{"id":34242,"date":"2022-07-20T13:10:49","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T10:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/we-discover-turkiyes-first-museum-the-istanbul-archeological-museums\/"},"modified":"2023-07-06T10:11:03","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T07:11:03","slug":"we-discover-turkiyes-first-museum-the-istanbul-archeological-museums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/we-discover-turkiyes-first-museum-the-istanbul-archeological-museums\/","title":{"rendered":"We discover T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s first museum: The \u0130stanbul Archeological Museums"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A few notes on the history of the \u0130stanbul Archaeological Museums <\/b><\/p><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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The Alexander Sarcophagus in the \u0130stanbul Archaeology Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The \u0130stanbul Archaeology Museum, among the largest museums in the world, is T\u00fcrkiye \u2019s first purpose-built museum. The basis for the \u0130stanbul Archaeology Museum was the M\u00fcze-i H\u00fcmayun (Imperial Museum), which housed the archaeological works collected in the Hagia Irene Church after the Church ran out of space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u0130stanbul\u2019s most beautiful examples of the era\u2019s 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 \u0130stanbul Archeological Museum building were designed by Alexandre Vallaury, a renowned architect of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your interest is piqued, you can check out affordable flights to Istanbul<\/a> here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Artifacts in the Museums<\/b><\/p><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u0130stanbul Archaeology Museum Statue of Athena.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The \u0130stanbul Archaeology Museum hosts priceless works that even \u0130stanbul residents don\u2019t know about. Although numerous historical artifacts in \u0130stanbul 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidon Sarcophaguses and \u0130skender Sarcophagus<\/b><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 \u0130stanbul. 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\u2019s most important work, the Alexander Sarcophagus, is also considered one of the symbols of \u0130stanbul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty Tablet<\/b><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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 Bo\u011fazk\u00f6y. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antique Love Poem<\/b><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most interesting artifacts at the \u0130stanbul Archaeological Museums might also be one of the world\u2019s 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 \u0130stanbul in 1951 and translated into Turkish by Muazzez \u0130lmiye \u00c7\u0131\u011f. A verse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridegroom, dear to my heart,<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet,<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lion, dear to my heart,<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarcophagus of Sidemara<\/b><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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A section of the Sarcophagus of Sidemara.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Built in the third century during the Roman period, the Sarcophagus of Sidemara is the world\u2019s 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 T\u00fcrkiye , and brought to the \u0130stanbul Archaeology Museum by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1909. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Code of Ur-Nammu<\/b><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Predating Hammurabi\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ishtar Gate<\/b><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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 \u0130stanbul Archaeological Museums; however, most of the nineteen hundred tiles excavated by German archaeologists are at Berlin\u2019s Pergamon Museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where are the s Archaeological Museums?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Museum complex is in the Sultanahmet neighborhood of the Fatih district. It is on the Osman Hamdi Bey slope, which connects G\u00fclhane Park with the Topkap\u0131 Palace Museum. The \u0130stanbul Archeology Museum complex can be reached by walking down the slope from Topkap\u0131 Palace\u2019s first court, or by walking up the hill from the main gate of G\u00fclhane Park.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How to get to the \u0130stanbul Archaeological Museums <\/b><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\"Getting
Woman going to the Istanbul Archeological Museums by ferry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From the European side, the easiest way is to take the Ba\u011fc\u0131lar-Kabata\u015f tram line to the G\u00fclhane station. The Museum is about a two-minute walk from the station. From the Anatolian side, it is easiest to take a ferry from \u00dcsk\u00fcdar or Kad\u0131k\u00f6y to the Emin\u00f6n\u00fc ferry terminal and switch to the same tram line. You can also walk from the Emin\u00f6n\u00fc terminal. If traveling by private vehicle, we recommend parking in one of the parking lots near Emin\u00f6n\u00fc and walking to the Museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is the entry fee?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The entrance fees to the \u0130stanbul Archaeological Museums vary from year to year. As of 2022, the fee is 75 Turkish lira. The Museum Card is also valid for the \u0130stanbul Archaeological Museums. In addition, entrance is free of charge to:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n