Truth or Consequences: The Public Display of Things from the Holy LandPresented by Morag M. Kersel, DePaul University

When museums place items on display they take on multiple roles as custodians of sacred relics, shapers of public interpretation, fiduciary institutions, and educational establishments. The public counts on the museum to tell the truth, to act ethically, and to be responsible and transparent in the presentation of the past–they place their trust in the organization. This lecture examines the differing strands of attachment to objects and the consequences created by the desire to “own,” interpret, and display the material remains from the Holy Land. A survey of exhibitions of artifacts from the Holy Land at institutions like the Royal Ontario Museum, the Israel Museum, and the Museum of the Bible allows for the consideration of truth and consequences in these museums.

**This is an at home lecture, please excuse the audio quality.

To learn more about the Eastern Badia Archaeological Project, click this link:https://oi.uchicago.edu/research/projects/eastern-badia

This audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on October 14, 2020. The video of this lecture is available on the OI YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/WwWWQqT6OwQ

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2020, Oriental InstituteMusic credit: bensound.com