The museum is the quintessential meeting point of culture with history, knowledge, and memory.
On the occasion of International Museum Day, let us take another look back at the ancient Greek past, where we find the etymology of the word. But what was the Mouseion originally?
For the ancient Greeks, the Mouseion referred to the physical space dedicated to the Muses. In these places, an altar or small temple was usually built in their honor. According to testimonies, on Mount Helicon (the residence of the Muses), there was a sacred grove dedicated to the Heliconian Muses, where the Mouseia—poetry and music competitions—were celebrated. Therefore, we note that in antiquity, the word Mouseion was exclusively associated with the worship of the nine deities, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne.
This raises a reasonable question: Were there spaces in ancient Greece with a function similar to today’s museums?
The first signs of collecting, preserving, and displaying objects and works of art can indeed be traced back to antiquity. Already in the Minoan palaces, priceless gifts from high-ranking individuals were intended for exclusive exhibition to a select circle of the ruler’s intimates. Another similar example is the ancient Greek temples—from Delphi to Olympia and Delos—where a great variety of votive offerings, including statues, jewelry, vessels, and other dedications from worshippers to the twelve Olympian gods, were accumulated.
We could distinguish a special type of building that perhaps comes closer to the concept of a museum as an architectural shell housing a collection of objects. The temple-shaped thesaurus was built near major sanctuaries of antiquity and, along with its contents—a multitude of precious votive offerings—constituted a city’s offering to the gods, showcasing its power and prestige on a pan-Hellenic level.
The museum as an institution, in its current form, gradually crystallized over time, beginning in the 15th century. Modern technological advancements, however, have radically transformed the visitor experience.
From the traditional, passive contemplation of exhibits, we now move toward the active involvement of the public through virtual tours, interactive applications, and immersive environments that enhance both the educational and entertainment aspects of a visit. Most importantly, they improve accessibility. A spectacular example of this transformation is the Pergamon Panorama created by artist Yadegar Asisi in collaboration with the State Museums of Berlin, where the use of animation, 3D technology, and projection mapping seeks to recreate life in Pergamon in 129 AD.
MOPTIL, in collaboration with the Benaki Museum, has created the application Benaki 1821! Using augmented reality (AR), 3D models, and gaming technologies, it brings historical battles and events that marked the Greek Revolution back to life in real time. It also creates virtual exhibitions and augmented museum tours that inspire visitors to delve even deeper into the knowledge of the past.
