Istanbul Guide

İ STANBUL ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUMS

WINGEDBULL/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

DON’T MISS  Royal Necropolis of Sidon sarcophagi  Glazed panels from the processional street and Ishtar gate of an cient Babylon  Late Hittite statues and reliefs  Classical statuary  İ brahim Bey İ mâret mihrab PRACTICALITIES  İ stanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri  Map p238, C3  % 0212-520 7740  www.istanbularkeoloji. gov.tr  Osman Hamdi Bey Yoku ş u Sokak, Gülhane  adult/child under 12yr ₺ 20/free  h 9am-7pm, last entry 6pm  j Gülhane

This superb museum showcases archaeological and artistic treasures from the Topkap ı Palace collections formed during the late 19th century by museum director, artist and archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey. Housed in three buildings – the Museum of the Ancient Orient (Eski Ş ark Eserler Müzesi), the Archaeology Museum (Arkeoloji Müzesi) and the Tiled Pavilion (Çinili Kö ş k) – its exhibits include ancient artefacts, classical statuary and an exhibition tracing İ stanbul’s history. Museum of the Ancient Orient Immediately on the left after you enter the complex, this 1883 building has a collection of pre-Islamic items gath ered from the expanse of the Ottoman Empire. Its steps are flanked by two impressive late Hittite lions, dating to the 8th century BC. Inside, highlights include further late Hittite statues and reliefs, and a series of large blue and-yellow glazed-brick panels that once lined the pro cessional street and the Ishtar gate of ancient Babylon. The panels, which date from 604–562 BC, depict real and mythical animals such as lions, dragons and bulls. Archaeology Museum On the opposite side of the column-filled courtyard to the Museum of the Ancient Orient is this imposing neo classical building, which was wrapped in scaffolding and tarpaulin and undergoing renovation when we visited. It houses an extensive collection of classical statuary and