Jász Museum

The Jász Museum is one of the oldest regional museums in Hungary, located in Jászberény. It has historical, archaeological and ethnographic exhibitions. Its best known exhibited object is Lehel's horn. The museum also preserves, among other things, the legacy of the opera singer Székely Mihály.

History

The idea of founding a museum in Jászberény – among the first in the country – arose in 1873. The then subcaptain of the Jászkun district, Sipos Orbán, advocated that the Jász historical relics be placed in a worthy location, where they could also be preserved for posterity.

The museum was inaugurated on December 26, 1874. It permanently moved to its present location, the ground‑floor building constructed in 1842 from the stones of the old town hall, in 1931.

Lehel's Horn

“Lehel’s horn” is the museum’s notable object, although nothing proves that it is identical to the traditional original. An initial in the Illustrated Chronicle depicts it as a long, straight trumpet‑like instrument. The legend may have been fed by the fact that when it was found a piece was missing from the upper rim of the horn, it was broken. The horn is Byzantine in style, carved from ivory, its decoration depicts a circus scene. According to one theory it was made in a Kyiv workshop well‑versed in the Byzantine style, and came into the possession of the Jász (Alans) through Russian connections. Other theories claim it was made in Byzantium, used during circus performances, then a farmer ploughing his field discovered it, and the damage was also caused by the plough.

In the life of the Jász the horn played an important role, becoming a symbol of their unity. The captain of the Jász wore it on his belt on festive occasions, and it can be found in the coat of arms of most Jász settlements.

In recent times it is again sounded on exceptional occasions.

Periodical Publication

Redemptio, with the support of the Jász Museum in Jászberény, is a periodical published bi‑monthly – at the end of February, April, June, August, October and December. Its subtitle: The journal of the Jász and Kun settlements’ local studies. It was founded in 1994 in honor of the 250th anniversary of the redemptio (self‑redemption). Its publisher is the Jász Museum Foundation.

Beyond preserving the traditions of Jászság, it also presents the presence of civil organisations and the Jász Museum, publishing articles on local knowledge. It seeks to prove that the always free Jász and Kun have preserved their distinctive self‑consciousness, pride, and culture.