The Ottoman Empire, which reigned over a very large area, from the Balkans in the west to Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Afghanistan in the east, and even to Africa in the south, is one of the largest empires the world has ever seen, and similarly Istanbul Archeological Museums, opened in the early date of 1891, are among the largest and most valuable museums of the worlds. The museum has more than a billion artworks from the many civilizations lived on the Ottoman land for ages. You will see that this building which is on the way of Imperial Garden (Gülhane) of Topkapı Palace attracts you, even before you enter. It might be a good choice to rest in its garden, maybe drink some coffee, to prepare for what you will see or to understand hundreds of pieces you have seen.
One of the interesting features of the Istanbul Archeological Museums is it was one of the few structures built as a museum.
Istanbul Archeological Museums are on the Osman Hamdi Bey Street, which connects the Topkapı Palace with the right entrance of Gülhane Park in Sultanahmet, a very famous spot for tourists…
Formed of three sections, Archeology Museum, Old Eastern Works Museum and Tiled Pavilion Museum, the museum group was opened to exhibition as the Imperial Museum on 13th of July in 1891 by Osman Hamdi Bey who was a famous painter, archeolog and curator.
The Archeology Museum has two buildings, Main Building (Old Building) and Additional Building (New Building).
Main (Old) Building: Its construction started in 1891 by Osman Hamdi Bey, and took its current form after the additions in 1902 and 1908. The architect of the museum is Alexandre Vallaury, who brought many magnificent buildings to Istanbul… The exterior walls of the museum were designed under the impression of two most precious pieces of the museum: Alexandre the Great’s Tomb and Crying Women Tomb. On the bottom floor halls of this two-story building, one of the best examples of Neo Classical architecture in Istanbul, famous tombs are displayed such as İskender Tomb, Crying Women Tomb, Satrap Tomb, Lykia Tomb, Tabnit Tomb, which were excavated by Osman Hamdi Bey himself, from the Sayda King Graveyard.
Aphrodisias foundings are exhibited in the Kenan Erim Saloon, named after the archeologist who did the first excavation in Aphrodisias. The three Marble Cities of Anatolia hall, in which pieces from Ephesus, Miletus and Aphrodisias are displayed is also here... In the museum it is possible to see the evolution of sculpture from the Archaic Era to the Byzantine Era…
Additional (New) Building: The building includes three exhibition halls: “Istanbul for Ages” on the first floor, “Anatolia and Troia for Ages” on the second floor and “Surrounding Cultures of Anatolia: Cyprus, Syria-Palestine” on the top floor of the building. The museumwith its new arrangement in the lower floor halls and its Additional Building display, on its 100th year in 1991, was awarded the European Council Museum Award.
Old Eastern Works Museum
Built as Sanayi-i Nefise (Fine Arts School) in 1883 by Osman Hamdi Bey, the building was arranged as a museum between 1917 and 1919, and 1932 and 1935.
Anatolian, Mesopotamian, Egyptia and and Arabic artworks are displayed in the second floor of the two-story building. The statue of Naramsin, the Acadian King, Kadesh Agreement and Zincirli Statue are some of the unique pieces in the museum. At the nosing of the staircase in the entrance of the museum, two basalt lion statues from the Late-Hittite Era, brought from Yesemek which was the largest stock quarry and sculpture workshop of the Near East for 5-6 centuries until 8th century BC, until are placed.
In this museum there are is also a “Tablet Archive” in which 75.000 documents with cuneiform are preserved.
Tiled Pavilion Museum
The Pavilion, which was built by Mehmed the Conqueror in 1472, is one of the oldest examples of the Ottoman civil architecture. It was used as the Imperial Museum, from 1875 to 1891 when the Archeological Museums were opened. In 1953, it was open under the name of Fatih Museum for the exhibition of Turkish and Islamic artworks. Because of its location, it was assigned to Istanbul Archeological Museums in 1981.
In the Pavilion, various chinas and ceramics, the most precious and spectacular pieces of the Seljuk and the Ottoman Era are exhibited.
It is certain that the Archeological Museums will grant you a unique experience! After you leave, you will feel that you deserve a short, enjoyable walk in Gülhane Park and a little session of relaxation!
Open to visit except Mondays between 09.00 and 17.00.
Address: Osman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu, Gülhane, Eminönü
Phone: +90 212 520 7742
