Set inside an ancient drugstore in the main square of Lviv, Ukraine, is a museum devoted to the apothecary arts. Established in 1735 by Wilhelm Natorp, a military pharmacist, the drugstore remains in operation in the front room, while the museum takes up 16 rooms on 3 floors in the rest of the building on the corner of Drukarska and Stavropihiyska, and has over 3000 rare articles on exhibit.
“Pid Chornym Orlom” (“Under a black eagle”) gets its name from the signage above the doorway. In the 1700s, each pharmacy had a symbol which was hung up before the entrance. The pharmacies were then referred to by these symbols – “Under a black eagle”, “Under a Gold deer”, “Under Sacred Spirit” etc. Since the pharmaceutical industry did not exist at this time, each pharmacy prepared extracts, elixirs, ointments and cosmetics. Today, “Pid Chornym Orlom” still prepares and sells their signature “Iron Wine” used to treat anemia.
Additional photos can be viewed in the Gallery section under “Experimental”.
