There is still another side to realize in this meaningful court. The
exposition is a great festival, a triumphal festival, and you meet the
suggestions of it all around you.
This great court is entered on three sides by Triumphal Arches.
The Triumphal Arch of the Occident,
The Triumphal Arch of the Orient,
The Triumphal Arch of the Tower of Jewels.
The prototype of the triumphal arch is seen in many places, most
satisfactorily today in Rome.
The Arch of Constantine is the best model for us to examine, for it has
three openings - even if the shape of the side opening is not the same
as that of the arches before us.
The great court is hung with festoons (on the frieze) and decorated with
the vine and its grapes (on the architrave).
The bulls' heads with festoons are represented on the frieze as they
once were on the altars of old when the festival, "The Feast of the
Sacrifice," was celebrated. (Refer to the same subject in The Court of
the Four Seasons.)
In stately procession around the sunken garden are seen the Canephori
bringing their jars of nectar.
The Canephori in old Greek days were the maidens who formed part of the
great processions, such an one as the Panethenaea, carrying on their
heads baskets which held the consecrated temple furniture, to be
deposited at the end of the long march in the temple.
Here the sculptor has taken the license of representing men with the
maidens, and instead of baskets has used vases.
This idea of the festival is strongly accented at night when you are
transported to old Greek and Roman days.
Follow after this procession and you will notice that Paul Manship's
"Joy of Living," or "Motion," as it is also called, has entered. The
joyous girls in perfect abandon are coming to join the happy throng.
They bring their offerings in the shape of great wild-rose festoons,
well suited to the "Wild Roses" who carry them.
Near by is Paul Manship's "Music," adding the song, and the music of the
lyre.
As a last touch you will find the nations of the Occident and the
nations of the Orient marching into this Court of the Universe to take
part in the festival in celebration of one of the greatest events of
history - the opening of the Panama Canal.
At night comes the illumination, as a climax to the festival, and
gradually the lights die down and all is still - just for a few hours
only, for day will dawn, for is not the Rising Sun ever with us - and
another day of festivity will come, and yet more at this greatest
festival that the world has ever known.