#Exhibit of the Month

The work In Memoriam. In Memory of the Heroes Who Fell at the Nistru (1992) was developed within the Center for Culture and Military History and published under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Bureau for Reintegration, and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova. Authors: Gheorghe Bălan, Vitalie Ciobanu, Gheorghe Cojocaru.

This work provides a retrospective of the events that led to the outbreak of the war on the Nistru, accompanied by photographs of the heroes who lost their lives in the battles to defend the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

On March 2, 1992, the political conflict in the Nistru region escalated into a true fratricidal war. Under the fabricated pretext of "defending Russia's southern borders," political adventurers from the former Soviet metropolis encouraged Transnistrian separatism by arming secessionist paramilitary groups. At the same time, thousands of mercenary Cossacks and prisoners released early from jails, along with tanks and missiles, were sent against Independent Moldova, in a desperate attempt to revive the fallen empire.

Russia's undeclared war against the Republic of Moldova left behind hundreds of dead and wounded, shattered families, and villages in ruins. More than 50,000 peaceful residents from the conflict zone were forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge from the horrors of war.

For the sake of freedom and the future, Moldova's defenders faced death, enduring the hardships and humiliations of war.

During the Nistru war, 198 soldiers of the National Army and 89 personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs lost their lives, while 40 combatants went missing without a trace, and nearly 300 were left disabled.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

"Christmas Nostalgia"

December 24, 2012 – January 28, 2013

On the eve of winter holidays, the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova suggests the visitors a temporary exhibition based on its collection, which is entitled Christmas Nostalgia. It brings together over 300 museum pieces: Christmas balls, decorations, and illustrated postcards collected as a result of collaboration between the host institution and the collectors Andrei and Larisa Vacaruc and painter Iurie Caminschi. The exhibition invites you to a journey through the history of Christmas tree decorations covering more than a century (1913-2013).

In terms of its conception the exhibition is divided into two compartments:

1. From the history of Christmas tree decorations

Tree decorations are ornaments made of glass, metal, wood, cloth, and the newest ones - of plastic or different recyclable materials. One of the most interesting objects for the Christmas tree decorating undoubtedly is a glass globe. Its history begins in 1847, in the town of Lauscha, Germany, where Hans Greiner began producing glass ornaments in the shape of fruits and nuts. The exhibition is reflected only categories and key moments in the development of Christmas production. Its organizational principles were the chronological, typological, and aesthetic criteria.

2. Winter holidays in pictures

Postcards and photographs reflecting the theme of the winter holidays give a touch of originality to the exhibition. They hang on the walls and are decorated with Christmas decorations. It is interesting that the first Christmas card was made in 1843 by British painter John Callcott Horsley by order of Henry Cole, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Way of placing the exhibits enhances the perception of the exhibition subject by the visitors.

The exhibition is complemented by works of different sizes, shapes and colors of the Origami Center of Moldova. They are performed under several practices of origami (modular and kusudami).

The exhibition will help to improve the activities of the museum by carrying out a number of actions with the public. After "active visits" to the exhibition and the impressions received from the exhibits, the children and their parents can practice their skills of artists in the workshop experimenting with various techniques and methods for manufacturing Christmas decorations.