Lateran Museum
In today's world, Lateran Museum has gained unprecedented relevance. Whether due to its impact on society, politics, the economy or culture, Lateran Museum is a topic that leaves no one indifferent. From its beginnings until today, Lateran Museum has been the subject of study, debate and controversy. In this article, we will explore different aspects of Lateran Museum, analyzing its importance in the current context and its influence in different areas of daily life. In addition, we will delve into its history, evolution and future perspectives, with the aim of thoroughly understanding the relevance of Lateran Museum today.
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| Dissolved | 1970 |
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| Coordinates | 41°53′11.8″N 12°30′20.7″E / 41.886611°N 12.505750°E |
The Lateran Museum (Museo Lateranense) was a museum founded by the Popes and housed in the Lateran Palace, adjacent to the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, Italy. It ceased to exist in 1970.
Pope Gregory XVI (1831–1846) established the Museo Profano Lateranense (or Museo Gregoriano Profano) in 1844. Its collections initially consisted of statues, bas-relief sculptures and mosaics of the Roman era. The museum was enlarged in 1854 under Pius IX (1846–1878) with the addition of the Museo Pio Cristiano. This collection was assembled by the archaeologists Father Giuseppe Marchi and Giovanni Battista de Rossi. Marchi collected the sculptured monuments of the early Christian period, while de Rossi the ancient Christian inscriptions. A third department of the museum consisted of copies of some of the more important catacomb frescoes. Father Marchi was appointed the director of the new institution. In 1910, under the pontificate of Pius X (1903–1914), the Hebrew Lapidary (Lapidario Ebraico) was established. This section contained 137 inscriptions from ancient Hebrew cemeteries in Rome mostly from via Portuense. The Museo Missionario Etnografico was founded by Pius XI with the documents and relics exhibited in Rome at the Missionary Exposition in 1925, and included historical documents of Missions and relics from the people where these missions took place. The three collections were transferred, under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII (1958–1963), from the Lateran Palace to the Vatican. They were reopened to the public in 1970. Their collections are still called "ex Lateranense" to indicate their former place of display.
The Lateran Palace is now occupied by the Museo Storico Vaticano which illustrates the history of the Papal States. It was moved to the palace in 1987 and inaugurated in 1991.
Sources
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Christian Museum of Lateran". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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