Origin and Development of Museums in India

Abstract

The Museums have been the forbearers of the thinking of their respective periods. Etymologically, the term `museum' is derived from the Greek word 'museion' which means temple of the Muses the goddesses protecting arts and sciences. The museion or `musaion' which was founded by Ptolemaies I (who died in 283 B.C.) in Alexandria was a centre for learning and scholarship in the world of ancient Greece and an important establishment of Hellenic civilization, housing rich collection. It was temple of the muses, occupying a large building in the royal quarter of the town, functioning as a centre of research and education. Hence the primary purpose of the museum was religious. It was not so much connected with the objects of material culture. As daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the muses represented collective memory to their own elementary heritage. The objects of the material culture were note deemed to be connected with memory at that time and hence they were not so much collected.