Museum of the Natural History of the Aegean Sea

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Museum of the Natural History of the Aegean Sea
Mytilinii Museum.JPG
The entrance to the museum
Data
place Mytilinii , Samos , Greece
Art
Paleontological Museum
opening 1994
operator
Konstantinos and Maria Zimalis Foundation
Website

The Museum of Natural History of the Aegean ( Greek Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας Αιγαίου Mousio Fysikis Istorias Egeou ) in Mytilinii on Samos houses next fossils from the nearby archaeological site near the village also collections of mineralogy , geology , botany , zoology and ethnology . It attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually.

history

The mammal fossils from the area around Mytilinii, which have been known since ancient times, were first systematically excavated in 1887 by Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major . There were further excavations in the first quarter of the 20th century, in 1901 by Eberhard Fraas , in 1903 by Thedoros Skoufos (1864–1938) and 1921–1924 by Barnum Brown . The finds from that time did not remain on the island. It was only when Ioannis Melentis (1922–2001), professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , carried out further excavations in 1963 that the idea of ​​making the fossils accessible to the interested public at their location also arose. The Paleontological Museum in Mytilinii was established by 1967.

In 1992 the Konstantinos and Maria Zimalis Foundation was created, which financed new excavations by the University of Thessaloniki and a new museum building. Two years later, today's Museum of Natural History of the Aegean opened on the southern outskirts of Mytiliniis, into which the collection of the Paleontological Museum was integrated, but which is thematically broader.

The museum

The museum building contains on a total of 1600 m², which are spread over three floors, in addition to the exhibition rooms, scientific laboratories, offices and a library. In addition, a lecture hall offers space for 100 people. In front of the museum is a statue of the ancient Greek mathematician and astronomer Aristarchus of Samos , created by Dimitris Christoyannis . A botanical garden is to be built around the building in the future.

The permanent exhibition is divided into several sections:

  • The palaeontological room exhibits mammal fossils from the Tortonium that are 8 to 10 million years old and were excavated in the vicinity of Mytilinii. The finds include fossilized bones of extinct rhinos , horses , mastodons and hyenas as well as the giant giraffe Samotherium boisieri , which is named after the island. Of particular interest are also the fossils of several types of horned beard .
  • The zoological department mainly presents specimens from the birds and mammals native to Samos and the rest of Greece. A showcase is also dedicated to the animals of Australia.
  • Stones and minerals are exhibited in another room . The approximately 300 exhibits come from all over the world.
  • One room is dedicated to marine life. You can especially see fish and shells from molluscs . A showcase commemorates Nikolas Vartzikos (1932–2005), who in 1988 was the first Greek sailor to cross the Atlantic alone.
  • The museum houses a small folklore collection of historical newspapers, costumes , everyday objects, etc., some of which will be exhibited until a separate location is found.

The museum's botanical collection consists of herbaria with almost 3,000 individual items that originate from Samos or the rest of the Aegean .

  • The showrooms

  • Paleontological Department

  • Mineralogical department

  • Zoological Department

  • Marine Life Department

  • Folklore Department

literature

  • Natural History Museum of the Aegean. Paleontological Museum. K&M. Zimalis Foundation , Samos 2011 (brochure available in the museum in Greek and English)

Remarks

  1. ↑ The official name is “Museum of the Natural History of the Aegean Sea. Mytilinii Paleontological Museum on Samos. Konstantinos-and-Maria-Zimalis foundation "( Greek Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας Αιγαίου. Παλαιοντολογικό Μουσείο Μυτιληνιων Σάμου. Ιδρυμα Κωνσταντίνου και Μαρίας Ζημάλη Mousio Fysikis Istorias Egeou. Paleontologiko Mousio Mytilinion Samou. Idryma Konstantinou ke Marias Zimali )

Web links

Commons : Museum of the Natural History of the Aegean Sea  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 37 ° 43 ′ 21.5 "  N , 26 ° 54 ′ 35.7"  E