TML&D

23. Egyptian history and mythology. During her younger years, Mom was a big fan of exotic music and culture– but she had an especially deep love for Egyptian history, mythology, art and jewelry. It’s true that there are some gothic affectations in her decorating schemes of this house, but that is tiny compared to the several Egyptian murals and boxes full of scarab rings and cartouche pendants. (But never ankhs, because those were crosses!) I think that if you were of her Jewish generation in America, you felt like you straddled the world of the alien and exotic and the domestic and familiar– but Jews have often had a *thing* for ancient Egypt the same way that Christians have obsessed on ancient Rome– these were the guys who kicked our asses, but were also incredibly sophisticated and fascinating while doing it. The Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, after all. Mom also had part of her honeymoon in the Middle East, and visited both Israel and Egypt at a time when durable peace between those two countries seemed optimistic, so embracing pharaohic chic was something she definitely loved. She was most definitely surprised but not entirely displeased that Egyptian imagery got enveloped into vampire and gothic stuff later on. Once again, my Mom was ahead of the curve and goth before goth was cool.