Super Bowl XLIV

Now, many of us have bets on the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is a part of our American identity. So as American tune in on Super Bowl Sunday they will have bets on the line. Most of these bets involve the exchange money or maybe a case of beer, but the New Orleans and Indianapolis art museums have taken it to an entirely different level. They are betting their collections' masterpieces.

Where has our society gone to that those who are entrusted to protect our cultural property are betting that property on a sporting event. Now this particular bet isn't really a bad thing. The artwork involved will be sent to the winning city for three months and then returned to the loser. While this is a great way to grab the public's attention, I do not see how this fits into either museum's mission statement.

The pieces being put up by the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) include "The Fifth Plague of Egypt," painted in 1800 by legendary English artist William Turner.


While the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) include Claude Lorrain's treasured 1644 painting "Ideal View of Tivoli".


Anderson, NOMA's Director, stated that his confidence in the Colts and Peyton Manning when he said

Obviously we wouldn't presume to place one of our greatest masterpieces on the road for three months, unless we were sure we wouldn't have to.

No pressure Peyton.

Eris Goddess of Strife

Strife:
1.: bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension
2.: an act of contention : fight, struggle
3.: exertion or contention for superiority

Eris was the Greek goddess of strife and discord. Her Roman counterpart was the goddess Discordia. Her parents are thought to be Zeus and Hera, making her the sister of Ares, but a conflicting myth states that she is the daughter of Erebos, the primeval god of darkness, and Nyx, the night. She was also the mother of the Kakodaimones, the plagues of humanity released by Pandora.

"But abhorred Eris (Strife) bare painful Ponos (Toil), and Lethe (Forgetfulness), and Limos (Starvation), and the Algea (Pains), full of weeping, the Hysminai (Fightings) and the Makhai (Battles), the Phonoi (Murders) and the Androktasiai (Man-slaughters), the Neikea (Quarrels), the Pseudo-Logoi (Lies), the Amphilogiai (Disputes), and Dysnomia (Lawlessness) and Ate (Ruin), who share one another's natures, and Horkos (Oath) who does more damage than any other to earthly men, when anyone, of his knowledge, swears to a false oath."

Hesiod

A vicious and unyielding goddess, Eris was feared by all men. Her standing amongst the gods was shaky as well, most tried to keep their distance. All of the gods and goddesses were invited to the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, except for Eris. When she attempted to attend the wedding anyways she was kicked out. In her need for revenge she quietly tossed a golden apple into the foray. It was inscribed "To the Fairest." Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all believed that the apple Jove to name a mortal to judge who should receive the apple. That mortal was Paris, Prince of Troy. He chose Aphordite in exchange for the love of Helen. Thus began the Trojan War.

Eris (Hate) whose wrath is relentless, she is the sister and companion of murderous Ares, she who is only a little thing at the first, but thereafter grows until she strides on the earth with her head striking heaven.

Homer

This is how Eris took her revenge and grew in power as both men and gods fought a battle inspired by a little golden apple.