Introduction to Museology

Study Notes

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.

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.

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.

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.