A Knight at the Museum

The Museum’s New Official Mascot!
A mounted armored knight holding a shield and wielding a sword, Vytis [pronounced VEEtis], is Lithuania’s official coat of arms. (See the last issue of the Review to learn more about this symbol and how it has changed since it first appeared in the 14th Century.) In spring of this year, a Museum Studies class from Northwestern University, proposed a redesign of the oldest exhibition at the Museum, Lithuania Through the Ages. Since the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture opened in 1966, a suit of medieval armor has been one of the most popular and recognizable items on display. One of the suggestions was to designate a knight in armor as the Museum’s official mascot ― an excellent idea! Look for this new mascot in the next Lithuanian Museum Review and around the Museum in the future. [The knight was even spotted scarf-shopping in the Gift Shop!]