&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_1449" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="(source: http://platinumgames.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/blog_colony.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225)"]<a href="http://platinumgames.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/blog_colony.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225"><img class="size-full wp-image-1449" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/blog_colony.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

Location: Earth Research Space Colony - Academy of Archeology

The works selected to be preserved are The Epic of Gilgamesh, the Palatine Chapel, The Isenhiem Altarpiece, and Cortes’ letters from Mexico. All the works selected represent bear important meanings to humanity. They are all significant in that they are all hallmarks of human progress, inspiration, innovation, and ingenuity throughout humanity.<!--more-->

Since, the preservation of the works is crucial, all the works will be kept in a secure container made out of self-healing glass and metal so that if anything manages to puncture the containers, it will immediately seal, minimizing the damage done to the cargo contained within. These containers can also act as a display case that can be locked in place in display rooms of the ship. They can withstand the pressures of space and can be powered by the sun. Numerous tracking devices will be added to the containers in the event that we somehow lose any one of these works, they can be retrieved.

The display room will have locks upon which the containers can be placed on to secure it in place. These locks are also access points to tubes that run throughout the ship for easy transport if the works need to be moved around, since the containers are built to fit the tubes. The tubes can also lead to openings outside of the ship in case there is an emergency evacuation. All the works can be easily transported outside.

People can interact with all the works through hologram copies that can be enlarged, minimized, or duplicated by touch, voice-activated commands, and hand motions. They are accompanied with translations, data, and historical descriptions in the most commonly spoken languages.

All the works are original pieces except for the Palatine Chapel, which will only be a miniature hologram copy of the original. This hologram can also be minimized and enlarged for viewing purposes. Data of the Palatine Chapel will be stored in a sphere. Backups are included. If one wants to have a virtual tour of the Palatine Chapel, one can activate the tour by using voice-command, which can create a large, life-size hologram encompassing the entire display area, creating a realistic illusion of the chapel in real-time, complete with textures to appear tangible and solid. One can navigate through the virtual chapel by using the control pad that opens from the Data Sphere. Walking and running around is not advisable during the virtual tour, for the technology used is similar to advanced stealth-technology used in warfare prior to humanity’s transition into space. Therefore, any objects, with the exception of the Data Sphere, left open in the premises (that includes display containers, control pads, walls...etc) will be “stealthed,” hidden from view while the virtual tour is activated. Until the tour is over, it is imperative to STAY PUT and use only the control pad provided by the Data Sphere to transition from place to place in the virtual chapel, for it is a safety hazard to run into invisible objects. Virtual tours can be ended by using voice command. For those with technological augmentations (a.k.a. cyborgs) that allow access to databases, one can access virtual tour via cyberspace without having to use the Data Sphere. Although the Palatine Chapel cannot physically be taken into the ship, the lionheads from the chapel doors are taken as a symbolic representation of the Palatine.

All the works selected are selected to be preserved because they all give insight into ancient human thought, intellect, and perception, which all people of year 2100 can compare to current thoughts, knowledge, and ideas. The Epic of Gilgamesh depicts human growth, struggle, the search for immortality, the value of Life, and Death, which are all universal throughout human existence, are depicted in this one story. The Epic is the oldest epic known and contains one of the earliest forms of writing that was developed at the time: cuneiform. It is also one of the earliest known pieces of literature to ever be written since most stories during that era were passed down orally. It depicts a king who made great contributions to his people, leaving a legacy that was remembered throughout time, which is one of the most significant aspects of the epic that future generation will come to see. The Epic will provide a more humbling experience in the realization that we are all human and we are still vulnerable, especially now that we live in the vast expanse of space instead of the comfort of our home planet despite all the technology that allows us to do things our ancestors could only have dreamed of.

The Palatine Chapel represents the Carolingian era, a time in human history when people of many different cultures and backgrounds in what was Europe came together for the purpose of refining the arts and education. This was the start of public education in the west. It is significant for people today in that it shows how art and education can bring people together to create and innovate. In this case, the chapel with its bronze-casting and towering domes, is important in that it gives and insight to ancient medieval architecture which can be compared with our architecture today. Many people built extremely intricate and vast cathedrals that lasted for thousands of years displaying human ingenuity with practically without tools for construction. Today, we have all sorts of tools that we can utilize to easily create constructs on a much larger scale. Future generations can look back and see how far we have come.

The Isenheim Altarpiece gives insight in the role that religion played in shaping humanity. This was painted during the German Renaissance, a time that is remembered for the exploration into art in what was once Germany. It is unique in that it depicted a more gruesome and realistic depiction of Christ, mixing realism and macabre into art. Although, it has a religious meaning, it also has a more universal meaning beneath it. The Altarpiece depicts the death and resurrection of Christ, symbolizing death and rebirth. Christ is often symbolic of humanity so the piece can often be portrayed as the death and rebirth of humanity. Humanity often goes through cycles of destruction and rebirth as portrayed in our history such as how our life living on Earth has ended and now we start anew in space. Future generations will see that destruction is part of the process of starting over.

The Letters from Mexico by Cortes are accounts by Cortes, history’s most famous or infamous conqueror, of one of the oldest human civilizations on Earth, one that has captured the fascination of many in the western part of Earth at the time. They are basically early forms of travel literature. These letters were published throughout Europe and were used as propaganda to get people to travel westward. The letters are basically travel reports to the King and Queen of what was once Spain and depicts two different yet similar cultures collide. This piece is one that is perhaps the most important to future generations out of all four pieces for it can give us insight in how we might react when encountering extraterrestrial life forms and other advanced non-human civilizations that may be out there. These letters may be extremely important to study if we are to explore the frontiers of space.

Overall, not only do all the pieces selected remind us who we are and what we’ve accomplished throughout the existence of our race, they may provide us insight to why we are the way we are. There are lessons within these pieces and it is up to the future generations to seek and understand so that we may continue to grow and evolve.

&nbsp;