DK Travel : Istanbul : Archaeological Museum

Archaeological Museum

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The national collection of one of the world’s most ancient and enthralling countries naturally promises something special, and this fabulous museum does not disappoint. A world-class collection spanning 5,000 years, it was founded in 1881 by Osman Hamdi Bey, the son of a grand vizier, fuelled by the realization that European archaeologists and treasure-hunters were walking off with much of the Empire’s heritage. There are three sections: the main museum, the Tiled Pavilion (Çinili Köșk) and the Museum of the Ancient Orient.
It is not unusual to find some galleries closed due to staff shortages. There is a fairly rudimentary drinks kiosk in the grounds. Also worth a visit are galleries devoted to Byzantium, Cyprus and Syria-Palestine. There’s a children’s museum in the new wing. The tomb of Mausolus was so magnificent that his name has been enshrined for posterity in the word “mausoleum”.

Top 10 Features

1. Sidon Sarcophagi

1. Sidon Sarcophagi

Osman Hamdi Bey discovered this remarkable group of 5th- and 4th-century-BC sarcophagi in Sidon (modern Lebanon) in 1887.
2. Alexander Sarcophagus

Its high-relief frieze shows scenes of Alexander vic-torious in battle against the Persians, but the Alexander Sarcophagus, dating from the late 4th century BC, is in fact the tomb of King Abdalonymos of Sidon (died c. 312 BC). Faint traces remain of the gaudy colour that would once have covered it.
3. Ishtar Gate

3. Ishtar Gate

The Ishtar Gate, built by King Nebuchadnezzar in 575 BC, was decorated with mosaic ceramic panels of dragons and bulls. The Processional Way through the gate was lined with 120 lions.
4. Hattuşaş Sphinx

This enigmatic 13th-century-BC stone feline was one of four discovered in the great Hittite city at Hattuşaş (Boğazkale) in Anatolia.
5. Halikarnassos Lion

5. Halikarnassos Lion

The tomb of King Mausolus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – this simple lion is a surviving relic.
6. Treaty of Kadesh

6. Treaty of Kadesh

The world’s oldest surviving peace treaty, carved in stone in 1269 BC, was agreed by Egyptian Pharoah Ramses II and King Muwatalli of the Hittites after a battle in present-day Syria. It lays out the terms of the ceasefire and agrees the safe return of refugees.
7. Museum of the Ancient Orient

This section has well-preserved exhibits from Mesopotamia, Egypt and Babylon, including some of the world’s first known writing – cuneiform clay tablets from 2700 BC.
8. Tiled Pavilion

8. Tiled Pavilion

Built in 1472 as a sports pavilion, this is the oldest secular building in Istanbul. A master-piece of İznik tiles itself, the pavilion also tells the story of Turkish ceramics, with displays from İznik and Kutahya.
9. Istanbul Through the Ages

This thoughtful exhibit provides a fascinating insight into the city, with maps, plans and drawings alongside exhibits such as the 14th-century bell from the Galata Tower.
10. Anatolia and Troy Gallery

Thousands of years of history are imaginatively timelined in this long gallery. On one side you can travel through Anatolia from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. On the other wall, follow the history of Troy from 3000 BC to the 1st century AD.

Practical Information

It is not unusual to find some galleries closed due to staff shortages. There is a fairly rudimentary drinks kiosk in the grounds. Osman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu, Topkapı Sarayı, Gülhane (0212) 520 77 40 Open 8:30am–5pm Tue–Sun Adm $7