Museum of Ancient Oriental Works Entrance

Normal ticket value: €10

Temporarily Closed
Free with Istanbul E-pass

Istanbul E-pass includes Museum of Ancient Oriental Works Istanbul Entrance Ticket. Simply scan your QR code at the entrance and get in.

The Museum of Ancient Oriental Works is a museum within the Istanbul Archeology Museum. The collections in the museum consist of works belonging to the pre-Greek eras of Anatolia, Mesopotamia and the pre-Islamic eras of Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula. The majority of these artifacts were unearthed during the archaeological excavations. Started at the end of the 19th century during the Ottoman Empire and lasted until the First World War. They were brought to Istanbul.

General Information About the Museum of Ancient Oriental Works

The famous painter and archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey built The Museum of Ancient Oriental Works in 1883. It was named Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi, that is, to become the Academy of Fine Arts. This academy became the step of the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University to be established in the future. That is the first fine arts school opened in the Ottoman Empire. Alexander Vallaury is the architect of the building. He also built the building of the Istanbul Archeology Museums today.

In 1917, Academy of Fine Arts moved to Cagaloglu District. After getting empty, the building was hand over to the Museums Directorate. Museum Director Halil Edhem thought to exhibit the art and archaeological artifacts. Museum of Oriental Works exibit belongings in a different way and in a different place from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine works. German Expert Eckhard Unger made arrrangements and categorization work between 1917 - 1919 and 1932 - 1935. During World War II The museum was emptied to ensure the safety of the artifacts. Osman Sumer rearranged comply with Unger's arrangement rules after the danger passed. In 1963, a major arrangement was made in the structure of the Museum of Ancient Oriental Works. The museum was reopened in 1974. The Museum of Ancient Oriental Works was maintained and repaired in 1999-2000 and gained its present form.

Museum of Ancient Orient Works Hours of Operation

Museum of Ancient Orient Works is open every day between 09:00 - 20:00. The last entrance is at 19:00

Museum of Ancient Orient Works is closed temporarily, due to renovation.

Museum of Ancient Orient Works Location

Museum of Ancient Orient Works is located in Gulhane Park, in the courtyard of the Istanbul Archeological Museum

Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu,
Gulhane Park, Sultanahmet

Important Notes:

  • Simply scan your QR code at the entrance and get in.
  • Museum vist can take around 30 minutes. Average 90 minutes.
  • Photo ID will be asked from child Istanbul E-pass holders.
Know before you go

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What artifacts are in the museum?

    The collections of the Museum of Ancient Oriental Works include artifacts from the Pre-Greek region of Anatolia and Mesopotamia, as well as from Pre-Islamic Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula.

  • When was the museum opened?

    Today's museum building was used as a School of Fine Arts. When the school moved to a different area, it is turned into a Museum of Ancient Orient and opened in 1917.

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