The feast of love 2017 - a history of the heart

As every year, the History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj-Napoca celebrates Valentine's Day in a special way, through the annual event entitled The Feast of Love. In 2017 the focus is on the history of the depictions of the heart. How did the heart end up as the symbol of romantic love? The heart was always considered the seat of emotions and the ancient authors envisaged the organ as having three chambers and a dimple in the middle. Artists attempted to depict the heart according to this description might have ended up "inventing" the geometric heart shape we are so familiar with today. During the Renaissance the symbol was used in both lay and religious context, in iconic depictions such as The Instruments of Christ's Passion. During the Baroque era it was often used on Romantic letters and cards. Meanwhile, the anatomically correct depiction of the heart also became popular through publications and teaching plates and the organ was identified as the body's blood pump.

Event poster - The Feast of Love at the History of Pharmacy Collection

The History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj-Napoca invites visitors to discover both types of hearts in the decoration of the old apothecary shop (hearts and cornucopia, signs of plenty), on apothecary items (romantic hearts, doves and flowers on 18th bottles for the Elixir of Love) and on medical plates (part of the Medical Equipment Collection).

The Feast of Love will be celebrated on February 25th 2017.

Heart and cornucopia, 18th century medallion in the Officina

Heart on a medical plate

Heart and doves on an 18th c bottle for aphrodisiac drinks

Heart-shaped decorations on an 18th c apothecary recommendation letter

Pugnate! a day in the company of gladiators

Saturday, September 10th, is another great day for outdoors historical reenactment at Camp Virtus! The new event, held near Cluj, in Salicea, from  noon till 6 PM, is a day to try out the life of ancient Roman gladiators - with training, fighting, religious rituals, and food cooked according to ancient recipes.

Young visitors will be able to become gladiators by taking part in several activities testing their strength, equilibrium and perseverance. They will have to pull the rope, carry the flag of the school of gladiators, train at the palus and with the gladiators. In the end they will choose a Roman name from a list of famous gladiators' names, will receive a leather bracelet inscribed with it and them they will no longer be tiro (recruits).

Actually, recruiting is another goal for the event. Girls and boys over 18 who want to join our NGO and become legends in the arena are welcome. Becoming a volunteer is free of charge and you get to travel, learn new things and have fun, historically!

Lost museums

16-28 August 2016 protest exhibition "Lost museums" at the Art Museum (the Banffy Palace, Unirii Square) - about the situation of museums and collections in the area of Cluj, including the History of Pharmacy Museum. Production of RNMR - The National Network of Museums in Romania.
More in Romanian HERE.