Archeology Museum

Open everyday except Monday from 09.30 to 17.00
Entrance fee is: 6.00 TL

Inside the first court of Topkapı Palace, in a very big garden, in the heart of the city but away from the crowd, lies the Archeology Museum, Old Eastern Works Museum and Enameled Kiosk Museum in the Istanbul Archeology Museum complex.

Istanbul Archeology Museum was established as the "Empire Museum" by the famous painter and museum director Osman Hamdi Bey at the end of the 19th century and opened to the public on June 13th, 1891. It was the first museum in Turkey but also one of the first buildings that was constructed as a "Museum" in the world. It still protects its outstanding place among the world's largest museums with more than a million works belonging to various cultures.

The Archeology Museum consists of two separate buildings.

Main (Old) Building
Its construction was started by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1881and with the additions in 1902 and 1908 it achieved completion. The outer façade of the building was inspired from the Alexander Tomb and Crying Women tombs. The architect of this gorgeous example of neoclassical building was Alexander Vallaury.

On the upper floor of the two-story building there are small stone works, pots and pans, small terracotta statues and approximately 800.000 Ottoman coins, seals, decorations, medals and Non-Muslim and Muslim Coin Cabinets, in which coin moulds were kept, and a Library with approximately 70.000 books.

On the ground floor halls of the building, famous tombs such as Alexander Tomb, Crying Women Tomb, Satrap Tomb, Lykia Tomb and Tabnit Tomb in the Saida King graveyard are displayed.

There is also the Old Age Statuary in which statues and relief of important ancient cities and regions are displayed. The development of the art of statuary from the Archaic Period to the Byzantium Period is displayed in chronological order with outstanding examples being demonstrated in this display.

An additional building of 6 stories is connected to the southeast portion of the main building. There are depots reaching two stories under ground. The remaining four stories are designed as exhibition halls. "Istanbul for Ages" is on the first floor, "Anatolia and Troy for Ages" is on the second floor and "Surrounding Cultures of Anatolia: Cyprus, Syria-Palestine" is on the top floor. There is an Infant Museum and additional architectural works displayed on the first floor of the additional building. The Thrakia-Bithynia and Byzantium display saloon, which was opened in August 1998, is in the basement and is labelled "Surrounding Cultures of Istanbul".The museum received the European Council Museum Award in 1991, an amusing coincidence since that was also its 100th anniversary.

Old Eastern Work Museum
The building, constructed by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1883 as a Fine Arts School, was arranged as a museum with the facilities added between 1917-1919 and 1932-1935. It was closed to the public in 1963 and was opened to visitors again in 1974 with a new inner section. Anatolian, Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Arabic works of art are displayed on the upper floor of the two-story building. Statue of Naramsin the King of Akad, the Kadesh Treaty the first written treaty in history and Zincirli statue are the unique works of art in the museum. Moreover, in this museum there is a "Tablet Archive" in which 75.000 documents with cuneiform writings are kept.

Çinili Köşk (Enameled Kiosk)
The kiosk was made by Fatih Sultan Mehmet (the Conqueror) in the 15th century and is one of the oldest examples of Ottoman civil architecture in Istanbul. It was used as the Empire Museum between 1875-1891 and was opened to the public in 1953, the 500th year of the conquest of Istanbul, as Fatih Museum where Turkish and Islamic works of art were displayed. It was handed over to the Istanbul Archeology Museum due to its location. This beautiful kiosk contains beautiful Iznik tile works of the 16th century and admirable examples of Seljuk and Ottoman pottery and tiles.

Would you like to add your comment about this article? Click here!

Editor's Picks

Anadolu Kavağı – Anatolian Poplar Anadolu Kavağı is where you may feel at home with the familiar groups surrounding you, since foreigners are far more than the local people. more...

Consulates in Turkey The addresses and phone numbers of Consulates in Turkey are listed in alphabetical order. more...

Rakı & Meyhane Rakı, the national alcoholic drink of Turks has a high degree alcohol and should not be consumed quickly. more...

Traditional Coffee Service In Ottoman palaces and mansions, the service of coffee involved a ceremony that was prescribed in detail by custom. more...

Istanbul Atatürk Airport Atatürk airport is located 24 km. west of downtown, with the qualifications of Cat II according to... more...

Best of Open-air Museums The jury of the daily newspaper "Hürriyet", have chosen the best Open Air Museums in Turkey, which are mostly located in western Anatolia more...

Latest Articles