A few notes on the history of the İstanbul Archaeological Museums
The İstanbul Archaeology Museum, among the largest museums in the world, is Türkiye ’s first purpose-built museum. The basis for the İstanbul Archaeology Museum was the Müze-i Hümayun (Imperial Museum), which housed the archaeological works collected in the Hagia Irene Church after the Church ran out of space.
With consistent attention from Ottoman statesmen, the Imperial Museum was eventually moved to the Tiled Kiosk; erected by Mehmet the Conqueror, the Tiled Kiosk is considered one of İstanbul’s most beautiful examples of the era’s civil architecture. In subsequent years, as the need for more space arose, new buildings were commissioned. The Museum of Ancient Orient was built by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1883 as the School of Fine Arts (Sanayi-i Nefise school), namely the Academy of Fine Arts. Both this building and the neo-Classical İstanbul Archeological Museum building were designed by Alexandre Vallaury, a renowned architect of the time.
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Artifacts in the Museums
The İstanbul Archaeology Museum hosts priceless works that even İstanbul residents don’t know about. Although numerous historical artifacts in İstanbul were looted and smuggled to Europe in the last period of the Ottoman Empire, archaeologists made outstanding and successful efforts to save many of the artifacts currently exhibited in the Museum. Keep reading to discover more about these extraordinary finds and the collection!
Sidon Sarcophaguses and İskender Sarcophagus
The Sidon Sarcophagi, found in an underground royal necropolis in Sidon, Lebanon, were discovered in 1887 by Osman Hamdi Bey. A total of 22 sarcophagi were extracted; seven were left in the necropolis and the remaining ones were carefully transported to İstanbul. The most important of these sarcophagi is the Tomb of Iskender (Alexander Sarcophagus), which features carved friezes depicting the battles of Alexander the Great. Other notable sarcophagi in the Museum are the Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women, the Tabnit and Satrap sarcophagi, and the Lycian sarcophagus of Sidon. According to archaeologists, the Museum’s most important work, the Alexander Sarcophagus, is also considered one of the symbols of İstanbul.
Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty Tablet
The Kadesh Peace Treaty signed between the Egyptian Pharaoh II. Rameses and the Hittite King Hattushili III after the Battle of Kadesh is the oldest treaty found. The treaty’s original text was allegedly engraved on silver plates. In the Museum, a smaller copy of the treaty is displayed; this copy, carved into stone, was discovered at discovered at Boğazköy.
Antique Love Poem
One of the most interesting artifacts at the İstanbul Archaeological Museums might also be one of the world’s oldest love poems. Displayed in the archive of Cuneiform Documents in the Museum of Ancient Orient, the tablet was discovered in the ancient Sumerian city of Nippur (in Iraq) in 1889. The tablet was brought to İstanbul in 1951 and translated into Turkish by Muazzez İlmiye Çığ. A verse:
Bridegroom, dear to my heart,
Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet,
Lion, dear to my heart,
Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet.
Sarcophagus of Sidemara
Built in the third century during the Roman period, the Sarcophagus of Sidemara is the world’s largest sarcophagus. It is three meters high and weighs 32 tons. The sarcophagus was found during excavations in Sidemara (now Ambar village), in the Konya area of Türkiye , and brought to the İstanbul Archaeology Museum by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1909.
The Code of Ur-Nammu
Predating Hammurabi’s Code by about three centuries, the Code of Ur-Nammu was created by Sumerian king Ur-Nammu. Fragments of the stone tablets were found in Nippur (Iraq); believed to date from around 2100 BC, the tablet was translated in 1952 and is believed to be the oldest law code known to humanity.
Ishtar Gate
Erected by Nebuchadnezzar in 575 BC and dedicated to the goddess Ishtar, the fabulous Ishtar Gate was one of several monumental gates leading to the inner city of ancient Babylon. Mosaics from the Ishtar Gate, featuring friezes of dragon and bull figures, are exhibited at the İstanbul Archaeological Museums; however, most of the nineteen hundred tiles excavated by German archaeologists are at Berlin’s Pergamon Museum.
Where are the s Archaeological Museums?
The Museum complex is in the Sultanahmet neighborhood of the Fatih district. It is on the Osman Hamdi Bey slope, which connects Gülhane Park with the Topkapı Palace Museum. The İstanbul Archeology Museum complex can be reached by walking down the slope from Topkapı Palace’s first court, or by walking up the hill from the main gate of Gülhane Park.
How to get to the İstanbul Archaeological Museums
From the European side, the easiest way is to take the Bağcılar-Kabataş tram line to the Gülhane station. The Museum is about a two-minute walk from the station. From the Anatolian side, it is easiest to take a ferry from Üsküdar or Kadıköy to the Eminönü ferry terminal and switch to the same tram line. You can also walk from the Eminönü terminal. If traveling by private vehicle, we recommend parking in one of the parking lots near Eminönü and walking to the Museum.
What is the entry fee?
The entrance fees to the İstanbul Archaeological Museums vary from year to year. As of 2022, the fee is 75 Turkish lira. The Museum Card is also valid for the İstanbul Archaeological Museums. In addition, entrance is free of charge to:
- Citizens of the Republic of Türkiye under the age of 18 and over the age of 65
- Foreigners between the ages of 0-12
- Rank and file, relatives of martyrs and veterans
- Guides
- Press-card holders
- Individuals with disabilities and their companions
İstanbul Archaeological Museums visiting hours
The complex is open every day of the week from 9:00 to 20:00. During the winter months (October 31 – April 1), the Museums close at 18.30.
Before we conclude, let’s note that İstanbul has numerous museums – for more information, see the İstanbul museum guide.
