Travel with me back in time -Merjeme Shamolli

 Travel with me back in time

Yesterday, I visited the Ethnological Museum of Kosovo in the city of Prishtina. I focused especially on the antiquity and wanted to explore more in this field. As soon as we entered, the guide went with us and explained the stories of every piece.

I was fascinated by those stories, but at the same time, I was feeling deep regret for not coming earlier to visit these treasures that were right in front of my eyes.

I was impressed by various things that I saw there, because I never thought that in Kosovo, I could find such places. For example, there was a corner with urns, which served for cremation, a ritual practised in the Roman Period. 

They used to burn the dead bodies to ashes and bury them in the urn. I was surprised that Roman people performed the cremation ritual.   Also, there were pots and vases used for different rituals, which made me realise that they were people who had different religions.

Visiting this museum for me was so exciting, it felt like stepping backwards in time for centuries. Equipment considered necessary for living were exhibited at the museum too, such as plates, bowls, wooden spoons, silver knives, and pots for water. Oil lamps were also used for lighting in the Roman Period during the 1^st -4^th Century AD. I was visualising in my head every scene like a movie, women cooking for their children, and families having gatherings during the night under the light of oil lamps.

Jewellery for women were not missing, like rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Unique designs, with pieces of stone, gold, and pearls, made each piece unique. I wondered about the women who wore them, they may have been queens or princesses, or simple beautiful ladies. I was surprised that the jewellery of Roman Period did not have differences with the designs of modern times, because they were stylish and eye-catching.

Something else that impressed me were tear catchers. Women used them to keep the tears they shed for their husbands or sons when they went to war or when they died, to show respect and sorrow. Indicating that, the glass bottles had a variety of forms. The larger ones expressed more sadness and grief, while the smaller ones expressed less sadness and grief. Meaning that more tears kept, more loyalty and love. The way they used to mourn for the dead was extraordinary and unusual, something that astonished me.

In an enthusiastic way the guide explained to us the drawings in the stones. The funerals were quite loud, not as funerals nowadays, people would sing, wail noisily, rip out their hair and scratch their faces in grief. For me it was impressing how the cravings on the stone made history to survive through years. The people of that time turn out to be incredibly wise, as they left traces for us to discover history even nowadays.

This was my first visit in The Museum of Kosovo, and I felt proud that my country had a place like this, which I can show to my non-Albanian friends if they ask me to visit a cultural heritage in Kosovo. 

I am also planning to visit the ancient city of “Ulpiana” near my town since most of the artefacts in the museum were from there. I will be waiting for my friend from Switzerland to come to Kosovo because after I discussed with her about the photos and stories that I noticed that day, she was genuinely curious to the experience in-person.

Photo by: Qendresa Demiri