Beasts return to the world of myths

Beasts return to the world of myths

Gatineau, Quebec, September 9, 2009 — Visitors have until September 20 to see the remarkably lifelike models in the exhibition Mythic Beasts: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids. Since its opening, 185 803 visitors have toured the exhibition.

There are only a few days left to discover the cultural origins of some of the world’s most famous mythological creatures, gathered together at the Museum. Visitors can see a gigantic dragon with its large wings spread wide and the Kraken, a terrifying sea monster, as well as learn more about legends, beliefs and astonishing facts concerning a variety of unlikely creatures including the griffin, the unicorn, the cyclops and the phoenix.

Assembled from all over the world, the artifacts, ethnographical objects, sculptures, paintings, textiles and specimens of this fantastical menagerie will soon be returning to their respective homes in the collections of civilization museums and other international institutions.

The exhibition is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org), in collaboration with the Field Museum, Chicago; the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau; the Australian Maritime Museum, Sydney; and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, Ga.