Istanbul Archaeology Museums: History, Highlights and Visitor Tips

The Istanbul Archaeology Museums hold one of the world's great collections of antiquities, with more than a million objects from the civilisations of Anatolia, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Mediterranean. The complex stands in the old city, between Gulhane Park and the outer walls of Topkapi Palace, and is often quieter than the famous sights nearby.

Its highlight is a group of magnificent sarcophagi from the royal necropolis of Sidon, including the celebrated Alexander Sarcophagus. Here is what to know before you go.

History of the Istanbul Archaeology Museums

The museum began as the Imperial Museum (Muze-i Humayun), founded in 1869 with a collection of antiquities gathered in the former church of Hagia Irene in the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace. In 1881 the painter and archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey, who had trained in Paris, became its director and transformed it.

Osman Hamdi led excavations himself, including at Sidon in present-day Lebanon in 1887, where the royal sarcophagi were discovered. To house them he commissioned the neoclassical main building, which opened to visitors on 13 June 1891. It was one of the first buildings in the country designed as a museum. The left wing was added in 1903 and the right wing in 1907.

The three museums in the complex

The Istanbul Archaeology Museums are in fact three museums sharing one garden:

• Archaeological Museum: the main building, with the Sidon sarcophagi and classical sculpture.
• Museum of the Ancient Orient: finds from Mesopotamia, Egypt and Anatolia, including glazed brick panels from Babylon and early written tablets.
• Tiled Kiosk (Cinili Kosk): a pavilion built under Sultan Mehmed II (Fatih) in the 15th century, one of the oldest Ottoman buildings in Istanbul, now displaying Seljuk and Ottoman tiles and ceramics.

The Tiled Kiosk is why the museum's roots are often traced back to the time of Fatih. Some galleries have been closed for long restoration work in recent years, so check what is open before your visit.

Seven famous sarcophagi in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum

1. Alexander Sarcophagus

The most important piece in the museum and a masterpiece of late classical Greek art, dated to about 325-311 BC. Its sides show battle and hunting scenes between Greeks and Persians: the Greeks wear short cloaks, while the Persians are dressed in trousers and long-sleeved tunics. Alexander the Great appears in the scenes, but the sarcophagus is thought to have been made for a king of Sidon, not for Alexander himself.

2. Mourning Women Sarcophagus

Dated to the middle of the 4th century BC, this is the finest example of the type known as columned sarcophagi. Eighteen grieving women stand between the columns, perhaps the women of the royal household, and a funeral procession runs around the edge of the lid. The expressions and poses are strikingly natural. It is believed to have belonged to King Straton of Sidon.

3. Tabnit Sarcophagus

An Egyptian sarcophagus that was reused. A hieroglyphic inscription on the chest names its first owner, an Egyptian general. A second inscription in the Phoenician alphabet says it later belonged to Tabnit, king of Sidon, and warns that anyone who opens it will find no peace in this world or the next. The mummy of Tabnit is displayed beside it.

4. Lycian Sarcophagus

Named after its tall, pointed lid in the style of Lycian tombs in south-west Anatolia, this sarcophagus from the late 5th century BC is carved with hunting scenes and mythical creatures.

5. Satrap Sarcophagus

From the 5th century BC, its reliefs show hunting and travel scenes: servants and grooms prepare a ruler's horse for a long journey. It is considered a rare example of Ionian art, elegant and idealised in style.

6. Phaedra and Hippolytus Sarcophagus

A Roman work of the 2nd century AD found in Tripoli. It tells the myth of Phaedra, wife of Theseus, king of Athens, who falls in love with her stepson Hippolytus.

7. Sidamara Sarcophagus

Named after the place near Konya where it was found, this richly carved 3rd-century AD Roman sarcophagus is one of the most impressive in the collection, with a hunting scene on one long side.

Visiting the Istanbul Archaeology Museums

How to get there

Take the T1 tram to Gulhane and walk up through the edge of Gulhane Park, or walk down from the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace; the entrance is signposted from both. It is a few minutes' walk from Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern.

Tickets and opening hours

Entrance fees and opening hours change, so check them on the official museums website (muze.gov.tr) before you visit. The museum has been included in the Istanbul museum pass; see our guide what is the Museum Card to find out whether a pass suits your plans.

Tips for your visit

• Allow two to three hours if you want to see all three buildings.
• Combine it with Topkapi Palace, which is next door; see our Topkapi Palace guide.
• The garden has a cafe and ancient columns and sculptures, a good place for a break.
• If you prefer to have the history explained, it fits well into a guided Istanbul old city tour.

Frequently asked questions

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