Les Lester, Ramses the Great
The Ramesses the Great statue on the University of Memphis campus, in Memphis, Tenn., is indicative of the cultural capital that that city enjoys. The ancient Egyptian replica statue, that once stood on the grounds of the 30-story stainless steel Pyramid Arena, the former home of the NBA's Memphis Grizzles, represents cultural cultivation at its best. A typical flight into Memphis allows one to gaze down at what is sometimes called the great pyramid of America, which is a sight to behold from its overhead panorama. Currently, the pyramid houses a retail outlet, but the Ancient Egyptian motif is still inherently effective.
The city engenders a cultural goldmine that can easily be exploited by its schools and the community-at-large, to full effect.
On a recent trip to that city, I was able to visit the University of Memphis' Egyptian Gallery at its campus museum. Memphis has all of the prerequisites of a world-class cultural destination, much like Atlanta, Ga., which has sometimes cultivated its "Atlantis motif."
Kudo's to Memphis as it aims high for a cultural renaissance.
