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The museum has been functioning since 1964 in the abandoned
convent of St.
Francis of Assisi and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI). The collection consists of Brahmanical sculptures hero-stones
and sati stones of the early and late medieval periods, portraits, coins
and currency, revenue and court fee stamps, wooden and bronze sculptures
and armoury of the Portuguese period.
Rejuvenating The Look
The Museum was rearranged and reorganised completely in connection with
the CHOGM Retreat in Goa during 1982. A long hall lying to the left side
of the entrance to the Museum was converted into 2 galleries by laying RCC
floor with a newly constructed wide staircase at the extreme west to
facilitate access to the first floor.
The new Annexe building thus provided additional area to the existing
Museum and finally the entire first floor re-laid with a teakwood floor
resembling the original in order to bring uniform look to the whole
complex.
The 3-6m high bronze statue of Afonso de Albuquerque greets the visitors
at the entrance. In the visitors lobby sea routes of early explorers, map
showing site museums in India, map of Goa and a few photographs of
monuments of Goa and
Daman ,
and map showing centrally protected monuments in India are on display.
The Key Gallery
The key gallery in the ground floor serves as an introduction to the
nature of exhibits in the museum. As one enters the key gallery the
visitor is introduced to the short history of Goa in
the form of an open book placed on a pedestal. The plan of the museum is
on the left sidewall. Taking right turn one comes across a wall showcase
containing middle and upper Paleolithic stone tools, Microliths and a few
Neolithic Celts. A short historical background highlighting the prehistory
of Goa and the location of prehistoric sites is shown
in the map of Goa.
The second showcase deals with the early history of Goa.
The excavated materials from Chandor, one of the ancient capital cities of
goa are displayed in this showcase along with the ground plan of a
Brahmanical temple and available early historical antiquities i.e., cast
copper coins of 3rd century BC, copper nails, rings, etc.
The next phases of cultural sequence are shown with the help of available
sculptures of the Brahmanical deities and displayed in chronological order
with the bust of siva and parvati, followed by the sculptures of the
Silaharas and Kadambas of Goa.
Displaying Some Priceless Possessions
The important exhibits on display in this Gallery are the standing Lord
Vishnu accompanied by Goddess Lakshmi and Garuda on left and right
respectively, with exquisite carvings accommodating ten incarnations on
the Prabhavali, standing Surya accompanied by Danda and Pingala,
Gajalakshmi, Mahishasuramardini and seated Uma-Maheshvara.
The Stone Figurines & Sculptures
Other objects on displays are lintel of a temple depicting various types
of Shikharas, architectural pieces, sati-stones, hero-stones, an inscribed
slab containing Kannada inscription of 'Devaraya', the Vijayanagar king,
recording the grant of a Jaina Basti, Arabic and Portuguese inscriptions,
wooden statue of John, the Baptist, paintings on wood / canvas of
Portuguese Governors Pedro de Castro, Fernando Martings Mascarenhas,
nativity of Jesus, Jesus helping St. Joseph, etc. royal coat of arms,
Bishop coat of arms on stone, wooden sculptures of infant Jesus, St. Mary
sculptured panels representing floral decorations, Goan type basket - full
of fruits and the tombstone of D. Diogo de Noronha, the first captain of
Daman.
The hero-stones forming part of this gallery are rather unique in
representing naval battles emphasizing the maritime power of the Kadambas.
One hero-stone shows a royal personage sitting on a throne in his palace
with numerous attendants and his queen. The bottom panel shows him engaged
in a ferocious naval battle wherein are shown the ships and the soldiers.
Besides, a few stone and wooden sculptures of Brahmanical Gods and
Goddesses and Christian Saints are also exhibited in a showcase in the
centre of the big hall. This showcase also separates material of the early
historical phase from the Portuguese period. The eastern half of this
showcase is used for displaying Hindu gods and goddesses. The metal bust
of Gangadhara (popularly known in Goa as Manguesh) of the 17th - 18th
century and a few minor stone sculptures of Khandoba, Kartikeya, hero,
Usha or 'Makara', etc., are arranged to highlight the rich heritage of
Goa under the Hindu rulers.
The Portuguese Artifacts
In the western half are displayed the wood and ivory objects of Christian
saints, Jesus Christ, Mary with Jesus' body, Bishops, Mary Immaculate, St.
Anthony, St. Anne and Jesus, St. Augustine, Mary and a Kaoline Surahi
(wide pot). This art nourished and nurtured under the patronage of the
Portuguese rulers of Goa.
The main attraction in this key gallery is the imposing 3m high bronze
statue of Luiz de Camoes the national poet of Portugal. The one-eyed poet
holds in his right hand the scrolls of his poem, the LUSIADS, which
describes the voyage of Vasco-Da-Gama from Portugal to India and back.
This statue originally brought from Portugal to India and back and was
originally installed in the centre of the garden in 1960 but was damaged
in 1982.
THE GALLERY SHOWCASE
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Galleries
Gallery 2,3,4 and 5 are located in the quadrangle in the ground floor. In
Gallery 2 are displayed models of various types of Shikharas, replica of
pillar, architectural pieces, a Shiva-Linga and a 'Nandi'.
In Gallery 3 are displayed seated Ganesa, Mahishasuramardini, standing
Vishnu with Garuda, Vetala, seated Uma-Maheshvara with Kartikeya, Bhringi
and Ganesha on the pedestal, Hanumana, Kala Bhairava, Indrani and torso of
a Hindu saint. In the showcase minor objects i.e., the head of Brahma,
head of Nandi Kula Devata and architectural pieces are on display. In the
adjoining room are displayed model of a 16th century Portuguese ship and
iron anchors.
In Gallery 4 are displayed medieval hero-stones, sati-stones, a
Shiva-Linga and a panel depicting self-immolation. The sati stones
displayed along side the hero-stones, commemorate 'Sati' or widow burning
and have panels showing the heroes in battle, thus serving both as hero
and 'Sati' stones. In Gallery 5 are inscribed slabs in Marathi,
Arabic/Persian pertaining to Ibrahim 'Adil Shah and other 'Adil Shahi
kings of Bijapur of 16th-17th century.
The Marathi inscriptions record grants to Hindu temples, while the
Arabic/Persian inscriptions record the construction of a Masjid (Mosque)
and a bastion to the fort at Old Goa. A huge stone panel on the other side
of the verandah depicts a coat of arms in the centre and St. Peter and St.
Paul proclaiming the gospel and a Portuguese inscription on either side.
In the niche of the wall is a stone pillar brought from Santhome, Madras in AD 1630. A piece of the iron of the lance with which the St. Thomas,
the apostle, was supposed to have been killed was preserved in a small
niche at the top of the pillar. The two sides of the pillar are painted
with the figures of St. Thomas and St. Francis of Assisi.
In the centre of the open courtyard, life-size image of St. Catherine is
displayed under a Goan type pillared shed. The courtyard has been improved
by laying lawns and laterite paved pathways with specially designed
grills.
Display Of Beautiful Canvas Paintings - Gallery 6
The first floor is divided into three galleries each with a closed
verandah. In Gallery 6, the visitor can have a glance at the short history
of the paintings of Governors and Viceroys of Goa, before they proceed to
appreciate a large number of portraits on wood and canvas. The viceroy Dom
Joao de Castro, initiated and ordered paintings of portrait of his own and
also of twelve predecessors. This practice continued till the end of the
Portuguese rule in India in 1961.
These portraits are painted either on wooden planks or on canvas and in
oil colours. A short label is also fixed to each object in slanting
position at the bottom indicating the name and the regnal year. They were
painted by local artists and have been subjected to restoration or
repainting on many occasions.
These paintings, originally decorating the walls of different residential
mansions of the Governors and Viceroys, were shifted from the Secretariat,
Panaji to the Museum in 1962 to make them
available for public view. Many of these paintings are of life size and
provide an interesting study in the evolution of contemporary costumes and
hairstyle of Europe and give an idea of the different coat of arms besides
their individual personalities and appearances.
Two wooden screens kept in the gallery have been utilised for exhibiting
painting of Vasco-de-Gama, list of Portuguese Governors/Viceroys, map of
Goa, postal, revenue and court fee stamps of Portuguese India.
The Coin & Currency Collection
In the vertical type coin showcase are exhibited the Portuguese currency
and silver /copper/lead/brass coins. Afonso de Albuquerque ordered minting
of coins soon after his conquest of Goa in AD 1510. The major
denominations include the Portuguese Manoel, Leal and the indigenous
Pardav, Tanga, Xerafins, Rupia, etc.
The most common type of coin is the one with holy cross or king and queen
on the obverse along with a circular legend and year and coat of arms on
the reverse. The first paper currency was issued sometime in 1882. The
currency notes usually show the image of Afonso de Albuquerque on the
right side with the legend BANCO NACIONAL ULTRAMARINO and INDIA PORTUGUESA
and denominations on obverse and sea motif on the reverse. The
denominations are 10, 20, 30, 50, 60, 100, 300, 500, 600 and 1000 Escudos
or Rupias.
In this gallery, wooden sculptures of Jesus, St. Francis Xavier, St.
Joseph and other Christian Saints are also on display. A model of the fort
of Diu is on view in this gallery.
In the chapel on the southern wall is a painting depicting Mary
descending from the Heaven, accompanied by children and few Saints on the
earth. The wooden frame and the borders of this painting were decorated
and gilded.
Gallery 7
In Gallery 7 are displayed the portrait paintings of
Governors/Viceroys. In the showcase are exhibited the plaster cast bust of
Philippe Bernado Guedes, Governor, on one side and the wooden statue of
St. Peter on the other side.
In the verandahs are displayed some religious paintings and wooden
sculptures of Christian Saints, etc.; the vast verandah on the eastern
side of the first floor, is used to display huge panel paintings depicting
the martyrdom of Jesuit priests. A wooden screen has been provided in this
gallery to break monotony and the space on this screen has been used for
display of paintings of Governors.
Gallery 8
In Gallery 8 are displayed the paintings of Governors/ Viceroys,
President of Portugal and Dr. Salazar, the prime minister of Portugal
during whose time Goa was liberated by Indian army on 19th December 1961.
In a small niche on the northern wall is the bust of Queen Maria da
Glorida of Portugal.
A photograph of Vassalo-de-Silva, the last Governor General is on
display. These paintings have been barricaded by providing a brass chain
railing to prevent visitors from handling the paintings. There are also on
view life-size wooden sculptures representing Mary Rosary and St. Peter in
this gallery.
In the verandah, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ and paintings on wooden
and canvas depicting the life scenes of Jesus viz., his birth, trial,
crucifixion and his descent from the cross are on view. In the showcase
are displayed Portuguese arms like rifles, swords, a dagger and a few
stone and iron canon balls.
In front of the Museum building are exhibited six canons of different
sizes.
Timings:
Open Daily Except Fridays From 10.00 am To 5.00 pm.
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