Museum of Antiquities (Saskatoon) facts for kids
| Established | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Location | University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Type | Archaeology museum |
The Museum of Antiquities is a cool museum located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada. It first opened its doors in 1974. The museum was created so people could learn about and study ancient art and objects. Today, you can see many amazing Greek and Roman sculptures there. It also has collections of art from the Near East, Egypt, and the Middle Ages. This museum is one of only a few like it in all of Canada!
Contents
Museum History
The idea for the Museum of Antiquities started in 1974. Two professors from the University of Saskatchewan began the project. They were Michael Swan, who studied ancient history, and Nicholas Gyenes, an art historian.
The museum's collection began with a few copies of famous artworks bought from the Louvre museum in Paris. Over time, it grew to include more copies from other museums. It also started getting original ancient objects. The university and many generous people helped the collection grow.
In 1981, the museum officially opened in a new space in the Murray Library. Catherine Gunderson became its first director and curator. As the museum got bigger, it moved to an even larger space in 2005. This new home is in the Peter MacKinnon Building. Tracene Harvey became the museum's director in 2009.
What the Museum Aims to Do
The main goal of the museum is to show the amazing art created by major Western civilizations. This covers a huge time period, from about 3000 BC to 1500 AD.
The museum first focused on showing ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. This is because these artworks greatly influenced later art in the Western world. Now, the collection includes pieces from the ancient Near East and ancient Egypt too. You can see items from around 1500 BC up to about 500 AD.
What You Can See: Replicas and Originals
Most of the pieces at the museum are plaster cast replicas. This means they are exact copies of original artworks. The Museum of Antiquities is one of the few places in Canada with such a collection of casts. It is the only one in Saskatchewan.
These replicas are usually not made from the same material as the original. For example, they are often made of plaster or resin, not heavy marble or bronze. This makes them much lighter and less expensive. The best replicas are made from molds taken directly from the original artworks. This means they show every detail, even any damage the original might have. After a plaster cast is made, it is painted to look just like the original piece.
The museum has copies of very famous artworks. These include the Rosetta Stone and the Venus de Milo.
The museum also has some original ancient pieces. One is the 17th-century portrait of Hannibal. Other original items include a large storage amphora (a type of jar) and a false door from ancient times. There is also a big collection of ancient glass objects.
Cool Past Exhibitions
The museum often hosts special exhibitions. Here are some interesting ones from the past:
- The Hanson Collection: Early Islamic Artifacts (2013)
- Masks as Mirrors: How Masks Were Used in Ancient Greece and Today (2013)
- Euphonia: Music for Everyone in the Middle Ages (2013)
- The Minden Collection: Ancient Glass and Artifacts (2012)
- Coinstantinople: Exploring Early Coins of the Byzantine Capital (2011)
- Buildings of The Past: Scale Models of Ancient Buildings (2011)
- Optimi Principes: New Roman Imperial Art Pieces (2010)
- Bene Merenti: Inscriptions from Roman Catacombs (2008)
- Wondrous Print: Renaissance Books in Saskatchewan (2007)
- Oasis: Civilizations of the Desert (2007)
- Art of Adornment (2006)
- The Stonecarver's Craft (2005)
- Greece Then & Now (2003)
Fun Activities and Programs
The museum offers exciting "Living History" Children's Summer Camps. These camps let kids experience what life was like in ancient times.
The museum also takes part in many local events. These include the Heritage Festival of Saskatoon, Folkfest, and Culture Days. This helps them share ancient history with the community.
University students can join a volunteer program at the museum. This program teaches them how to research and run a museum.
The museum has also worked with the Canadian Light Source. They have used special technology to study ancient coins.
