during his reign (only to quickly be changed back after his death), but also because he commissioned a new style of art during his lifetime, the only time Egyptian art strayed from an otherwise incredibly stable style.

Hand of Akhenaten offering an olive branch to the sun god.

Bust of Akhenaten.  I love this one.

The main highlight of the museum is the painted limestone bust of Nefertiti, which has become iconic in today's world.  This is the one section of the museum where photos were not allowed, so this image is from google.

I was glad I was able to find this image as well, because the way the bust is displayed is beautiful.  She is in a small and richly painted atrium by herself.