Istanbul Archaeology Museums (İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri)
The Istanbul Archaeology Museums (İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri) is noted for its treasures of archaeology and art from the Topkapı collections. In the three buildings which comprise the exhibits are many artifects of venerable age and classical statuary. There is also an exhibit which reflects the history of İstanbul. You should also take time to look over the striking sarcophagi from Sidon's Royal Necropolis.
There are three parts to the complex. The Archaeology Museum, the Tiled Pavilion and the Museum of the Ancient Orient contain the many collections prepared by Osman Hamdi Bey, who served in the late 1800s as archaeologist, artist and museum director. The buildings are an easy walk down from the First Court of Topkapı's, or by going through the Gülhane Park main gate and walking up the slope.
Museum of the Ancient Orient
As you enter the area, look to your immediate left to see the building dating from 1883. It contains pre-Islamic items secured from across the entire Ottoman Empire. The yellow and blue brick panels were once part of the Ishtar Gate in ancient Babylon. The panels show animals, both mythical and real, including dragons, bulls and lions.
Archaeology Museum
On the right perimeter of the courtyard is the neoclassical style structure with a large collection of sarcophagi and statuary in the classical style. The building also has an extensive exhibit which documents the history of İstanbul.
Two light-controlled rooms display the main treasures of the museum. There are sarcophagi acquired at the Royal Necropolis of Sidon. These items were found by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1887 in what is now Side, Lebanon. In particular, take time to look over the Mourning Women Sarcophagus and the Alexander Sarcophagus. They are examples of exceptionally fine artwork.
The connecting room includes more sarcophagi, this time those of grave cult groups from Ephesus, Thessalonica, Syria and Lebanon. Continue on to the next room known as The Columned Sarcophagi of Anatolia where there are tiny temple shaped or residential building shaped sarcophagi from the 140 to 270 AD period. An exceptional exhibit is the Sidamara Sarcophagus from Konya.
As you move further through the rooms at the Istanbul Archaeology Museums (İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri), you will see ancient Anatolian architecture and Lycian monument exhibits.
Continue upstairs to see the “Anatolia and Troy Through the Ages” exhibit. The exhibit for “Neighbouring Cultures of Anatolia, Cyprus, Syria and Palestine” is also upstairs in this building, as well as a display known as “İstanbul Through the Ages”. The history of the city is shown during its five different periods. The expectation is that these displays will be renovated and improved soon.
The famous Statuary Galleries has been under renovation for several years, as is a gallery downstairs, which contains artefacts from Byzantium.
Tiled Pavilion
The third of the museum buildings in the complex is the 1472 pavilion under the rule of Mehmet the Conqueror. The original portico with 14 columns of marble burned down in 1737 and was rebuilt by Sultan Abdülhamid who reigned from 1774 to 1789.
The displays include ceramics and tiles from Seljuk, Anatolia and the Ottomans. The time period is from the late 1100s to the start of the 20th century. There are İznik tiles from the high period of coloured tiles (14th to 17th centuries). The central room contains the impressive mihrab which came from the İbrahim Bey İmâret in Karaman, constructed in 1432.