Antalya Archeology Museum

The museum was established in 1922 to preserve Antalya’s archeological artifacts and other treasures. Ever since, it has maintained up to 13 exhibition halls and galleries, divided by time period and type of object. The most renowned museum in the region, Antalya Museum is well worth a visit for its dedication to the long, complicated, and fascinating history of Turkey. 

History of the Antalya Museum 

The Antalya Museum was founded in response to the plundering efforts of Italian archaeologists, who began taking the city’s archeological artifacts in the name of preservation while the region was under Italian military rule in the early 20th century. An advisor to the Sultan, offended by the plunder, applied to be the provincial governor of Antalya and founded the museum to protect what remained.  

When it opened in 1922, the museum was housed in the Alaeddin Mosque, then later the Yivli Minare Mosque. Its current sprawling building has been home to the museum’s vast collection since 1972. It covers an area of 7,000 square meters, and its current arrangement of galleries and division of its collection was set around 1985.  

Inside the Antalya Museum 

The museum’s two floors are split into 13 exhibition halls and a gallery, each of which has its own theme. Here is a taste of some of the museum sections: 

Prehistory Hall 

Long, long before Antalya was settled by the Attalid dynasty, it was home to scattered prehistoric settlements. This exhibition is full of objects from local caves and archeological sites that speak to this time in Antalya’s history.  

Proto-History Hall 

This exhibition displays artifacts and other objects excavated from Hacilar, an early human settlement that has been dated back to around 7000 BC. The objects here range from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age, and give visitors an enthralling glimpse into the lives of some of the earliest humans. 

Statuary Hall 

When Antalya was a Roman city, they left many statues of mythological figures, many of which date to 300-400 AD. These statues, which include those of Zeus, Aphrodite, Hermes, and more, are now on display at Statuary Hall. 

Sarcophagus Hall 

Beautiful, elaborate sarcophagi from the Roman period and beyond are the focus of the aptly named Sarcophagus Hall. One of the highlights is the Heracles Sarcophagus, which features carvings of the twelve mythological tasks of Heracles.  

Hall of Coins 

Imperial, regional, and city coins, ranging in origin from the Hellenistic to the Ottoman, cover the walls of the Hall of Coins. They shine with gold, silver, and copper plating; they are the remnants of once-powerful civilizations. 

These five halls are just a small look at the wealth of artifacts Antalya Museum has to offer. The other exhibits are the Natural History Hall, the Classic Period Hall, the Hall of Imperial Statues, the Mosaic Hall, the Hall of Church Artifacts, the Hall of Small Objects, Turkish-Islamic Period Works, and the Ethnographic Hall. These shed light on the millennia of history this Mediterranean-Central Asian region has seen, from early humans to the height of the Ottoman Empire. There’s also a Children’s Museum — the first in Turkey — which features antique toys and interactive fun. 

How to Visit 

Antalya Museum is open everyday from 8:30am to 8:00pm. Tickets are 200 TL, or about 10 USD. You can read more on the official website.  

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