Lost Library of Alexandria: Historical Images & Art
Chapter 1

Masterpieces of museum architecture

Chapter 2

Legendary museum mysteries and heists

Chapter 3

The ancient roots of collecting

Chapter 4

Bizarre and unusual collections

Chapter 5

Science and secrets behind the scenes

YOUR GOAL

Master of Secrets of the world's museums

Ch 3 · The ancient roots of collecting
schopenhauer

schopenhauer The eccentric cabinets of curiosities

Sep 1

schopenhauer

schopenhauer The first purpose-built public museum

Sep 1

schopenhauer
The eccentric cabinets of curiosities

schopenhauer Renaissance collectors filled private rooms with exotic natural wonders, historical relics, and bizarre art.

Sep 1

schopenhauer
The lost library of Alexandria

schopenhauer The ancient Mouseion of Alexandria was a temple of learning rather than a display of objects.

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Pocket Curio Box
BETA

schopenhauer Sort rare treasures into your curio box to discover the secrets of world-famous museums.

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Fun Fact

Museum's origin: The word 'museum' literally translates from Greek as 'seat of the Muses,' referring to the goddesses of arts and sciences.

Hide sticker

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Glossary
museum (noun)
A building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited. Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna curated the earliest known public museum in Ur around 530 BCE.

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Gossip

What would you collect in your cabinet?

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Quiz

Who curated the world's oldest known museum in Ur around 530 BCE?

Sep 1

schopenhauer

schopenhauer The lost library of Alexandria

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Quiz

What unique feature helped visitors understand the ancient artifacts in Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna's museum?

Sep 1

schopenhauer

schopenhauer The world's oldest known museum

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Quiz

From which ancient Greek word meaning 'seat of the Muses' does the word 'museum' originate?

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Quiz

What were Renaissance private collections of exotic items and fossils called?

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Quiz

In which modern-day country was the world's oldest museum discovered in 1925?

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Quiz

Who founded the ancient Mouseion of Alexandria around 280 BCE?

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Quiz

Which university is home to the Ashmolean, the first custom-built public museum?

Sep 1

schopenhauer
Quiz

In what year did the Ashmolean Museum open its doors to the public?

Sep 1