User Reviews
The Istanbul Archaeological Museums is a complex of three museums: the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Tiled Kiosk Museum. Located in the same garden, these institutions house an extensive collection of artifacts, with nearly one million pieces representing various civilizations from the vast territories of the former Ottoman Empire. Established in 1869 as the Imperial Museum (Müze-i Hümayun), it holds the distinction of being Turkey’s first museum, marking the institutionalization of museology in the country.
The Archaeology Museum became a center for historical preservation and excavation under Osman Hamdi Bey, a prominent painter and archaeologist. His efforts led to the discovery of remarkable artifacts, including the famous Alexander Sarcophagus, brought from the necropolis of Sidon. As the museum expanded, its growing collection required a purpose-built space, leading to the construction of the neoclassical main building, designed by the renowned architect Alexander Vallaury, which officially opened in 1891.
The Tiled Kiosk Museum, the oldest structure in the complex, was built in 1472 by Sultan Mehmed II as a pleasure pavilion. With its Persian architectural influence, the building features a grand entrance adorned with mosaic tiles and a marble arcade. It was later converted into a museum and today displays an exquisite collection of Turkish tiles and ceramics from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods.
The Museum of the Ancient Orient was originally constructed as the Ottoman Empire’s first fine arts school in 1883 but was repurposed as a museum in 1917. This institution focuses on the civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, and the Near East, exhibiting significant artifacts such as cuneiform inscriptions, statues, and relics from ancient empires.
The Istanbul Archaeological Museums stand as one of the world’s most significant museum complexes, not only for its vast and diverse collection but also for its architectural grandeur. The main building remains one of the finest examples of neo-classical architecture in Istanbul.
References:Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.
The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.
Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.