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Rating: 5.0/5 (2872 votes cast)
The museum was built on the northern section of the peristyle courtyard of the Great Palace of the Byzantine Empire, where mosaics used to decorate the pavement had been discovered partially in good condition.
Istanbul Mosaic Museum (Great Palace Mosaic Museum), is located close to Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey, at Arasta Bazaar. The museum houses mosaics from the Byzantine period, unearthed at the site of the Great Palace of Constantinople.
The museum hosts the mosaics used to decorate the pavement of a peristyle court, dating possibly to the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I (r. 527-565). It was uncovered by Turkish archaeologists from the University of St Andrews in Scotland during extensive excavations at the Arasta Bazaar in Sultan Ahmet Square in 1935-1938 and 1951-1954.
| Address |
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Sultanahmet, Eminönü |
| Web Site |
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www.ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr |
| E-mail |
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mozaik@muze.gov.tr – ayasofyamuzesi@kulturturizm.gov.tr |
| Phone |
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(212) 518 12 05 |
| Fax |
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(212) 512 54 74 |
The Great Palace mosaics, reflecting a matchless master ship, are dated by specialists to 450-550 AD. The white background of the mosaics resembles fish scales. The scenes depicted on the mosaics are from daily life and nature, rather than being religious. The scenes of a griffin eating a lizard, a fight between an elephant and a lion, a mare nursing her filly, children herding geese, a man milking a goat, a child feeding a donkey, a girl with a jug, bears eating apples and a fight between a hunter and a tiger are among the most spectacular examples displayed in the museum.
Istanbul Mosaic Museum
The area formed part of the south-western Great Palace, and the excavations discovered a large peristyle courtyard, with a surface of 1872 m², entirely decorated with mosaics. It was at this point that the Austrian Academy of Sciences, supervised by Prof. Dr. Werner Jobst, undertook to study and preserve the famous palace mosaic and to carry out additional archeological examinations (1983-1997) within the scope of a cooperative project with the Directorate General of Monuments and Museums in Turkey.
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Istanbul Travel Guide
- Bosphorus, Istanbul
- Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
- Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul
- Etz Ahayim Synagogue
- Galata Tower, Istanbul
- Golden Horn
- Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
- Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
- Hippodrome, Istanbul
- Istanbul Archaeology Museum
- Istanbul Jewish Cemetery
- Neve Shalom Synagogue, Istanbul
- Spice Bazaar, Istanbul
- Suleymaniye Mosque Istanbul
- Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
- Underground Cistern, Istanbul
- Zulfaris Synagogue
- Beylerbeyi Palace
- Rumelihisari (Fortress)
- Camlica Hill
- Bosphorus Bridge
- Istanbul Mosaic Museum
- Church of the Holy Apostles
- Eyup Mosque and Mausoleum
- Beyazit Camii
- Fatih Camii
- Fethiye Camii “Pammakaristos Church”
- Hagia Eirene
- Orthodox Patriarchate and Cathedral
- Sts Sergius and Bacchus
- Yeni Camii
- Zeyrek Camii “Church of the Pantocrator”
- Prince’s Islands
- Mosque of Rustem Pasha
- Galata Bridge
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
- Miniatürk
- Istanbul Modern Museum
- Galata Mevlevihanesi
- Pierre Loti
- Istanbul, Turkish Baths
- Walk through Istiklal Street
- Tunnel
- Military Museum
- Port of Istanbul
- City Walls of Istanbul
- Maiden’s Tower
- Harem
- Tofre Begadim Synagogue
- Yıldız Park
- Bulgarian St. Stephen Church
- Ahrida (Ohrid) Synagogue, Istanbul
- Ashkenazi Synagogue, Istanbul
- Balat, Istanbul
- Blue Mosque, Istanbul
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Rating: +3098 (from 3098 votes)
Mosaic museum is rich in history. Apparently these mosaics were used to decorate the pavement of a peristyle court. The mosaics were in great conditions and very well preserved. This is a must place for me, plus it is very quiet and not busy at all.
This small and relatively inexpensive museum had huge mosaics that have been re-laid as they were in the Byzantine Empire's Great Palace, which is being exhumed slowly. But I had been seeking more history from the Byzantine Era, and this was one place I found it. Great explanations of each mosaic, too.
The largest and most beautiful mosaic I have seen. Well restored and presented. The entrance is right outside at the middle passage of the bazaar.
It was great – really small, built on the site of an old Byzantine Palace, it houses a number of lovely restored mosaics. You can walk right past them and read about the restoration.
If you don't like roman mosaics, this is not the place for you.
The main piece is the mosaic floors from Constantine the greats palace.
If this doesn't interest you, there is no reason for you to be there.
If it does, then it is very special.
Not a lot of stuff, but what they have is very special.
Went first thing in the morning and had the place to ourselves. The small museum houses some amazing historic mosaics, which are very impressive and beautiful.
Another fascinating place for those who love ancient arts. This small museum opens really old peices of the floor mosaic ornament found in Topkapi palace. Thanks to those people who could renovate these incredible mosaics and made it open to public.
The museum houses mosaics from the Byzantine period, this small museum is just behind the Blue Mosque. The sample is splendid. the fee is very small and half hour for looking mosaics at its best.
This is so close to the major sites (Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia). Most guide books seem to say to avoid this museum but I thought it was very nice. It's essentially just shows one portion of what was once and incredibly large mosaic floor from Constantine's palace.
Although small and a tad hard to find, this museum is lovely. Imagining the mosaics in the palace brings to life the splendor that must have been. Unfortunately, having the mosaics separated out in different places with small notes as to where they had been located somewhat destroys the impact of such lovely work.