Guardian of Cultural Heritage: National Museum Celebrates 128 Years

The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina was founded on this day in 1888 and is the oldest modern cultural and scientific institution of the Western type in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its founding was preceded by a long period in which numerous individuals or groups of intellectuals pointed to the need for such an institution, reports the Patria news agency.

Incidentally, the National Museum was closed from October 4, 2012, to September 16, 2015, due to government neglect and unresolved status.

On the occasion of 128 years of the existence of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the most important contemporary scientific, educational and cultural institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a full-day presentation of museum activities will be held today from 12:00 to 20:00 hours at the Natural Sciences Department building, along with a full-day screening of documentary films about the National Museum at the Ethnology Department building, and a sales exhibition of museum publications, souvenirs, old postcards and posters at promotional prices at the Natural Sciences Department building.

At 14:15, the exhibition „About Kouros, About Kore, About People and Deities“ will be opened at the Natural Sciences Department building.

From 17:00 to 19:00 - Display of the original Sarajevo Haggadah at the Archaeology Department building.

Also, visitors will be able to tour the museum exhibits at 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 hours, with expert guidance from curators.

The exhibition „About Kouros, About Kore, About People and Deities“ was prepared by Prof. Dr. Adnan Busuladžić, and it consists of exhibited items belonging to a private collection being presented to the domestic and international public for the first time.

It features 19 specimens of various objects: glass vessels, metal sculptures and ceramic figurines. The collection dates from the broad period of the Greco-Roman civilizational cultural circle, from the 7th century BC to the 4th century AD. The most important, most valuable and most interesting item from the exhibited private collection is a silver kouros - a prototype of a naked youth whom the ancient Greeks perceived as a symbol of heroism, fearlessness, strength and beauty.

The exhibition will be opened by the Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adil Osmanović, and the acting director of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Mirsad Sijarić.