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Exhibition “Her Majesty Salt”

A new exhibition is going to open on November, 19, 2015, in the People’s House of the Museum-Reserve of M.A.Sholokhov. It is devoted to salt, one of the most wonderful minerals of the planet.

The gift of the sun and water has been known to people since ancient times. The discovery of salt by mankind can be equated to the civilization achievements such as extraction of fire and development of agricultural skills. Ancient Greeks said: “One can live without gold, but he can’t live without salt.” Greece inhabitants soused olives, cheese and some sorts of meat in a thick brine. Conservation properties of salt were widely used to store foods and in medicine. In ancient Egypt, saline solutions were used as a basis of embalming in mummification.

To provide the state with salt ancient Romans built good roads, some of which have been preserved by the present time. In Christianity salt is a symbol of strength and superiority. Christ calls his disciples “Salt of the earth”.

For many peoples of the world salt is the most important element in the rites, customs, traditions, magic rituals and esoteric knowledge. Lots of myths and legends, parables and fairy tales, proverbs and sayings are devoted to salt. It is a symbol of cordiality and hospitality of hosts and a failsafe leverage in tax policy of the state.

Salt has always been regarded with dually: “sacred” and “unclean”, “noble” and “fruitless”. But still, salt is an invaluable gift of the two powerful elements, it is a symbol of eternity, faithfulness and perfection.

The exhibition will display more than 100 exhibits from the collections of the Azov Historical, Archaeological and Paleontological Museum-Reserve.

The exhibition will run until February, 24, 2016.

Irina Panchenko