Treasury Gallery of Istanbul Archaeological MuseumsThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
The treasury contains objects made from precious metals and stones. The rare artifacts exhibited in this gallery help us understand ancient societies and reconstruct their lifestyles, just like other archaeological objects.
Treasury Gallery of Istanbul Archaeological MuseumsThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
These objects, though made of valuable raw materials, should therefore be considered as cultural wealth, not material wealth, just like other archaeological finds.
Treasury Gallery, Istanbul Archaeological MuseumsThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
There are 4 exhibitions in the Treasury Gallery. Cult objects, jewelry, liturgical objects and memorial gifts made of ivory, agate, chalcedony, silver and gold are displayed in showcases. The artifacts are from the archaic, classic, Hellenistic, Roman and Eastern Roman periods.
Golden Fibula by Beginning of the 6th century BCEThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Golden Fibula (Beginning of the 6th century BCE, Yenikapı)
Its shape resembles an arbalest (crossbow). It is used to join fabrics used in clothing. It was a functional tool and an accessory. It may also have been used as a marker of identity such as gender, class, status and religious belief.
Medallion by 6th-7th century BCEThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Medallion (Agate) 6th-7th century BCE, Yenikapı
Poseidon is depicted on one side of the agate medallion. He is naked, with a trident in his left hand and a dolphin under his right foot. There are four stars behind and in front of Poseidon, who was associated with Pisces in astrology.
There is an inscription on the medallion: ΝΙΚΗ ΧΑΡΙΕ EΔΥΝΑΜΙC ΑΕΗΙΟΥΩ (victory, grace, power).
Medallion by 6th-7th century BCEThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
On the other side, Helios is depicted in the center of a round carved frame. His head and body are facing to the right. Helios was the personification of the sun during the Eastern Roman period.
The astrological signs are depicted in different ways: Capricorn has horns, two legs and a snake’s tail; Aquarius is a naked man; Pisces is two fishes; Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo are depicted in their real forms; Virgo is a young woman.
Golden Chest Ornament by 3rd century BCEThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Golden Chest Ornament (3rd century BCE, Nicomedia/İzmit)
This artifact was recovered in 1963, from the grave of a woman located within the walls of the ancient city of Nicomedia. Inside the grave, this chest ornament was found along with a golden bracelet, a single earring in the form of Nike and two rings with inset stones.
Golden Chest Ornament (Hercules Knot) by 3rd century BCEThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
At the center, there is a horizontal Hercules knot. Atop it is one of the Erotes, playing the lyre. The ends of the knot are shaped like a lion’s head. There are four chains connected to the knot, from which hang triple foxtail chain pendulums.
Golden Earrings by 3rd century BCEThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Golden Earrings (3rd century BCE, Nicomedia/İzmit)
These earrings consist of two parts: a large badge and a pendulum in the form of a winged goddess. The sides of the disc-shaped badge part are high and it depicts a large flower with thin leaves. The flower is surrounded by a filigree spiral.
The pendulum is in the form of a nude Nike, the goddess of victory. On her left ear is an earring with two spheres, one on top of the other. Her right ear is covered by her hair.
She appears to be landing on the ground: the figure's wings are open, and her left leg is reaching forward.
Golden Crown by 3rd century BCEThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Golden Crown (3rd century BCE, Bergama)
This crown is decorated with oak acorns placed at the end of thin curved wires. The wires are on branches with round pipe-shaped rings and leafy oak branches placed on them.
In the middle part, the Hercules knot from the thick wires is placed inside the wreath ring, and the figure of Nike, the goddess of victory, is attached to the ring in front of it.
Golden Ring by 6th centuryThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Golden Ring (6th century, Yenikapı)
This ring consists of two parts: the ring and the girdle. On the head there is an inscription in 4 lines: +/ΚΥΡΙ/ ΕΒΟΗΘΙ/ΟΥΝΔΙ/ΛΑ (My God, help Undila).
Golden Ring by 6th centuryThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Golden Ring (6th century, Yenikapı)
This ring is wide and expands on both sides. It is widest at the central point and the tips are sharp. Placed on this sharp area is a girdle that is shaped like a narrowing rising ladder.
Necklace by 5-6th centuryThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Necklace (Gold, Emerald, Pearl) (5-6th century, Yenikapı)
This necklace was found during the excavation of the Yenikapı Subway. The golden chain of the necklace has 24 emerald and 22 pearl beads. Necklaces like the Yenikapı necklace are believed to have been status symbols for the aristocracy.
For this reason, it is believed that the emerald and pearl necklace of Yenikapı was crafted for a woman of a high social status around the 5th or 6th century CE in a workshop in Constantinople.
Silver Tray by 6th-7th centuryThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Silver Tray (6th-7th century, Lampsakos/Lapseki Çanakkale)
The figures on the silver tray are hammered while the tray itself was forged. At some points, a scraping technique was used. For the portraits in the border, the Niello technique was used. The figures are gold plated.
While the female figure in the middle is described as "the personification of India", the animals around her are attributed to the Indian archipelago. It points to the relations and interactions between India and the Mediterranean region in the Eastern Roman period.
Istanbul Archaeological Museums (Main Building)The Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Click here to read more on the Istanbul Archeological Museums archives.
