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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)
This is a very interesting museum. It is located half way along an arcade of craft shops. The museum is modern and well laid out. You walk along viewing platforms which gives you excellent views of the extensive area of mosaics…
The location of this museum is not easy to pinpoint, unless you know the area very well. Even the Turkey government travel website won't tell you the exact address; In fact, it is very close to the Blue Mosque. If you are nearby the Blue Mosque, you should ask for the Arasta Bazaar.
Unlike most sites in Istanbul, this was was un-crowded so you were able to take your time and enjoy the display. The small museum houses a portion of a huge mosaic uncovered near the blue mosque and what they think was part of a palace when the Romans ruled. Its been beautifully restored and the images are stunning.
This was a small museum and I was through in about twenty minutes. The mosaics were neat but there were better examples at many other places such as Chora Church.
This is a small but fascinating sight. To get in here, we used our Museum Pass Istanbul for 72 hours. It costs 72 TL and includes a single entry to 9 museums, including the Haghia Sophia, The Chora Church, Topkapi Palace plus the Harem Apartments and Archaeological Museum.
There is something fascinating about mosaics. I don't know what it is but I could stare at them for hours. And, considering its proximity to the Blue Mosque and Arasta Bazaar and it's cheap entry fee, this museum was well worth a visit.
the mosaics depicted everyday life rather then religious scenes. Its a small museum but worth the visit
The Mosaic Museum displays immense mosaics from the Byzantine period discovered nearby. The various intricate designs are impressive.
It's tucked away so didn't seem so busy in busy summer, the mosaics are quite stunning, there is some stairs but nothing to laborious
Take a short stroll through the marketplace and you will find the Mosaic Museum. Some very well preserved mosaics and very good explanation as to how these mosaics were cleaned, etc. Good respite from the crowds of the other sites.