What place in an ancient city can hold the most evidence of its history, artifacts from the distant past? A museum, of course. Historical and Archaeological Museum Kerch — one of the most visited places among the guests of the city who came on vacation in Kerch. Here you can learn a lot of interesting facts, stories from the life of one of the ten oldest cities in the world.
Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest museums in Ukraine. The history of its foundation is connected with the activities of the founder of Kerch archeology P. Dubruks, who by 1810 collected a large collection of antiquities found during excavations on the territory of the city. In 1826 the Kerch Museum of Antiquities was opened on the basis of this collection.
Since 1830 the main focus of the museum was the excavation of burial mounds, during which many interesting artifacts were found. Since 1850, many of them became part of the Hermitage exposition. However, continuous archaeological work in one of the oldest cities in the world led to the creation of a new, no less interesting collection. From 1835 to 1853-1856 the museum’s collection was housed in a beautiful building specially built on Mount Mithridates, reminiscent of the Athenian temple of Hephaistion, but, unfortunately, the war did not spare this building, and looting again devastated the museum funds. Part of the Kerch Museum’s collection, created by the mid-19th century, can now be seen in the British Museum — the most valuable exhibits were taken to England.
Since 1922 the museum exposition is located in the building-monument of architecture — private mansion of P. Mesaksudi, one of the most beautiful buildings of the city. It is adjoined by the building of the Alexander Nevsky Church, which also houses part of the exposition.
The museum’s funds total about 130 thousand exhibits. Among them are painted ancient ceramics, terracottas, amphorae, ancient coins, antique glass, lapidary monuments dating from the IV century BC to the XIV century AD. The creations of the inhabitants of Pantikapej — sculptures, tombstones, architectural details of buildings — tell about the life of the ancient city, its everyday life, and give an impression of what Kerch looked like tens of centuries ago. The lapidary collection of the Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum is one of the largest in the world!
Part of the museum fund is also an exposition of the history of the defense of Adzhimushkajskie quarries, which is of great interest to all visitors of the city. And in 2005 on the basis of the museum was opened the Golden Pantry, which will be interesting for any tourist to visit.
The Golden Pantry is a unique collection of jewelry and coins from the ancient and medieval period. Here you can see a treasure trove found in 2003 on the territory of the ancient city of Myrmekia, consisting of 99 electrum coins of the V century, which depict Greek gods and heroes, figures of mythical creatures and animals. Also in the numismatic collection are silver and gold coins of the Bosporan period, Alexander the Great, Byzantine solidi, coins of the Golden Horde, Crimean Khanate. In the jewelry collection you can see the most beautiful jewelry made of precious metals and stones — bracelets, rings, amulets, earrings, necklaces, buckles and much more. The exposition of the Golden Pantry illustrates the level of development of jewelry art in the Bosporan Kingdom and the subsequent stages of the city’s life.
The exhibition in the inner courtyard of the museum is of great interest, one of its most popular exhibits is a working copy of an antique sundial, presented in the museum’s exposition. You can also see giant pythoses used for storing food, ship anchors and many other interesting exhibits.
Having examined all sights of Kerch, this city can be inspired, impressed. But in order to get a full picture of how it lived and looked for 26 centuries it is best to go here — to the Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum, one of the best museums in Ukraine, which will make your holiday in Kerch more informative.