Everyone must have heard of museums and many of you may have visited one. So, the question is- what is a museum? What is it meant for? And what is the history behind it? Let’s go a little deeper.
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific importance. Museums generally aims for satisfying human desire, provide materials for researchers and providing information to public. Museums are of various types-
1.art museum
2.science museum
3.war museum
4.natural history museum
5.children’s museum
•History of museum- Museums have a long history’ starting from human desire and curiosity to know and collect and interpret everything. The word museum origins from the Greek word ‘mouseion’ meant “seat of the muses” which was a philosophical institution or a place of contemplation. The very first museum was situated at Alexandriya founded by Ptolemy in 3rd century BC was more of a prototype university. By 17th century museum was being used in Europe to describe collection of curiosity. In 19th and 20th century museum used for a building housing cultural material to which public had excess. But later on the emphasis on ‘the building’ became less. Museum like ecomuseum which means ‘museum without walls’, virtual museum which is a digital entity that draws on the characteristics of a museum totally changed the definition of museum.
•Then and now- The concept of preservation and interpretation formed the base of museum. The evidence of collections of objects has been found in Paleolithic burials like the caves and mobiliary art of that period. In 2nd millennium BC at Larsa of Mesopotamia, copies of old inscriptions were used in the schools. Later ion some findings evident that Babylonian kings may have collected antiquities in their day. In the Greek and roman empires work of art and natural curiosities, as well as exotic items brought from various parts of the empires were displayed to the public often upon payment of a small fee.
•The modern museum can trace some of its origins to private collections maintained by individuals during the Renaissance. Over time a developing spirit of enquiry brought to collecting a different meaning and purpose. The first body to receive a private collection, erect a building to house it and make it publicly available was the University of Oxford. The resulting building, which later known as Ashmolean museum opened in 1683. During industrialization process in Europe two museums- in London the British Museum and in Parish the Louvre opened. Before the end of 18th century the phenomenon of the museum had spread to other parts of the world. By the early 19th century the granting of public access to private collections had become more common. Along with the identification of a clear role for museums in society, there gradually developed a body of theory the study of which known as museology.
In this way the development of museum occur over time. It has a broad history, whose journey start from ancient institution of philosophy to recent age high-tech museums. This is a topic of many interests.
Thank you,
Aliza
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific importance. Museums generally aims for satisfying human desire, provide materials for researchers and providing information to public. Museums are of various types-
1.art museum
2.science museum
3.war museum
4.natural history museum
5.children’s museum
•History of museum- Museums have a long history’ starting from human desire and curiosity to know and collect and interpret everything. The word museum origins from the Greek word ‘mouseion’ meant “seat of the muses” which was a philosophical institution or a place of contemplation. The very first museum was situated at Alexandriya founded by Ptolemy in 3rd century BC was more of a prototype university. By 17th century museum was being used in Europe to describe collection of curiosity. In 19th and 20th century museum used for a building housing cultural material to which public had excess. But later on the emphasis on ‘the building’ became less. Museum like ecomuseum which means ‘museum without walls’, virtual museum which is a digital entity that draws on the characteristics of a museum totally changed the definition of museum.
•Then and now- The concept of preservation and interpretation formed the base of museum. The evidence of collections of objects has been found in Paleolithic burials like the caves and mobiliary art of that period. In 2nd millennium BC at Larsa of Mesopotamia, copies of old inscriptions were used in the schools. Later ion some findings evident that Babylonian kings may have collected antiquities in their day. In the Greek and roman empires work of art and natural curiosities, as well as exotic items brought from various parts of the empires were displayed to the public often upon payment of a small fee.
•The modern museum can trace some of its origins to private collections maintained by individuals during the Renaissance. Over time a developing spirit of enquiry brought to collecting a different meaning and purpose. The first body to receive a private collection, erect a building to house it and make it publicly available was the University of Oxford. The resulting building, which later known as Ashmolean museum opened in 1683. During industrialization process in Europe two museums- in London the British Museum and in Parish the Louvre opened. Before the end of 18th century the phenomenon of the museum had spread to other parts of the world. By the early 19th century the granting of public access to private collections had become more common. Along with the identification of a clear role for museums in society, there gradually developed a body of theory the study of which known as museology.
In this way the development of museum occur over time. It has a broad history, whose journey start from ancient institution of philosophy to recent age high-tech museums. This is a topic of many interests.
Aliza
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