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The Istanbul Archaeological Museums is the oldest museum of Türkiye.
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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.
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In 1869, Safvet Pasha ordered the establishment of a museum named the Imperial Museum (Müze-i Hümâyûn). The museum's collection, housed in the Tiled Kiosk, includes artefacts from the Hagia Eirene and objects from various regions of the Ottoman Empire.
Mehmed Esad Saffet Pasha, an Ottoman statesman and diplomat born in Istanbul in 1814, is considered one of the most important figures of the Tanzimat period.
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In 1891, the Imperial Museum was moved to a new Neo-Classical building opposite the Tiled Pavilion, which opened to the public on June 13, 1891.
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Today, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums house a rich collection of artifacts from various civilizations of Anatolia, ranging from stone works to sculptures, jewelry, and ceramics.
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The sarcophagi collection holds the museum's most remarkable collection. It consists of sarcophagi from various civilizations of Anatolia. Sarcophagi are tombs used for the burial of the dead; they are usually made of stone and have various decorations on them.
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Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women
This 4th-century BC sarcophagus from the Sidon Royal Necropolis is decorated with reliefs of mourning women.
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The Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great
This 4th-century BC sarcophagus from the Sidon Royal Necropolis is decorated with reliefs of Alexander the Great and various Greek mythological figures.
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Another important collection of the museum is jewelry. This collection consists of jewels from various civilizations of Anatolia. These jewelry pieces are usually made of gold, silver and precious stones and have various ornaments on them.
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The jewels in the collection are important artifacts that reflect Anatolia's rich history and culture. They provide valuable insights into how different civilizations lived and developed in Anatolia.
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Click here for a more detailed look at the jewelry collection of the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
