Istanbul Museum of Archaeology - travelling-to-byzantium.com

History

The first systematic attempt in the Ottoman Empire to collect and preserve its antiquities began in 1846, during the reign of Abdülmecit I. The project was initiated by Fethi Ahmet Pasha, son-in-law of Mahmut II, who contacted governors all over the Empire and directed them to collect all the movable works of art in their provinces and ship them to Istanbul. These antiquities were at first stored in Haghia Eirene, and when that was full the Çinili Köşk was used, beginning in 1874. The modern history of the museum dates from 1881, when the archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey was made director. The Archaeological Museum’s main building, in the Beaux Arts style, is the work of Istanbul-born

Alexander Vallaury (who was also the architect of the Pera Palace Hotel). The museum was first opened to the public on 13th June 1891, and new wings were added in 1902 and 1908. A new museum was added behind the old museum and was dedicated in 1991, with its newest gallery, devoted to Istanbul Through the Ages, opened in 1994.

Museum Layout

Old Museum Ground Floor

Sculpture of the Archaic Period Halls 13 & 14

Head of a Kourus

This is the head of a Greek statue of a youth or Kourus from Samos.

Relief of a Charioteer.

From Cyzicus modern day Erdek in Turkey. The relief represents a chariot with two horses

Persian Rule in Anatolia Hall 13

Attic Grave Stelae and Reliefs Hall 15

Sculpture of the Hellenistic Period Hall 16

Statue of Hermaphrodite.

From Pergamon modern day Bergama in Turkiye. This statue of a hermaphrodite, a child of Aphrodite and Hermes.

Statue of Marsyas.

A copy of an earlier statue, Roman period from Tarsus.

Detail of Marsyas head.

Head of Alexander the Great.

Marble from Pergamum modern day Bergama in Turkiye.

Sculpture from Magnesia on the Meander and Tralles Hall 17

Statue of an Epheb.

The statue shows an epheb,assumed to be around twelve years old,probably an athlete leaning against a pillar as he recovers from his exercises.

Caryatid.

The name Caryatid was given to such statues by Vitrivius from Caryai in Laconia, Greece where women danced with baskets on their heads.

Hellenistic Sculpture,Roman Sculpture Infulenced by Hellenistic Style and Roman Portrait Art Hall 18

Head of the Emperor Augustus.

Statue of the Emperor Hadrian.

Bust of the Emperor Marcus Aurellus.

Hermes of Alkamenes.

The inscription in Greek reads “You will recognise the fine statue by Alkamenes, the Hermes before the Gates, Pergamios gave it. Know thyself” and thus states of Hermes by Alkamenes and offered by the people of Pergamun.

Sculpture from Ephesus, Aphrodisias and Miletus Hall 19