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].

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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

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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.

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The Archaeological Museum was founded by the famous painter, archaeologist and curator of the time, Osman Hamdi, and opened to the public on June 13, 1891 under the name Miize-i Humayun (the Imperial Museum). The museum, which was rear ranged and enlarged by the addition of a new wing to the building, was reopened to the public on its centannial. The gate of this majestic building designed by architect Valaury is monumental.

In the halls to the right of the entrance, examples of “Antique Age Sculpture” are exhibited. Unique examples of sculpture from the Archaic age until the end of Roman era are exhibited in the halls of “Antique Grave Stones and Reliefs”, “Treasures from Persian Reign in Anatolia”, “Kenan Erim Hall (Aphrodisias Relics)”, “Three Marble Cities in Anatolia” (Ephesus, Miletus, Aphrodisias), “Hellenistic Sculpture”, “Magnesia AD Meandrum and Tralles (Aydin) Statue Groups”, “Hellenistic and Hellenistic Influenced Roman Sculpture”, “Roman Art of Portrait Making”, “Roman Empire Sculpture”. The majority of these artifacts was discovered during the excavations of the ancient cities in Anatolia.

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Following the counters, where souvenirs and books are sold, on the left of the entrances, is the hall dedicated to Osman Hamdi, the founder of the museum. Right after this hall, treasures unearthed during the excavation of the Royal Cemetery in Sidon are exhibited. Excavation of the Cemetery was carried on by Osman Hamdi, himself.

The first of the three sarcophagi standing side by side belongs to Tabnit, the king of Sidon. A unique Lician sarcophagus and a Satrap sarcophagus are also found in this hall. Next comes the world famous Sar-cophagus of Alexander the Great and the Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women. Both of these were discovered during the excavation of the Royal Cemetery in Sidon and they date back to the 4lh century B.C..

Various architectural fragments are displayed in the annex building. In its ground level is the hall of “Antique Age Anatolian Architecture” and in the first storey is the hall of “Istanbul Through the Centuries”. On the second storey, small archaeological finds belonging to the Paleolithic age, Early, Middle and Late Bronze ages and the Frigian State age in Anatolia are displayed under the heading “Anatolia Through the Centuries and Troy”. A section of this hall is reserved for the artifacts found in Troy and the treasures discovered in the settlements I-IX are displayed in separate showcases.
On the third storey, under the heading of treasures discovered in Cyprus, Palestine and Syria are displayed in chronological order.