Introduction to Museology

Introduction to Museology

• Museology is the study of the museum, not its practice, which is museography.
• Museology is concerned with understanding the concept and function of museums.

Etymology and Definition of Museums

• The word "museum" has classical origins, stemming from the Greek word "mouseion", meaning "seat of the Muses".
• The Muses were Greek goddesses of poetic inspiration, song, dance, and memory.
• There were nine Muses: Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, and Thalia.

Development of the Term "Museum"

• Aristotle founded the Lyceum, a community of scholars, in the mid-340s BCE, where he collected and classified botanical specimens.
• The Lyceum was referred to as a "mouseion", a philosophical institution or place of contemplation.
• The Latin derivation, "museum", was used in Roman times to describe places of philosophical discussion.
• In the 15th century, the term "museum" was revived in Europe to describe comprehensive collections, such as Lorenzo de' Medici's in Florence.

Development in the Conceptual Meaning of "Museum"

• By the 17th century, "museum" was used in Europe to describe collections of curiosities, such as Ole Worm's in Copenhagen and John Tradescant's.
• The collection of Elias Ashmole was transferred to the University of Oxford in 1675 and became known as the Ashmolean Museum.
• By the 18th century, the concept of a museum as an institution to preserve and display collections to the public was established.
• The term "museum" denoted a building housing cultural material to which the public had access.
• From the mid-20th century, the concept and philosophy of museums changed, and many types of museums developed.

Recent Definitions of "Museum"

• Modern definitions of museums emphasize their role in exploring connections between cultures and civilizations.
• Examples of modern museums include the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which displays objects and art chronologically to explore connections between cultures.
• Museums have a dynamic process of communication between the museum and the audience through media, activities, and exhibitions.
• A museum's mission statement defines its purpose and identity, establishing its role and responsibilities to the public and its collections.