Cultural term: the meaning of the word "Museum"

MUSEUM (the word originates from Ancient Greek μουσεῖον (Mouseion), which literally means "House of the Muses") - is a specialized institution that preserves, studies, and displays old, valuable items, works of art, specimens of natural history, and monuments of material and spiritual culture.

At first the term "museum" referred only to a collection of exhibits related to art and science. Later, from the 18th century, it came to denote the building itself where the exhibits are housed. At the same time, public museums became very popular in European countries. From the 19th century museums began to conduct scientific research, and from the 1960s museums began to carry out educational and outreach activities.

With the development of the Internet and online culture, virtual museums have emerged. Today you can "visit" many museums without leaving home.