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 special archaeological museum located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada. It first opened in 1974. The museum's main goal was to give people a chance to study ancient artworks. Today, it shows off many Greek and Roman sculptures. It also has art from the Near East, Egypt, the Byzantine Empire, Islamic cultures, and the Middle Ages. This museum is one of only a few like it in Canada.
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A Journey Through Time: The Museum's Story
The idea for the Museum of Antiquities began in 1974. Two professors from the University of Saskatchewan started it. They were Michael Swan, an ancient history expert, and Nicholas Gyenes, an art historian. The museum's collection began with a few copies of artworks bought from the famous Louvre museum in Paris.
Over time, the collection grew. It added more copies from other museums and workshops. It also gained original ancient items. The university and kind donors helped the collection get bigger. In 1981, the museum found a new home in the Murray Library. It officially opened as the "Museum of Antiquities." Catherine Gunderson became its first director and curator. In 2005, the museum moved again to a larger space. This new home was in the renovated College Building, now called the Peter MacKinnon Building. Tracene Harvey became the director in 2009.
What the Museum Aims to Do
The museum wants to show a clear and accurate picture of art. It focuses on the amazing art made by major Western civilizations. This covers a huge time period, from about 3000 BC to 1500 CE. The first step was to present a good look at ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. This is because these styles greatly influenced later Western art.
The museum's collection mainly features items from the Middle Helladic period (around 1500 BCE) to the Late Antique period (around 500 CE). It has also grown to include pieces from the ancient Near East and ancient Egypt.
Amazing Art Pieces You Can See
Most of the museum's pieces are plaster cast replicas. This means they are exact copies of famous artworks. The museum is one of the few places in Canada with such a collection of casts. It is the only one in Saskatchewan. These copies are usually not made from the same material as the original. Most are made of plaster or resin, not marble or bronze. This makes them less expensive and lighter.
Big workshops, like those at the Louvre in Paris or the British Museum in London, make these replicas. They create them from molds taken directly from the original artworks. This means the copies show any damage the original piece might have. After a plaster cast is made, it is painted to look just like the original. The museum has copies of very famous pieces. These include the Rosetta Stone and the Venus de Milo.
The museum also has some original sculptures. One is a 17th-century portrait of Hannibal. Other original items include a storage amphora (a type of jar) and a false door. There is also a large collection of ancient glass.
Fun Activities and Programs
The museum offers "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 community events. These include the Heritage Festival of Saskatoon, Folkfest, and Culture Days. These events help the museum share its history with more people.
University students can join a volunteer program at the museum. This program helps them learn how to research and run a museum. The museum has also worked with the Canadian Light Source. Together, they research ancient coins to learn more about them.
