It has been a long time in the making, but you can finally bring back the violence and savagery your family gatherings have been missing over the last few 1000 years. The Royal Game of Ur is now back in the shop! And for the first time in the last 2 millennia (not centuries!) you can play the ADVANCED rules. Also, we brought back the drawer! Buy it here: shorturl.at/Zahgw We will be making more videos about the game and how it was made in the future. Subscribe and hit the notification bell to make sure you don't miss out. Cheers for all your support.
I bet that 4000 years ago the game didn't cost the equivalent of £99,-. Like that it will never make a comeback!! Just sell the rulebook without the board. We can build one ourselves. Most likely everybody did back then.
You need series number 5: "Dr Finkel Opens Boxes" wherein he wanders around the archive and opens random boxes and tells a story. A bit of personal reminiscing. A bit of "What if". A bit of history. Put that enthusiasm to good use.
"the next minute they have a fight, and two have been hospitalised. There's a good healthy activity" this man, I swear to god he's a genius. I had to listen to that for like two times, the first time I was like "wait.. what..?"
You gotta look at the bright side. That would make the alcohol exit their body faster, presumably when they got a fist in the torso and send the wines back up.
@@meatballsnacker-sitregald6919 i saw another bright side : a good fight once in a while is healthy for the mind, it's good to let the reptilian brain express itself sometimes.
This game has a specific balance: if played optimally, or even just reasonably, it strongly favors the player who is losing on points - it's like playing Mario Kart, the ones in the back have it easier. It's perfectly possible to build a 3-point advantage (with first side reaching 7 being the winning condition) and then lose it all on your last point. Plus while it's a primarily a strategy game, luck plays a significant role, and bad rolls - and opponent's good rolls - can really ruin your day. Plus it makes it seemingly quite easy to cheat but even easier to get caught cheating. The effect is it has all the elements needed to get absolutely infuriating.
This man is what the magic of archaeology is all about. I wish he could live for 500 years or more. He deserves so, and so does human history. Mr. Irving has a CHA score of 18 at least.
Mr. Finkle. I’m just a little old man, worked as a blacksmith and woodwright for the state of Indiana, USA,, and I’d have to say, and it’s sort of weird to say it, but love you. For those next 500 years, please stay awesome.
Same. What an incredible gentleman. My only fear is that, for a gentleman with all his knowledge and wisdom, I might be a bit too boring of a person to have an engaging conversation with.
@@saundrayork767 now that would be great viewing, a bit like Ahn Do's brush with fame www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/anhs-brush-with-fame/ th-cam.com/video/HNI6aRwXFwY/w-d-xo.html
I can't express how happy watching this man makes me. THIS is what Human Beings are capable of. Uninhibited curiosity that brings a magical perspective on anything. Watching Irving always makes me love the world a little more, with a little tear in my eye.
Thank you, Dr Finkel, you were so kind about my "mark 1" hanging gardens of Babylon", they're still not finished because I could never decide how to finish the bottom register but I finally decided to do it with 2 of Ishtar's lions facing each other, snarling, of course
@@tiestokygoericprydz3963 The city of Babylon is located quite close to Baghdad, close enough that Baghdad is partially built over the ruins of the ancient city
And the American military filled the sandbags to create helicopter landing pads with swathes of unexcavated Babylon 🤦😱😭 what treasures have been lost,we shall never know.
Unfortunately, during the invasion of Iraq twenty years ago, American soldiers chose to fill huge numbers of sandbags to build helicopter landing pads in Babylon. Using great swathes of unexcavated Babylon,as rubble for sandbags. We will never know what was lost to human understanding of our history,
Oh yes! Irving Finkle could fit right in at Unseen University, albeit perhaps a bit too active at times (I mean is that the waistline of a man who eats as many good meals as a wizard should?), but I could see him becoming very popular with Stibbons' lot and the beard alone would win him some Wizarding cred.
I imagine him as a child saying "I could be a curator, I'd be great at curating, I'd be The Great Curator" Edit: I forgot about this comment and suddenly it has over 700 likes, thanks whovians
This series and Love Objects are standouts, but really Irving Finked should have his own series, and range of merchandise, ... and a BBC documentary. He should also enter the Bake Off, and possibly Dancing on Ice - essentially I believe that all Video in all formats across all channels would benefit from a sprinkle of the twinkly Finkel.
I can't imagine anything more hideous than watching such a wonderful and talented man demeaning himself in such a degrading manner. He deserves to be given a series on a subject of his own choice, where, like he does in his TH-cam videos,he can speak passionately, knowledgeably and humorously to the camera without gimmick and crudity. As David Attenborough does.
Mad as a brush! I love this geezer! I also envy his Nirvanic happiness, a happiness reflected by the enthusiasm he exudes on this video. I just have to say that when I was a kid aged 9 or 10, I and my classmate used to get what was called a Range Rover bus pass (if memory serves) to go up town to visit the British Museum (Times were more innocent back in the sixties!). I fell in love with the Egyptian artifacts. I fell in love with everything to do with Ancient Egypt then; especially Egyptian mythology. Don't get me wrong, I still loved to play football and lark about. But The British Museum was, for me, a place of exquisite wonder. The Rosetta Stone (or rather its facsimile) in the main foyer was a terrific sight. I was also lucky enough in my early twenties to get a job as a betting shop manager in New Oxford Street which was around the corner from the museum. My last visit there was over twenty-five years ago when I took my family up there. Unfortunately while in the Egyptian Room (of course!), there was a bomb scare and there was a bloody lock-down!. After about 45 minutes, the great big doors were re-opened followed by a mad rush to the toilets! All in all I have happy memories. I should pop up there again sometime. Thank you, Dr Finkel.
I love this! Being introduced to individual objects makes the British Museum so accessible for us (the public!). This is so interesting. Thank you Dr Finkel.
Absolutely charming! Thanks for sharing! - I have a nephew-in-law who told us that he was furious with one of his sisters because she went to England, visited London, of course, and did not visit the British Museum! He said to her: "If you didn't visit the British Museum, you didn't visit London! Now, I know why. A great place to work. Thanks again for sharing your story. I will get in touch with my nephew-in-law and recommend your corner to him and his sister. Best to you.
When I've discovered dept of ancient Mesopotamia, it was as if the time stopped. I wanted to read every description, study each object and day dream about the context in which it was used. I ABSOLUTELY loved the examples picked for the library of Ashurbanipal - I hope they change them up frequently!
I've enjoyed Irving Finkel in the past, but I find myself astounded by how touching I find this video. His enthusiasm is what humanities are all about. He brings out the humanity represented by these astonishing objects.
This guy is the embodiment of great teaching, by show how the things that drive his curiosity and also is a full time attention when he is talking about this stuff. Just love this guy.
+Michael Roszkowski yes, yes you can. But please create another account and like it that way rather than just liking it and then taking it back and then liking it again. If you choose that method, no one wins.
I'm telling! That would be violating the sacred terms and conditions of youtube that were discovered written in binary on silicon wafers circa 2003 C.E at a site in ancient silicon valley california..
I love this man so much. I could listen to his stories all day long and never get tired of it. I'd like him to pick out a random item and tell me the story behind it. So fascinating
I wanna be a curator just from that speech. What an interesting person! Would be fun to go to the British Museum. Should make a note for when I'm eventually visiting GB.
Absolutely fabulous. When I was a boy I would go up to the V&A, the British Museum, the War Museum, The Natural History Museum and spend many, many hours just looking and reading. The information and the entertainment of poking about and studying is absolutely endless. I thank you very much for this offering, one could never be bored when surrounded by historic knowledge/beauty/discovery. I think it was Samuel Johnson who said, "A man who is tired of London is tired of life." The museums alone inspire those words. Easy to see why London commands such huge costs in housing.....unfortunately I can no longer afford to live there.
Here in Connecticut, we are just so taken with the multiplicity of topics and the depth at which you “just” casually pull us into ! You sir, ARE the rabbi ! Thank you seems like a trivial. Like I would say to some dolt held the door. My god, thank you.
Irving is one of the most amazing educators we have in the UK i cant get enough of his lectures .i am by no means an educated man but he has taught me so much and put me onto things i would never have thought about ...thanks Irving your a great man and your enthusiasm for your subject is infectious like many great British eccentrics such as magnus pike David belemy steven hawkin etc etc who needs Brian cox in his trendy trousers !!
This chap is just cracking. You can just see and feel that he is loving what he does. And his slight but cracking humor is the cherry on the top. No words. Would like to shake his hand ones.
I'm 1:30 into this video and already this guy is an inspiration. Knew what he wanted to be since he was 9, knew where he wanted to do it, exudes passion for his work, and the work that he does helps educate the world on such a beautiful topic. What a treasure.
7 ปีที่แล้ว +5
Irving Finkel is a guy I would love to talk with for hours - make it days or months! Seriously, an amazing person!
Whoever did the subtitling and the little pop-up commentary in the lower third did a fantastic job. Also, I wish I had known about Irving Finkel earlier so I could have devoted more of my life to pursuing whatever path leads to becoming Irving Finkel.
4:36 what he says here is such a great summary of why ancient artifacts are fascinating and what’s so special about them. It’s not so much the objects themselves, but really the people who lived with them, made them and used them, that make these objects so special and meaningful.
I’ve played this game for over 40 years, first with my Dad and now heated matches with my kids. In fact it may be partially the reason I studied archaeology and became a museum curator so thank you Irving!
Dr. Finkel is by far one of the most interesting lecturers I've ever listened to. He makes the information so very interesting keeping you in stitches all the while. I don't remember what I was watching before, but the doctor's program about the Ark came on. I had not been paying a lot of attention to what I had on before, but I rewound to the beginning & listened to every word of his lecture. He is amazing to listen to even if you're not interested in the subject. My 15 yr old g'son started listening & chuckling. He had barely heard of Cuneiform, Assyria and most definitely a coracle.
IRVING FINKEL where have you been all my life! You have me hooked on all things in the Curator’s Corner. I hope to visit the UK once again to be mesmerized and the last out the door of the British Museum.
Fantastic story about your board game replica that you made as a child. Your lifelong love of archeological objects is infectious & just makes your viewers want to know more. Congratulations on living your dream!
I can't help but feel the dear Dr's enthusiasm and essentially love for the place he's so humbly worked and played his entire life. It must be wonderful being able too be around all those ancient artifacts everyday. Im so glad I found this channel its really, really interesting and very educational. 👍
I made this game for my kids when they were young. We worked out a set of rules based on what was known at the time. I added an extra twist in that when you jumped off the board you entered the underworld. To get out you had to roll the magical number 7. Of course this made the game endless but kids don't care too much about those kinds of details as long as it's fun. I find Dr. Finkel's work on the tablets particularly interesting as I enjoy mesopotamian myth, legend & history very much.
So if I'm to understand... He saw this game in a photo when he was around 9 and completed his copy around the same age. Then he became a curator for most all his life and during that time was examining around 130000 ancient inscription tablets and found one of them was a set of rules for a game. Then not knowing which game the rules were for he started studying tons of ancient games to see if it seemed to fit any of them and it just so happened to be the game he made a copy of as a 9 year old??
Yes, pretty much that - think about it, of course he found the rules that matched his childhood game, his job was to read them all, and 129,999 tablets didn't match! Obviously only some would be about game rules, but these aren't the only vast collections of ancient writings prof Finkel has examined. Out of perhaps millions of artifacts in his field he has seen, he found one that matched up with his lifelong obsession.
Majestic personality this Irving! Saw his RI appearance, and thought the presentation was too short. This man is a walking "something" book. I can't label it.
Hahaha... please do realize that saying FIRST! always implies pre-knowledge of who could/might be first, so BEING ACTUALLY first, one would never even THINK TO SAY IT!
I do like the Professor's attitude! How wonderful to enjoy going to work! I think the world would be a much better place if more people were doing good things with their lives and had a smile in their hearts. May we all be blessed with joy!
It is so cool that you made that game as a child and found the rules as a curator! It just shows how wonderful life can be if you do what you have a passion for!
What a wonderful thing. For this man to not only be doing the job he wanted and loves, but to connect his personal history to that of a few friends 4 thousand years ago. And then share that with us 😊
It has been a long time in the making, but you can finally bring back the violence and savagery your family gatherings have been missing over the last few 1000 years. The Royal Game of Ur is now back in the shop! And for the first time in the last 2 millennia (not centuries!) you can play the ADVANCED rules. Also, we brought back the drawer! Buy it here: shorturl.at/Zahgw
We will be making more videos about the game and how it was made in the future. Subscribe and hit the notification bell to make sure you don't miss out. Cheers for all your support.
I will definitely be ordering this next paycheck, thank you
Now this is exciting! Finally I can purchase it!
I bet that 4000 years ago the game didn't cost the equivalent of £99,-. Like that it will never make a comeback!!
Just sell the rulebook without the board. We can build one ourselves. Most likely everybody did back then.
Oh please, I would love to know when it will be back in stock! The website says you are out of them. Should I email or call? Or just wait?
Oh dammit I already bought one from another site a month ago
With the intensity of which he says "I'm going to be one for another 500 years" I fully and absolutely believe him.
hes clearly an immortal wizard
I second that notion for sure :)
He found the right book out of those 130,000 there
He said it causually ike that's how long his shift is
I'm so glad I wasn't the only one to believe him when he said that. He the reincarnated Merlin so soak it in
This man is a national treasure, fortunately he is already in the British museum
Hahahha
international*
LOL
World Treasure.
😅
"I've been one for a very long time and I'm going to be one for another 500 years!" I love this man.
Why did I read that in Donald Trump's voice?
He probably read the cuneiform tablet that teaches him how to do that.
He sounded VERY serious when he said it, too, the mad man. I believe in him though.
Ha! This is EXACTLY what I just said out loud to myself and then I saw your comment :D
Basically nobody has as much access to arcane literature as him, maybe he can
This man spews intelligence, humor, and charisma. What a guy. Can't wait for his next 500 years as a curator to give us more knowledge of days passed!
He is a true wizard
You need series number 5: "Dr Finkel Opens Boxes" wherein he wanders around the archive and opens random boxes and tells a story. A bit of personal reminiscing. A bit of "What if". A bit of history. Put that enthusiasm to good use.
Euan Walker Brady Haran and Keith the Librarian are doing that at the Royal Society. It's called Objectivity.
second the bump
I want as many videos as possible before he goes on an extended vacation. Himself is a museum treasure.
I would watch that series for hours upon hours..
Yes!!!
"the next minute they have a fight, and two have been hospitalised. There's a good healthy activity" this man, I swear to god he's a genius. I had to listen to that for like two times, the first time I was like "wait.. what..?"
You gotta look at the bright side. That would make the alcohol exit their body faster, presumably when they got a fist in the torso and send the wines back up.
@@meatballsnacker-sitregald6919 lol
@@meatballsnacker-sitregald6919 i saw another bright side : a good fight once in a while is healthy for the mind, it's good to let the reptilian brain express itself sometimes.
This game has a specific balance: if played optimally, or even just reasonably, it strongly favors the player who is losing on points - it's like playing Mario Kart, the ones in the back have it easier. It's perfectly possible to build a 3-point advantage (with first side reaching 7 being the winning condition) and then lose it all on your last point. Plus while it's a primarily a strategy game, luck plays a significant role, and bad rolls - and opponent's good rolls - can really ruin your day. Plus it makes it seemingly quite easy to cheat but even easier to get caught cheating. The effect is it has all the elements needed to get absolutely infuriating.
You are so right, major double take moment there, he just says so...seriously...
This man is what the magic of archaeology is all about. I wish he could live for 500 years or more. He deserves so, and so does human history. Mr. Irving has a CHA score of 18 at least.
Whats a CHA?
Is that like a Scoville score?
Doesn’t he get 2 ability scores as starting out as human race
Bruh definitely 20 int
too bad the old fuck didn't actually tell us about how the damned thing is played. that's what I came here for. waste of time.
Mr. Finkle. I’m just a little old man, worked as a blacksmith and woodwright for the state of Indiana, USA,, and I’d have to say, and it’s sort of weird to say it, but love you. For those next 500 years, please stay awesome.
This man is the real treasure in the British museum.
Irving Finkel is one of my favorite people to listen to, may he inspire generations of curators just like him
So glad Merlin ended up curating a museum. It just seems appropriate.
I'm also ecstatic about this board game! Thanks, Dr. Merlin!
This is Dumbledore you sexist
@Jacob Peters YOU'RE Doubledoor you plonker.
Omg. Im cracking up. I just wrote that above before seeing your comment
Talk about horribly disrespectful!
Number 1, op. :)
Does anyone else genuinely hope this man DOES stick around for another 500 years?
I would love to sit down and have a full conversation with this man. He seems so interesting and full of personality!
+Louise Ainge same, and also over a game of that
It's the wacky hair and beard.
Same. What an incredible gentleman. My only fear is that, for a gentleman with all his knowledge and wisdom, I might be a bit too boring of a person to have an engaging conversation with.
I would love to paint this man! . . and he can talk while I paint
@@saundrayork767 now that would be great viewing, a bit like Ahn Do's brush with fame www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/anhs-brush-with-fame/
th-cam.com/video/HNI6aRwXFwY/w-d-xo.html
I can't express how happy watching this man makes me. THIS is what Human Beings are capable of. Uninhibited curiosity that brings a magical perspective on anything. Watching Irving always makes me love the world a little more, with a little tear in my eye.
Irving is a proper legend. He was THE most helpful and inspiring curator that I interviewed for my MA dissertation. Love Curators' Corner.
Thank you, Dr Finkel, you were so kind about my "mark 1" hanging gardens of Babylon", they're still not finished because I could never decide how to finish the bottom register but I finally decided to do it with 2 of Ishtar's lions facing each other, snarling, of course
@@margaretrochester6513 is Babylon in modern Iraq?
@@tiestokygoericprydz3963 The city of Babylon is located quite close to Baghdad, close enough that Baghdad is partially built over the ruins of the ancient city
And the American military filled the sandbags to create helicopter landing pads with swathes of unexcavated Babylon 🤦😱😭 what treasures have been lost,we shall never know.
Unfortunately, during the invasion of Iraq twenty years ago, American soldiers chose to fill huge numbers of sandbags to build helicopter landing pads in Babylon. Using great swathes of unexcavated Babylon,as rubble for sandbags. We will never know what was lost to human understanding of our history,
I'm a curator I've already admitted it😂😂Doc has a good sense of humour and intelligence.
Finkel: "This goes back almost as long as I do."
*Shows the actual 4300-year-old game board*
Me: Yes, Gandalf.
I think he meant the replica he built.
@@mysteryland01 Abort joke.
@ Well, it wasn't a great joke anyway...
@@mysteryland01 it was
:))) nais
After shooting the video he quietly opened a portal and returned to his home in the Discworld universe.
Oh yes! Irving Finkle could fit right in at Unseen University, albeit perhaps a bit too active at times (I mean is that the waistline of a man who eats as many good meals as a wizard should?), but I could see him becoming very popular with Stibbons' lot and the beard alone would win him some Wizarding cred.
What an absolutely intriguing person this man is.
This man is a marvel, it feels so good how positive he talks about the things he is dedicated to
I imagine him as a child saying "I could be a curator, I'd be great at curating, I'd be The Great Curator"
Edit: I forgot about this comment and suddenly it has over 700 likes, thanks whovians
"Welcome to the exhibit!"
I get this reference
Clara Chernaya Doctor who?
"You know, I really think you might."
Galeyfrey falls..no more 😊
Irving, you're the coolest dude ever. I hope you really live for 500 more years.
This series and Love Objects are standouts, but really Irving Finked should have his own series, and range of merchandise, ... and a BBC documentary. He should also enter the Bake Off, and possibly Dancing on Ice - essentially I believe that all Video in all formats across all channels would benefit from a sprinkle of the twinkly Finkel.
He may be a little too open-minded and subversive for BBC though??
It's very odd he didn't make it to a meme yet
I can't imagine anything more hideous than watching such a wonderful and talented man demeaning himself in such a degrading manner. He deserves to be given a series on a subject of his own choice, where, like he does in his TH-cam videos,he can speak passionately, knowledgeably and humorously to the camera without gimmick and crudity. As David Attenborough does.
"A sprinkle of the twinkly Finkel": nicely put! Is it wrong that I am in love with Irving Finkel?
This Irving Finkel is a jewel, a role model, and a great communicator.
This man is absolutely MARVELOUS
This has to be the winner! Make this man an internet sensation!
He was crazy. Absolutely someone I could spend 500 yrs listening too. He’s a legend. Hope you guys see it.
Just the kind of person you can listen to for hours talk about anything.
This man is magical. I love him and his energy. It's infectious.
I really want him to be around for another 5 hundred years.
Agreed.
I KNOW RIGHT
Seven years later I still watch this video. A great job, a great beard, a great man!
Mad as a brush! I love this geezer! I also envy his Nirvanic happiness, a happiness reflected by the enthusiasm he exudes on this video.
I just have to say that when I was a kid aged 9 or 10, I and my classmate used to get what was called a Range Rover bus pass (if memory serves) to go up town to visit the British Museum (Times were more innocent back in the sixties!). I fell in love with the Egyptian artifacts. I fell in love with everything to do with Ancient Egypt then; especially Egyptian mythology. Don't get me wrong, I still loved to play football and lark about. But The British Museum was, for me, a place of exquisite wonder. The Rosetta Stone (or rather its facsimile) in the main foyer was a terrific sight.
I was also lucky enough in my early twenties to get a job as a betting shop manager in New Oxford Street which was around the corner from the museum. My last visit there was over twenty-five years ago when I took my family up there. Unfortunately while in the Egyptian Room (of course!), there was a bomb scare and there was a bloody lock-down!. After about 45 minutes, the great big doors were re-opened followed by a mad rush to the toilets!
All in all I have happy memories. I should pop up there again sometime.
Thank you, Dr Finkel.
Thanks to historians, people from the past can speak to us with their architecture or games, blows my mind every time.
I love this! Being introduced to individual objects makes the British Museum so accessible for us (the public!). This is so interesting. Thank you Dr Finkel.
Dr. Finkel's cleverness and sense of humor are remarkable.
Irving Finkle is my new favorite human
Same here
@Isaak Groen prolly nebuchadnezzar
I couldn’t help but smile the whole time he’s so delightful
It is truly remarkable how much Dr. Finkel understands about these ancient people, their writing, and their culture.
This is the most carismatic channel because of the true love of it's presenter for his work.
Don't let this one drop.
Absolutely charming! Thanks for sharing! - I have a nephew-in-law who told us that he was furious with one of his sisters because she went to England, visited London, of course, and did not visit the British Museum! He said to her: "If you didn't visit the British Museum, you didn't visit London! Now, I know why. A great place to work. Thanks again for sharing your story. I will get in touch with my nephew-in-law and recommend your corner to him and his sister. Best to you.
I could listen to Irving Finkel for 10 hours straight without becoming bored.
Terrific raconteur. I could listen to this Prof all day and all night.....
You must never stop making videos.
Yeah, lichdom isn't as bad as it's chalked up to be anyways.
Nah, in some 200 years the video format will be totally obsolete and he's free to switch to brain transmissions or whatever takes over.
We all want to meet your sister Angela.
Wonderful to imagine two youngsters at play, recreating a moment that occurred thousands of years ago.
When I've discovered dept of ancient Mesopotamia, it was as if the time stopped. I wanted to read every description, study each object and day dream about the context in which it was used. I ABSOLUTELY loved the examples picked for the library of Ashurbanipal - I hope they change them up frequently!
I've enjoyed Irving Finkel in the past, but I find myself astounded by how touching I find this video. His enthusiasm is what humanities are all about. He brings out the humanity represented by these astonishing objects.
What a wonderful fellow! Utterly delightful!! A blessing! May he be at out for 500 years! As he suggests. Amazing fellow.
This guy is the embodiment of great teaching, by show how the things that drive his curiosity and also is a full time attention when he is talking about this stuff. Just love this guy.
can I please like this video more than once?
+Michael Roszkowski yes, yes you can. But please create another account and like it that way rather than just liking it and then taking it back and then liking it again. If you choose that method, no one wins.
how is the game played
Michael Roszkowski
Pppppppppppp
I'm telling! That would be violating the sacred terms and conditions of youtube that were discovered written in binary on silicon wafers circa 2003 C.E at a site in ancient silicon valley california..
***** like this th-cam.com/video/WZskjLq040I/w-d-xo.html
Dr Finkel is hilarious. If he wasn’t a museum curator I could absolutely have seen him on the Monty Python cast.
This man is just amazing. He sure is a rare person in this time and age.
Finkel has immense wisdom and communicates it with a lot of humor. I wish I had teachers like him.
I love this man so much. I could listen to his stories all day long and never get tired of it. I'd like him to pick out a random item and tell me the story behind it. So fascinating
This man always makes me smile. Such enthusiasm is infectious.
I wanna be a curator just from that speech.
What an interesting person!
Would be fun to go to the British Museum.
Should make a note for when I'm eventually visiting GB.
Dr. Finkel is possibly the most charming person on the planet. Bless this man.
Absolutely fabulous. When I was a boy I would go up to the V&A, the British Museum, the War Museum, The Natural History Museum and spend many, many hours just looking and reading. The information and the entertainment of poking about and studying is absolutely endless. I thank you very much for this offering, one could never be bored when surrounded by historic knowledge/beauty/discovery. I think it was Samuel Johnson who said, "A man who is tired of London is tired of life." The museums alone inspire those words. Easy to see why London commands such huge costs in housing.....unfortunately I can no longer afford to live there.
Dr. Finkel the most interesting and enjoyable bloke on TH-cam.
I can't wait to see what he comes up with in the next 500 years.
his passion brought me to tears ... and I'm happy :')
Here in Connecticut, we are just so taken with the multiplicity of topics and the depth at which you “just” casually pull us into !
You sir, ARE the rabbi ! Thank you seems like a trivial. Like I would say to some dolt held the door.
My god, thank you.
Mr Finkel I LOVE your enthusiasm and love for your work and the history. Inspiring!
+Feraloidies Don't forget his awesome Beard!
it's a beard. hmmff. I would watch this show for his knowledge and love.
Feraloidies dàhir
calasow
Doctor Finkel ;)
Irving is one of the most amazing educators we have in the UK i cant get enough of his lectures .i am by no means an educated man but he has taught me so much and put me onto things i would never have thought about ...thanks Irving your a great man and your enthusiasm for your subject is infectious like many great British eccentrics such as magnus pike David belemy steven hawkin etc etc who needs Brian cox in his trendy trousers !!
ooo the great Patrick Moore dont forget the star man !!!!!!
"... having a fight and two of them are in hospital...good, healthy activity..."" That killed me XD
This chap is just cracking.
You can just see and feel that he is loving what he does. And his slight but cracking humor is the cherry on the top.
No words.
Would like to shake his hand ones.
I agree! I would never want to leave the museum either if I had the keys to the treasures.
I'm 1:30 into this video and already this guy is an inspiration. Knew what he wanted to be since he was 9, knew where he wanted to do it, exudes passion for his work, and the work that he does helps educate the world on such a beautiful topic. What a treasure.
Irving Finkel is a guy I would love to talk with for hours - make it days or months! Seriously, an amazing person!
Whoever did the subtitling and the little pop-up commentary in the lower third did a fantastic job.
Also, I wish I had known about Irving Finkel earlier so I could have devoted more of my life to pursuing whatever path leads to becoming Irving Finkel.
SMITTEN!!!! this man needs his own series.
4:36 what he says here is such a great summary of why ancient artifacts are fascinating and what’s so special about them. It’s not so much the objects themselves, but really the people who lived with them, made them and used them, that make these objects so special and meaningful.
I’ve played this game for over 40 years, first with my Dad and now heated matches with my kids. In fact it may be partially the reason I studied archaeology and became a museum curator so thank you Irving!
Dr. Finkel is by far one of the most interesting lecturers I've ever listened to. He makes the information so very interesting keeping you in stitches all the while. I don't remember what I was watching before, but the doctor's program about the Ark came on. I had not been paying a lot of attention to what I had on before, but I rewound to the beginning & listened to every word of his lecture. He is amazing to listen to even if you're not interested in the subject. My 15 yr old g'son started listening & chuckling. He had barely heard of Cuneiform, Assyria and most definitely a coracle.
Just put this good Dr. Irving Finkel in a weekly vlog and your done.... Great episode :)
IRVING FINKEL where have you been all my life! You have me hooked on all things in the Curator’s Corner. I hope to visit the UK once again to be mesmerized and the last out the door of the British Museum.
What an enchanting man!
Fantastic story about your board game replica that you made as a child. Your lifelong love of archeological objects is infectious & just makes your viewers want to know more. Congratulations on living your dream!
What a brilliant man, so very interesting and amusing. I'm sure you have many wonderful curators to feature, but I'd love to see more of him.
Loving that the Creator listened to your Intense desire to Curate... Blessings Indeed😊😊😊
I can't help but feel the dear Dr's enthusiasm and essentially love for the place he's so humbly worked and played his entire life.
It must be wonderful being able too be around all those ancient artifacts everyday. Im so glad I found this channel its really, really interesting and very educational. 👍
More from This chap please- I could listen to him all day
I made this game for my kids when they were young. We worked out a set of rules based on what was known at the time. I added an extra twist in that when you jumped off the board you entered the underworld. To get out you had to roll the magical number 7. Of course this made the game endless but kids don't care too much about those kinds of details as long as it's fun.
I find Dr. Finkel's work on the tablets particularly interesting as I enjoy mesopotamian myth, legend & history very much.
wiskadjak What am awesome dad!
Yeah, I'd love if my dad skipped his beer glass and played ancient board games with me! This is so precious :)))
Well, considering this set of dice only allows rolling 0-4, I'd say yes, quite endless.
500 years more of this wonder- full gentleman ........ yes please ! Truely fascinating , thankyou :)
So if I'm to understand... He saw this game in a photo when he was around 9 and completed his copy around the same age. Then he became a curator for most all his life and during that time was examining around 130000 ancient inscription tablets and found one of them was a set of rules for a game. Then not knowing which game the rules were for he started studying tons of ancient games to see if it seemed to fit any of them and it just so happened to be the game he made a copy of as a 9 year old??
... TBH, that about sums it up perfectly, you absolutely have to check out his video about demons and the exorcist, wild...
Things work in a special way when you're Irving Finkel. He is this universe's anchor being. 😆
Yes, pretty much that - think about it, of course he found the rules that matched his childhood game, his job was to read them all, and 129,999 tablets didn't match! Obviously only some would be about game rules, but these aren't the only vast collections of ancient writings prof Finkel has examined. Out of perhaps millions of artifacts in his field he has seen, he found one that matched up with his lifelong obsession.
Majestic personality this Irving! Saw his RI appearance, and thought the presentation was too short. This man is a walking "something" book. I can't label it.
Mr. Finkel you are a fantastic and brilliant person
He is just a all around brilliant man. I could have a conversation with him for hours and not get even slightly bored
I want to hear Mr. Finkel explain every single tablet.
A most excellent video and a most excellent presenter.
I'm hoping they find the very first example of written text, an incredibly ancient piece of clay, and on it in cuneiform: "First!"
MWSin1 Marvellous comment. Simply marvellous.
Probably some pictures on a cave wall. Mountains, guy with spear, deer, bonfire, people eating, other people with spears, dead people....
Hahaha... please do realize that saying FIRST! always implies pre-knowledge of who could/might be first, so BEING ACTUALLY first, one would never even THINK TO SAY IT!
it would be kind of depressing if it said "hello world"
@@canalsoloparaverunvideodem8451 ♪programmed to work and not to feel♪
♪not even sure that this is reeal♪
♪hello world♪
I do like the Professor's attitude! How wonderful to enjoy going to work! I think the world would be a much better place if more people were doing good things with their lives and had a smile in their hearts. May we all be blessed with joy!
This man is a mage of knowledge.
I see what you did there....You call him mage because....because he plays games like a wizard right?? Couldn't think of another reason.
No. He plays games like a mage.
It is so cool that you made that game as a child and found the rules as a curator! It just shows how wonderful life can be if you do what you have a passion for!
This is bloody brilliant, more of the same please
Dr Finkel is clearly deeply eccentric ... a PERFECT example of a great British Academic. What a STAR!
I want to be Dr. Finkel when I grow up!
I think the trick is not to grow up.
Bernard Finucane not grow up a slave....he grew up working his dream.
This.
I absolutely love watching Dr Irving Finkel, the wealth of knowledge that he has is incredible 👍👍👍.
Take care Dr Finkel ♥️👍.
Melbourne, Australia.
I would definitely watch this if it was made as a regular series.
What a wonderful thing. For this man to not only be doing the job he wanted and loves, but to connect his personal history to that of a few friends 4 thousand years ago. And then share that with us 😊
I think this one is the best one.
I love what he's done this he's reinvigorating re-energizing the British museum in order to bring more people in. Brilliant! Im fascinated by this man