Sojourn: 26. Paris - The Louvre 2

I learned three things I didn't know when we went to the Louvre (again) the other day.

We went back to the Egyptian collection to continue our visit ten days ago that was cut short by closing time.

The first thing I learnt was that this is a man of power, not because of his pose or what he is holding, but because of the extra kilograms that have been allocated to his waistline. He is a scribe, a man of learning who has obviously worked his way up the 'scribal' ladder.

This handsome young man is also a scribe and must be showing considerable potential to have had a statue made of him in his magnificent wig.

The second thing I learnt, and I shouldn't be surprised, is that men were depicted with one foot forward to denote action and leadership whilst women were depicted with feet together indicating they had neither of these qualities.

Some women, however had one foot just slightly ahead of the other denoting they were from a powerful family.

Men were very seldom portrayed embracing their partner, but woman were most often shown with their arm around their benefactor.

This statue is unusual. It depicts a family where the man and woman appear to have equal power (the feet and the interlocked arms) and perhaps shows that the woman was of high birth and the man married well.

The third thing I learned was that statues of men were painted with red ochre whereas women were painted a much paler tone, unless they were a god when other rules applied. So this family statue shows that the child is male, the same darker skin tone as his father.

Fashions changed during the 500 years of the high Egyptian period, but pleated garments remained very popular as did wigs.

Head-dresses varied as did the way profiles were depicted.

This small statue was my favourite - absolutely perfect and only 2,500 years old.

Paul was taken by this one which he dubbed "Viv and Paul - I should have quit while I was ahead!"

Cats were worshipped in Egyptian times. This sleek girl is very old but without a whisker out of place.

I was hoping to see some real mummies but there was only one and it was in such good condition you couldn't see any of the gruesome bits. So we headed towards the exit.

On the way I found this superb marble bath from the 13thC . "But how would you clean it, says Viv?" Very funny, Paul.

Crossing the long corridor between Ancient Egypt and European Paintings, on our way to the exit, we had to pass by the Winged Victory of Samothrace - a 2ndC marble of the Greek goddess Nike.

Recently restored at a cost of millions of euros sourced from corporate donations from all over the world, she is now mounted higher on a boat's prow. I have to say though - I rather liked her as she was - on an ordinary plinth.