Using skeletal muscle too much during
work or exercise can cause pain. If a
muscle stretches too far, it can tear. This
is called a muscle strain, or a pulled
muscle. Skeletal muscle can also cramp
(stay tightly contracted) or twitch (move
by itself ). Muscular dystrophy is a disease
that causes muscles to grow very
weak over time.
#More to explore
Digestive System • Heart • Skeletal
System
Muse
In ancient Greek and Roman mythology
the Muses were nine sister goddesses.
They inspired people in the arts and
sciences. Before poets or composers in
ancient times began any great work, they
asked the Muses for help. The word
museum comes from a Greek word
meaning “place of the Muses.”
According to legend, the father of the
Muses was Zeus, the chief god. Their
mother was the goddess of memory,
named Mnemosyne. In stories the
Cardiac muscle is located in the heart (left).
Smooth muscle is located in the intestines
and the stomach (right).
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Muse 209
Muses were often companions of
Apollo, the god of music and prophecy
(predicting the future).
The nine Muses were said to help people
sing, dance, and write poetry. Each one
had a specialty. Statues of the Muses
were a popular decoration in ancient
Greece and Rome. Sculptors often
showed each Muse holding a symbol of
her specialty.
#More to explore
Apollo • Mythology • Zeus
Museum
A museum is a building that holds a
collection of objects that are found in
nature or objects that people created.
Many museums focus on a single
subject—for example, art, science, or
history.
How MuseumsWork
Most museums are open to the public.
People visit museums to view the collections.
The collections educate people
about the natural world or human culture.
Museums also may offer guided
tours, lectures, and special events. Scientists
and other scholars sometimes use
museums to do research.
Museums add to their collections by
buying objects or receiving donations.
Museums display some objects all the
time. They also display certain objects
for a limited time. These displays may
include objects borrowed from other
museums or from private collectors.
Many museums own objects that are
never on display at all. Only researchers
may view these objects.
In works of art, each Muse was usually
shown holding a symbol of her specialty,
such as a scroll or a musical instrument.
210 Museum BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Types of Museums
Art museums contain collections of
paintings, sculptures, and other important
works of art. Some art museums’
collections cover many different styles
and periods of history. Others specialize
in artworks from a particular time
period or a single art style, such as modern
art.
Science museums use their collections
to explain different areas of science and
technology. Their collections often
include machines and tools from the
past and present. They may teach
people about space travel, medical
advances, electronics, or other scientific
subjects.
History museums collect objects, called
artifacts, that show what human life was
like in the past. Artifacts may include
clothing, tools, housewares, vehicles, old
photographs, and many other kinds of
objects. Natural history museums display
samples of plants, animals, rocks,
and other natural objects.
Some museums have very specific collections.
The National Baseball Hall of
Fame and Museum in Cooperstown,
New York, is one example. Another
example is the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
History
Since ancient times people have collected
objects. For example, religious
groups throughout the world collected
religious artwork and artifacts.
In the 200s BC a king founded a
museum and library in Alexandria,
Egypt. But this place was more like a
university than a modern museum.
Many modern museums developed
from the collections of wealthy people
in Europe. During the Renaissance
(1300s–1500s), Europeans built large
collections of art and historical objects.
By the 1600s the owners of some
private collections had sold their objects
to cities, universities, or other public
places.
Two of the world’s most famous museums
today began as private collections.
The British Museum in London,
Visitors to art museums can see many different
types of art in one place.
An exhibit at a science museum teaches
children how clouds form.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Museum 211
England, opened to the public in 1759.
It contains many archaeological treasures.
The Louvre in Paris, France,
opened to the public in 1793. It contains
many famous works of art. By the
late 1800s many countries around the
world had built museums.
In the 1900s several new types of museums
appeared. They included collections
of buildings that re-created whole towns
or neighborhoods. ColonialWilliamsburg
in Virginia is one example. It
shows what life was like in the English
colonies long ago. Many cities also
opened museums designed especially for
children.
#More to explore
Library
Music
Music is a group of sounds that people
have arranged in a pleasing or meaningful
way. All cultures of the world make
some form of music. Music can be
simple—for example, one person tapping
