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ALL TURKEY TOURS |
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INFORMATION |
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM;
Istanbul Archaeological Museum is one of the most
important museums of its kind in the world. Founded as a
museum during the Ottoman Period, then the imperial museum,
the collection includes a number of findings
from various parts of the Ottoman empire, including
Mesopotamia, and in particular such monuments as the
Alexander’s Tomb, the tomb of the Weeping Maidens and the
Lycian Tomb found at Sayda in Syria in 1891.
Originally the museum collection was exhibited in the Cinili
Pavilion, an annex of the Topkapi Museum now in use as the
museum of faience and ceramics and dating to the period of
Mehmed II. But as the collection grew, the present building
was erected between 1892-1908, to which a later annex has
been added in recent years.
The late 19th century museum building was inspired in style
by the tomb of the Weeping Maidens. The museum collection
include up to 60 thousand archaeological findings of various
kinds, nearly 500 thousand coins and medallions and nearly
75 thousand cunciform inscription tablets. It is among the
greatest collections in the world. The collection can be
seen in three separate sections. In the Museum of the
Ancient Near East, which stands opposite the main building,
in the classical section housed in the main building and in
the Çinili Pavilion. On entering the Museum of the Ancient
Near East, the first hall houses Egyptian artifacts, tombs
and mummies among them. In halls III and IV, one may see
work from Mesopotamia, including findings from Halef, Nineva
the periods of Old Sumerian, classical and New Sumerian and
the Gudea statues. In the section containing works of the
Assyrian period, one can see the statues of Puzur Ishtar,
governor of Mari.
His son and Salmanasar III, and reliefs of winged spirits
from the walls of the palace of king Tiglat Pileser at
Nemrut. In other parts of the museum are displayed seals and
hieroglyphic tablets from Mesopotamia and works of the
Urartu and Phrygian Periods.
The Hittite Period, (dating from 2000-1200 B.C.) in
Anatolia, is well represented, and the works on display
includes those of the Hittite imperial period, and of the
later Hittite city states, (dating after 1200 B.C.) Among
the most notable works of the period to be seen are vessels
of various kinds, bronze axes and the hieroglyphic tablet
inscribed with the text of the famous “Kadesh Treaty”. Late
Hittite works of note include the Zincirli reliefs, the
Maras findings and the famous Babylonian reliefs, decorated
with bull, dragon and lion figures in brickwork, which was
removed from the walls of the ceremonial way and the Ishtar
gate at Babylon. Classical section of the Istanbul
Archaeological Museum is taking place among noted museums of
the world, upon completion of the new additional building in
1992 has rearranged and opened to visitors.
Entrance with triangular frontal supported by four pillars
is reached by white marble stairs. These stairs lead to hall
way where the statue of God Bes of Roman Period takes place.
In the galleries on both sides of this hallway connected to
each other with halls the master pieces of the world are
being exhibited.
First of all, let us visit the halls on the right hand side
where statues of ancient times take place. Works of the
first gallery are of Archaic Period. In the second gallery
the works of Anatolia under sovereignty of Persians between
546-333 B.C. and in the third gallery, the Attic grave
stelae and reliefs of 6-5 century B.C. take place.
In the following gallery, works of Hellenics Period (330-30
B.C.) adorn the hall. In this hall, beautiful heads and a
statue of Alexander who initiated the period take place. One
of the heads was found in Pergamon and draws attention with
its hairs in form of a lion’s mane. Based on the portrait of
Alexander the Great made by Lysippos in IVth century B.C.,
this type of hair is peculiar to Alexander.
This particular portrait a work which was made in Pergamon
sculpture shop in 2nd century B.C. Again, in this hall
Marsyas’ statue, the Roman Period copy of the work of 3rd
century B.C. can be seen. As it is known God Apollo punished
Marsyas by flaying his skin, for entering in a musical
contest with him. This is the statue which illustrates
Marsyas hung on a tree for punishment. Also the statue of
Zeus and a huge divine statue which most possibly belongs to
Attalos II, the King of Pergamon of 2nd century B.C. found
at the Temple of Hera of Pergamon are most remarkable ones.
In the fifth gallery the statues found in Magnesia of
Meander (Menderes River) and Tralles (Aydin) are being
exhibited. Right across the hall from the door the Statue of
famous Ephebos (young athlete) takes place. This statue
which was found in Tralles and belongs to the Early Roman
Empire Period depicts a child athlete of about twelve years
old while resting, tired of sportive activities he had gone
through. The statue is illustrated with a pelerine thrown
over the short clothing. At the right hand side of the door
the statue of Apollo, Goddess heads, statue of a half naked
Nymphe can be witnessed. On the left hand side, the statue
which belongs to a woman named Balbia, of 1st century B.C.,
statue of Athena, woman’s statue and various statues of
women and men take place. On the left side of the passage
way (Carian) leading to the other hall, a statue of a woman
found at Tralles and used as a pillar attracts the
attentions. As the examples encountered at the monument of
Nereids in Xanthos near Fethiye and at the monument of
Limyra near Finike, these statues have been used in place of
pillars in various locations. From here, it is proceeded to
a hall where examples of Roman sculpture art are displayed.
Right in the center poetess Sapho’s head made in Roman
Period is located, on the right, statues of Aphrodite and
Cybele, on the wall the relief made in the name of Euripides
author of Tragedia, reliefs of Mousa playing guitar take
place. To the left of the hall are the examples depicting
the Roman art of portrait.
Here, the busts of Augustus, Tiberius and Claudius of Roman
emperors and the statues of Neron and Hadrianus take place.
In addition, the statue and the bust of Marcus Aurelianus,
the bust of Empress Faustina and other men and women busts
adorn the hall. On the right hand side of Aphrodisias’ Hall
named after Prof. Kenan Erim who made excavations for a long
time at Aphrodisias and died in 1990, Statues of Roman
judges and the statue of a woman are being exhibited.
Aphrodisias is near Karacasu county in the province of Aydin
in Western Anatolia. The Sculptors here when Attolos III,
King of Pergamon left his territory to Rome in 133 B.C.
migrated to Aphrodisias the capital of Caria region and here
created marvelous works out of the marbles obtained from the
rich marble quarries. These statues of Aphrodisias sculptor
school were exported to Greece and Rome. On the walls of
this hall, take place the reliefs illustrating the war
between the Gods and Giants. Today, the works obtained in
excavations in Aphrodisias are being displayed in the local
museum.
Works found in Ephesos can be seen in the center of this
hall. On the floor, statue of Oceanus, the God of Rivers,
next to it the statue of Polemaeanus, the proconsul
(Governor) of Asia found in Celsus Library of Ephesus take
place. On the left hand side of the hall, the works found in
Miletos and on the opposite wall the statues found in the
Faustina Bath are exhibited. These are the musical muse
playing flute, statue of Melpomene and the God Apollo
playing guitar. In the next hall, works of Roman Empire
Period are seen.
Next to the works found in Anatolia, also, the works found
within the boundaries of Ottoman territory of those days are
exhibited. Heads of Poseidon, Artemis, Statues of Zeus and
Tykhe, the Goddess of good luck are among those works
adorning this hall.
In the gallery on the left hand side of the entrance leading
to the museum of sarcophagi beautiful one from another are
being exhibited. Right across from them, is sarcophagus of
King Tabnit of Sidon made out of black stone. From the
inscription thereon, it is decided that the sarcophagus
belongs to General Peneftah lived in time of 26th family in
Egypt and used for King Tabnit of Sayda for the second time.
On both sides of this sarcophagus, Egyptian and Greek type
sarcophagi take place, magnificent Lycian sarcophagus behind
them dates back to 5th century B.C. and was found in
Necropolis of King of Sidon. This sarcophagus called Lycian
sarcophagus due to its resemblance to the sarcophagi of
Lycian region was found at Sidon by Osman Hamdi in 1877 and
brought here. On one side of it a lion hunt and two carriage
each drawn by four horses, and on the other side a boar hunt
are illustrated. On narrow sides the fight of Kentoros and
Lapith and a scene of fight between the Kentoros over a deer
can be seen. Behind this sarcophagus which is a work of a
Lycian sculptor takes place a satrap’s sarcophagus again
brought from Sidon. On this work which belongs to the later
part of 5th century B.C., the life of a governor general of
Persia called Satrap is illustrated.
After an intervening section we arrive a hall where
Alexander’s sarcophagus is. This sarcophagus with its
splendor comes in sight in the center after going by three
other. This sarcophagus made out of white marble and bears
fine reliefs in fact does not belong to Alexander, but it is
called by this name due to his war and hunt scenes thereon.
This sarcophagus with an 2.12 m. height, 3.18 m. length and
1.67 m. width shows Alexander’s battle with Greeks as the
subject for the illustrations on narrow surfaces thereon.
One at the left end is the illustration of Alexander. On the
other there are the scenes of lion and deer hunts. The
wounded lion in the center of hunting scene is illustrated
in the act of billing. Also the cavalier to the left of the
lion is Alexander himself on his head, he wears a hand
having the royal symbol. The sarcophagus which belongs to
4th century B.C. is shaped like a temple and displays a
delicate stone labor which arouses administration with its
painted and high reliefs. Behind this sarcophagus takes
place the sarcophagus of Weeping Maidens. On this
sarcophagus made for a Sidonian in 350 B.C. there are
eighteen sad women. They are separately illustrated to get
rid of monotony.
On the top cover two identical funeral processions are
illustrated. In this department, there are the halls of the
museum which shall be reorganized. On the upper floor of the
newly opened part of the museum, the Anatolian
Civilizations. Through Ages’ Exhibition is on display. On
the left side of the hall the works of Troy can be seen.
City of Troy burned down and rebuilt nine times is at a
distance of 30 km from Çanakkale. This city also has been
inhabited from 3500 B.C to 300 without interruption.
Therefore it is possible to follow the cultures of periods
parading one after another.
First excavation in Troy which occupies an important place
in history for reasons of being the first site of excavation
in Anatolia, constituting subject for Epic Poems of Homeros,
and giving a firm chronology, was made by Schliemann in
1870. Story of excavations and colorful personality of
Schliemann made Troy so much more important.
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