An honest opinion about Istanbul Archeological Museum

We all know the fact that the people usually don’t spend too much time in the museums. They get inside, have a quick look and get out distracted by their mobile phones, the friends and the family members on their mind. So we overlook the written labels inside the museum. Today, I did something remarkable and for the first time in my life, I read every historical label with great detail and was pretty much dizzy afterwards.

Anyways, Istanbul Archeological Museum is situated right below the great Topkapi Palace and right beside the Gulhane Park. I used to walk around this part of Istanbul a lot during my university years with friends, usually not paying much attention to the intricate details of the historical artifacts and the incredibly sophisticated architecture Istanbul represents.

The museum has 2 floors. On the right side of the first floor, 3 periods of ancient Greek history is exhibited with sculptures from these seperate eras and the history of these eras in great detail. The archaic period is showcased with the influence of the Phoenicians on the alphabet. The Persian invasion and the following satraps rule was depicted in some of the sculptures. The Classical era marks the power struggle between the Ionian states and the Persianempire relieving Ionian states from the persian rule by multiple decisive victories. The power vacuum between the Athens and the Persian Empire filled by the Philip II of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great fullfilling his fathers’ ambitions. A big hall is provided for Roman Era sculptures as well.

Alexander the Great

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Second floor has something I trully adore. Terracotta stuff. Terracotta red figured vases.

Amphora Terracotta Vase

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Black-Figure Amphora Terracotta Vase

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The second floor exhibits the the Ancient Troya with details on which excavation which artifacts are unfolded with the history of the smuggled artifacts by Heinrich Schliemann. I must admit the fact that in the past I had a huge indifference to the small historical piece of artifacts generally overlooking the intricate details they hold. This time as a dexterous person myself, I was quite shocked by the craftsmanship of the parts considering the modern day. The museum also showcases the coins from the Greek, Byzantine and Roman era as well with coins from different part of the Meditteranean region.

Terracotta male figurine

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The second floor has a beautiful hall with an olive tree in the center showing how olive and olive oil was possibly the first traded thing in the mediterranean region. The left side of the museum is just some sarcophagus which I don’t like except the Egyptian ones. They somewhat has something much more divine than the Greek ones but nothing beats black and red figured Terracotta vases of the Athenians. If you are a history nerd, I definitly recommend to visit and read all of the stuff so that you can feel you accomplished something:) Otherwise, it’s really not a Hagia Sophia where you can observe something breath-taking.

Istanbul Archeological Museum

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