The Eretz Israel Museum (also known as Muza) is a historical and archaeological museum in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel.

thumb|150px|From an exhibit of Judaica at the Eretz Israel Museum, a bronze [[Menorah (Temple)|menorah designed by Maurice Ascalon]]

Eretz Israel Museum, established in 1953 as the Haaretz Museum, has a large display of archaeological, anthropological and historical artifacts organized in a series of exhibition pavilions on its grounds. Each pavilion is dedicated to a different subject: glassware, ceramics, coins, copper and more. The museum also has a planetarium.

The "Man and His Work" wing features live demonstrations of ancient methods of weaving, jewelry and pottery making, grain grinding and bread baking. Tel Qasile, an excavation in which 12 distinct layers of culture have been uncovered, is on the grounds of the museum.

thumb|150px|Amphorae discovered at Tel Quasile

Museum history

The museum was established on the depopulated Palestinian village Al-Shaykh Muwannis by the city of Tel Aviv in 1953. Its collection began with glass and ceramics donated by Walter Moses.

In 1981 Shlomo Lahat, the mayor of Tel Aviv, pressured the museum's board of directors to appoint Rehavam Ze'evi as museum director. Ze'evi was director of the museum from 1981 to 1989, was chairman of its board from 1989 to 1994 and remained a board member until 1999. During his tenure $11 million the city invested in the museum, new buildings were created, and staff numbers grew, although visitor numbers declined. The construction works led to the destruction of a Byzantine mosaic on the museum grounds, for which Ze'evi was interviewed by the police.

The reconstructed Chalcolithic and Late Bronze Age mine displays mining tools such as stone hammers, flint blades and copper chisels, as well as the typical marks they left on the rock.

Remnants of a glass furnace from the 13th century CE were discovered alongside the Crusader castle at Sommelaria, north of Acre.

Numismatics

The Kadman Numismatic section displays means of payment used in the country, starting those used before to the development of coinage, and going through all historical periods until today.

Postal history and philately

thumb|right|A variety of mailboxes used by the Israel Postal Service over the years, on display at Eretz Israel Museum Philatelic pavilion

The Alexander Museum of Postal History and Philately recounts the history of postal service in the Land of Israel from the mid-15th century until the founding of the state in 1948. On display are envelopes, letters, photographs, posters, mailboxes and telephones, as well as a mail truck from 1949.

The philatelic wing displays valuable and rare stamps.

See also

  • List of Israeli museums
  • Art in Tel Aviv

References

  • Official site
  • http://alexandercollection.org/