How Did Public Aquariums Develop

Revision as of 08:18, 10 August 2017 by Maltaweel (talk | contribs) (Early History)

Large public aquariums have become fixtures in most major urban regions. In some places, they have become among the leading attractions for city tourism, where many aquariums have also expanded into conservation efforts and applied research along with being tourist destinations. The history of such aquariums is not completely modern, although the form in which we know aquariums today is mostly a recent development.

Early History

Artificial fish ponds were likely the first type of aquarium in antiquity. In ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, fish were likely placed in artificial ponds, as most cities were located along rivers and fish likely served as sources of food but possibly also amusement. It is possible that sacred fish were kept in temples not so much as pets but rather as symbols of fish gods. For instance, the god Dagon, mentioned in the Bible, was often depicted as a fish god.The Egyptian goddess Hatmehit, similarly, may have had fish represented with her. In Egyptian reliefs, fish have been displayed as being placed in artificial environments, including ponds or lakes created in gardens or specific places.

Perhaps China is the best known early culture for developing what became fish pets. China, for over 2000 years, has known to have bred carp for their color and beautify, what we call today as goldfish. The koi, a type of carp from Iran and Central Asia, was likely imported to China and over centuries was bred for its color in royal settings and estates of the wealthy. Similarly, interest

Development of the Public Aquarium

Later Developments

Summary

References