I recently spent a morning at the Archeological Museum in Istanbul and while it may not be as large as the Louvre, the British Museum or the Met, in terms of quality the collection of ancient artifacts rivals them all. Thanks may be given to Osman Hamdi Bey who was the museum's first curator and founder and who excavated the Royal Necropolis at Sidon from which the magnificent sarcophagi were recovered.
There are so many wondrous artifacts, too many to post, but here's a few of my faves....
The facade of the Museum
The first artifact which you encounter is an enormous statue of Bes, the protector everything good and destroyer of all evil. This one was thought to have been a fountain. He's about 18' tall.
The tomb above looks as if everyone is going to come out and run all over the room.
A few more monumental sarcophagi.
The Sarcophagus of the Crying Women 374-358BC
Was found at the Royal Necropolis in Sidon. The 18 ladies shown on the sides with shaved heads and ragged clothes are thought to be portraits of Straton [374-358 BC] King of Sidon's grieving wives. Even the animals look sad....he must have been a really nice guy.
This tomb owner showed restraint.
These gryphons have a heraldic quality about them.
The Alexander Sarcophagus
The picture above is from the museum's site. The sarcophagus is behind a vintage glass enclosure that although attractive makes photography difficult.
Cornice, entablature and one of four crouching lions. I especially love the spouts and the feathered heads which look very much like Native Americans but are probably Amazons.
Detail of one of the side panels. There is a colored version which shows how garish these now beautiful artifacts would have been.
The pediment
Detail of the pediment on the other side.
Detail of the roof
Two fragments in the room of friezes. I hear that all of the items in this room have been recently taken out of storage and put on display....a very good idea.
The picture above is from Wikapedia of the temple facade....all that was visible on my visit last week was the pediment and a portion of the columns shown below.
The Palmyrion Tomb Chamber dating 1st c AD
is a reproduction of a tomb for a rich family in Palmyria. There are at least 219 persons buried in this tomb. The bodies were placed in drawer like compartments that lined the walls then a marble slab and high relief busts with inscriptions sealed the openings. The busts in this exhibit are the originals.
Two lovely pieces.
Lion from the Mosoleum of Halicarnassus, all of the other pieces, which are huge dwell in the British Museum.
Just a fragment
The Apollo Citharoedus found in the Baths of Miletus [Faustina] 2ndc AD
The side of the museum with a few choice bits.
The side garden filled with fragments.....I would be happy to take any of them...even though they are all broken.
An entire section of the museum was closed for restoration, so I will have to return soon to see the other treasures.
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