Description of the attraction
The National History Museum was opened on October 28, 1981 and is the largest museum institution in Albania. The total area of the building is 27 thousand square meters. m, 18 thousand sq. The museum houses about 4,750 objects, ranging from artifacts dating from several centuries BC to items from the second half of the twentieth century. There are eight pavilions in the museum.
The Hall of Antiquities offers objects of primitive culture for inspection; their dating begins from the late Paleolithic. On the stands there are objects of the Bronze Age (2100-1200 BC) and the Iron Age (1200-450 BC), relating to the period of residence of the Ilir people in this territory. From the 7th century BC along the coastline of the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic, the Helene colony was located, as evidenced by the found vessels made of ceramics and swords. The culture and religion of the Ilir was independent of the early colonists, as evidenced by the original ornamental weapons. Silver images of warriors, mythical creatures, were found in burials. Bronze items are represented by the figure of a sphinx with the face of a beautiful woman, weapons, and armor. The objects date back to the 3rd century BC. Of particular interest is the "Mesaplicut mosaic", which was discovered in 1979 by the archaeologist Damian Komata. The mosaic has a size of 230x349 cm and consists of small cubic stones, the pattern on it is zoomorphic. Another mosaic masterpiece that dates back to the 4th century BC is a portrait of a woman surrounded by flowers, made of sand and stones of various shapes.
The pavilion of the Middle Ages invites visitors to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the economic, social, political and cultural development of the Albanians from the 6th to the 15th century. The exhibition presents many documents that testify to the occupation of Albania at different times by the Byzantines, Angevins, Serbs and Turks. The showcases display items, original handicrafts, coins of the principalities of Albania, coats of arms of lords. A special place is occupied by an extensive collection of works of art, architecture, as well as a collection dedicated to the fortresses of Berat, Shkoder, Durres and Prizren. The museum contains a gate from the monastery of John Vladimir in Elbasan with the coat of arms of Prince Karl Topiy. This gate was made in the 14th century.
The Renaissance Hall gives a complete picture of the development of Albania from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the declaration of independence. Here the visitor has the opportunity to get acquainted with the products of local craftsmen from different cities of the country. You can also see a map of one of the most important trade routes between the cities of the Balkan Peninsula and the rest of the world.
Further, the museum invites you to halls dedicated to the struggle for independence, ethnoculture and icon painting, as well as pavilions with exhibitions telling about the struggle against fascism (1920-1944) and the communist genocide (1944-1991).
