The Birth of the Turkish Museum
An institution inherited from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic, incorporates the first museum studies in the history of Türkiye
Hagia EireneThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Müze-i Hümayun (The Imperial Museum) was founded in early 1846 under the name of Mecma-i Asar-ı Atika (Antiquities Collection) by Ahmed Fethi Pasha. It was first housed in the Hagia Eirene, used as an armory, and contained collections of weapons and antiques.
Çinili Köşk (The Tiled Kiosk)The Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
The latter collection was renamed “Imperial Museum” in 1869 and then transferred to The Tiled Pavilion.
The Tiled Pavilion (Çinili Köşk) is a pavilion set within the outer walls of Topkapı Palace in Istanbul, Türkiye. It was built in 1472 by the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II as a pleasure palace. It is one of the oldest surviving Ottoman buildings in Istanbul and is known for its exquisite tile decorations.
A Sarcophagus found in SidonThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Osman Hamdi Bey was appointed as the first Turkish director of the museum in 1881.
A few years later, the excavations at the Royal Necropolis of Sidon, which were carried out by a team appointed by Sultan Abdülhamid II and local authorities, became a turning point for the museum.
Following Mehmet Şerif Efendi's notification, the cleaning operation at the hypogea was transformed into an archaeological excavation.
Osman Hamdi Bey was appointed as the head of the excavation by the Sultan.
A hypogeum (or hypogea) is an underground temple, tomb, or chamber. The word comes from the Greek words hypo (under) and gea (earth). Hypogea are often found in ancient cultures and were used for a variety of purposes, including religious ceremonies, burial, and storage.
Müze-i Humayun (Today's Istanbul Archaeological Museums)The Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Osman Hamdi Bey arrived in Sidon on May 1, 1887, and began scientific excavations the next day.
The Sidon sarcophagi had a great impact on the world of archaeology and paved the way for the construction of the first Turkish museum building.
Istanbul Archaeological Museums (Main Building)The Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
The first part of the new museum building in neoclassical style opened in 1891. Over time, more additions were made, and the museum eventually became known as the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
Osman Hamdi Bey and His Retinue in front of the Sarcophagus of Alexander the GreatThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
The sarcophagi of the Royal Necropolis of Sidon were put on exhibit on the ground floor of the new museum building, hence the museum was also called the “Sarcophagi Museum”.
Osman Hamdi Bey and His Retinue at Istanbul Archaeological MuseumsThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
June 13th is celebrated as "Museologists' Day" every year because it is the date the main building of the Istanbul Archaeological Museums opened in 1891.
Click here to read more on Istanbul Archeological Museums' collection.
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