Without cyanobacteria, natural history wouldn’t be much to talk about. Now these billions of years old microbes help the development of bioenergy and medicines.
Bear stories at Helsinki University Museum
Helsinki University Museum takes us on a journey to Arctic cultures in bears’ footsteps.
Professor Juha Pentikäinen, Department of Comparative Religion, has compiled an exhibition on the bear myths of Finnish and Finnic people and Siberian shamans he has encountered. The exhibition, entitled In the Footsteps of the Bear, by the Ice Holes of the River Amur, is based on Professor Pentikäinen’s extensive field studies and explorations he has conducted since the 1960s.
“The bear vocabulary, epics, mythologies, fairytales and stories of Arctic cultures link the bear with mankind, stars and the cycle of life. They saw a special relationship, even a kinship, between people and bears,” Pentikäinen explains.
The exhibition also recounts how Finnic and other North Russian people fared under Soviet rule and how their circumstances have developed since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The exhibition will continue at the museum until 15 May 2005.
Read also about the permanent collection.
Address: Snellmaninkatu 3. Open Tue–Fri 11am-5pm and Sat–Sun 11am-4pm. More information: www.halvi.helsinki.fi/museo.
Text and photo: Liisa Voutilainen
1.12.2004
www.helsinki.fi/digitalcommunications
Translation: Valtasana Oy
Receive news via RSS feed >>News of the month >>
News archive >>
World Design Capital Helsinki 2012
International Conferences in Helsinki
Seminars at UH
All Seminars >>Exhibitions:
- Botanic Garden
- Finnish Museum of Natural History
- Helsinki University Library
- Helsinki University Museum
Advertisements:
- Rooms and flats (mostly in Finnish)