Established in 1891 as Muze-I Humayun [Imperial Museum], Istanbul Archeology Museums is the first and the only institution that leads the museum culture and formation of archeology science. Gathered and preserved, first, by Fethi Ahmet Pasha – Tophane-i Amire Musiri [Federal Marshal] in 1266 Hijri in Aya Irini Church, asar-i atika [old works] attracted the attention of the guests of foreign countries. Upon the odd interest of above-mentioned people on the war tools and gathering information on them, Harbiye Nezareti [Ministry of War] became anxious about it and vacated the old works from Aya Irini Church and transferred it to Cinili Mansion in Topkapi Palace.
First nizamname [ordinance] prepared on 8 April 1874 to safeguard the old works, was amended by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1822 in accordance the conditions of those day with the claim for that nizamname privileging the foreigners more; and Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi was built in 1883, what today is called as Eski Sark Eserleri Muzesi [Old Oriental Works Museum].
Photo by Niyazi Uğur Genca
Continuing its words on enlisting how Muze-i Humayun was mentioned in the laws and regulations of Maarif Nezareti [Ministry of Education], Alpay has also stressed on the structuring of Istanbul Archeology Musem, which is comprised of three museums as above-mentioned, and on the works in them. As we learned from Alpay, a Tablet Archive, which preserves cuneiform writings, and the works of eastern origin nations like Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Phoenicia, Hebrew and Hittite. The building or Archeology Museum exhibits works of Byzantine and Rome periods, works belonging to Christianity like sarcophagus; portraits and sculptures, medals, seals, coins and coin cabins of Islamic and non-Islamic origins, besides a library. In Cinili Mansion, however, Islamic works are displayed. Along with that, there are manuscripts of Pashas. In other words, the Museum contains very significant and precious works, coming from various regions within the Ottoman Empire, from Balkans to Africa, from Anatolia and Mesopotamia to Arabian Peninsular. Since the period of Sultan Abdulmecid, in the period between 1840 and 1922, including the documents other than the archeological ones, several services of classification, cataloguing, inventory generation and research are made on the original documents of around 150,000 official correspondences; and, The Ottoman
Photo by Niyazi Uğur Genca
Archeological Documents Archive was established under the Directorate of Istanbul Archeology Museums. Drawing attention to the two PhD thesis realized from the archive documents, Alpay also mentions about infrastructural work on the classification and research operations in the Ottoman Archeological Documents Archive of Istanbul Archeology Museums.
After giving information on the history, structuring and reorganization of Istanbul Archeology Museums’ Archive, Alpay expresses the benefit of applying to the authorities for reopening of the archive to the readers and researches, which was closed to them as of 4 January 2005; and, he completed his speech by connecting this issue to the perception of the old works and pointed at the importance of remedying this fault by reopening the archive.
Forming one section of the Istanbul Archeology Museums in Eminonu District of Istanbul, the library, together with the museum building was built by renowned architects of that period and professor of Sanayi-i Nefise Mekteb-i Alisi, the Architect Aleixandre Vallaury. In the new museum building, façade of the antique works were paid special attention. Especially the outer façade was inspired by Aglayan Kadinlar Lahdi [Crying Women Sacrophagous], so it is said. Spacious halls are allocated for display and organization in the museum. Thus, first part of this first genuine museum was opened in 1891 and other parts were opened in 1903 and 1907 with the permission of Sultan Abdulhamit II. Composing one section of the museum and labeled as Imperial Library, the museum library was located next to the Treasure Room in the upper level, on the right side in the entrance of the U-shaped museum building.
Entered into from a huge hall, the library is decorated with wooden works from floor to ceiling as two-story room. The library covers a space of 500sqm, approximately. The major part of the library is composed of the books of Osman Hamdi Bey, which he had provided either by donation or purchase. Ever increasing number of manuscripts and printed works since its opening, it has reached up to very considerable numbers. Having specialized works of scientific, archeological, history of art and history in several languages, the library has gone beyond any speciality library boundaries. Also including archeological works, there are many books that are outside the speciality fields. Besides, there are very significant collections obtained from the donations. Ahmet Cevat Pasha Collection, Mehmet Sakir Pasha Collection, Sultan Mehmet Resat V Collection, Diyarbekirli Sait Pasa Colletions, Recaizade Ekrem Collection, Murtaza Hocazade Hatice Hanim Collection, Zeki Megamiz Collection, Karaman Buyukkaya Collection and H. Turhan Daglioglu Collection are among the major collection that the library is holding at the moment.
Working in the library is subject to special permit to be obtained from the Directorate of Istanbul Archeology Museums.
Sat, Jun 20, 2009
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