Inside the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural ScienceBeautiful sculpture inside the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural ScienceThe main entrance room at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science
As I mentioned in my last post, we got the opportunity to visit the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History in Chisinau yesterday. The museum was quite large, and had some great exhibitions, but it also has little funding. It is housed in a beautiful, old building. The architecture was quite stunning but building is also in need of repair and such.
A topographical model of all of Moldova at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural ScienceOne of the beautiful murals at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science, showing the flora and fauna of MoldovaThe Deinotherium, commonly called “hoe tusker”, was a prehistoric mammal resembling an elephant- this is the largest skeleton of a Deinotherium in the world, and was found in MoldovaPainted image of the Deinotherium at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science
The museum had a pretty impressive collection related to natural history, which eventually led to the ethnography exhibits. Essentially, as you wove your way through the museum, you first went through the natural history exhibits, and those led naturally to the ethnography exhibits. There was a room of animals that once lived in Moldova but are now extinct, as well as an exhibit on the various types of soil that are found in Moldova.
A display in the ethnography section of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science, showing a traditional casa mare (a special room in the house where the dowry was kept)An exhibit of a traditional Moldovan wedding at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural ScienceAn exhibit on the destruction of nature in Moldova caused by chemicals and pesticides, and showing mutated animals with two heads at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science
There were also exhibits showing how people have lived in Moldova from the Middle Ages forward, with traditional textiles, early ceramics, building techniques, furniture that was found in homes at different points in history, an exhibit on early musicians, and much more! There was a large exhibit showing a traditional Moldovan wedding, as well as how Soviet rule affected many of the traditional aspects of Moldovan life.
A mural in the dinosaur exhibition room at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural ScienceAnother great mural at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science, showing animals living after the extinction of the dinosaurs but before human arrivalAnother symbolic mural at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science
Something that I found particularly interesting were the amazing murals that accompanied almost every exhibit. Although some were realistic, many were quite symbolic.
Wall #1 of the mural room at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science (showing the big bang and the creation of the earth)Wall #2 of the mural room at National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science (showing the natural environment before human arrival)Wall #3 of the mural room at the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science (showing humans and nature living in harmony- Mother Nature is the ghost-like white figure in the middle)Wall #4 of the mural room at National Museum of Ethnography and Natural Science (showing the destruction of the earth by humans)
There was even one room that was just a huge mural on all four walls! The mural showed the progression of the earth’s history from the big bang to humans destroying the nature. It reminded me a lot of some of the landscape paintings I learned about in my American Art class this past winter.
I really enjoyed my first museum visit in Moldova. It was really interesting to see the natural history of the country as well as the human history of the country!
The Oke Den 