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Antalya Museum
 At the end of the First World War, during the time when Antalya was under
the Italian military occupation, Italian archeologists started to remove
the archeological treasures that had been found in the the center or the
surroundings to the Italian Embassy, which they claimed to do in the name
of civilization. To prevent these initiatives, Süleyman Fikri Bey, the
Sultani teacher, applied to the Antalya post and jurisdiction of the
provinial Governor in 1919 and had himself appointed as voluntary officer
of antiquities and first tried to establish the Antalya Museum by
collecting what remained in the center.
The museum at first operated in the Alâeddin Mosque in 1922, then in Yivli
Mosque beginning from 1937, and then moved to its present building in
1972. It was closed to visitors for a wide range of modifications and
restorations in 1982. It was reorganized according to a modern approach
for a museum and opened to the public in April 1985, after the
restorations and display arrangements made by the General Directorate of
Ancient Objects and Museums.
The museum contains 13 display halls, a children's section and open
galleries. The objects only belonging to the region are generally
presented chronologically and according to their subjects.
 Natural History and Prehistory Hall
In addition to the three display windows, in which the fossils of
geological periods are presented, the chipped gravel, hand axes, diggers,
bone tools found in the Karain Cave and stratigraphies from pre-Paleolithic
period to Roman period are presented.
Karain is a cave located 27 km north west of Antalya and at the foot of
Şam Mountain. Besides the remains which have been found in the 10,5 m
thick soil fillings dating from the Paleolithic Period, there are also the
tooth and skeleton remains of Neanderthal human beings that had lived in
the Mesolithic Period.
Semayuk is the only center representing the Early Bronze Age, most of the
artefacts were found in graves, including pots of various sizes, seals,
brush handles, idols and especially gifts for the dead. Interesting is a
grave made of a big earthenware jar. The most interesting side of this
kind of burial is the placing of the corpse in the earthenware jar in the
position of a baby in the womb of a mother.
The Small Hall
Works -I
The technical developments of ceramic art after the invention of the
pottery wheel, vase forms, different embellishment styles, are presented
dating from 12th B.C. to 3rd B.C. periods.
The two display windows in this section are for the interesting finds of
make-up materials and accessories.
The Hall of Gods
The gods in the salon are the main God Zeus surrounded by Aphrodite, Tykne,
Athena, Nemesis, Itygieia, Hermes and Dioskurs and at the opposite side
there are Serapis, Isis and his son Harpo, all of Egyptian origin. The
statues are the Roman copies, dating 2nd century A.D., of their Greek
originals and all of them were found during Perge excavations.
The Hall of Small Artefacts-II
The selected artefacts of different cultural phases dating from 4 B.C. to
6 A.D. are presented in the display window. The vase presented to the
Princess of Egypt, Benerike, the Athena engraved on silver plate, bronze
Statues of Apollo and Hercules, the head of Attis, the marble Statue of
Priapus representing fertility, the earthenware and marble statues are the
hall's exhibits of outstanding value.
In the underwater display window, there are objects that were found in
ancient sunken ships.
 The Hall of Emperors
The most beautiful examples of portraits, representing the main character
of Roman sculpture, are presented in this hall. All of the statues were
found in the Perge excavations.
There are many statues of 2-3rd centuries, because the most magnificent
period of the region's historical development was during this time.
There are portrait statues of the Emperor Trajan and Hadrian, of Septimius
Severus, Sabina, Faustina, Julia Domina, Julia Soemias, Plankia Magna and
there are also statues of Three Beauties and a belly dancer statue made of
black and white marble.
The Hallof Burial Culture
The two walled tombs in the hall belong to Domitias Filickas and his
family. On the cover, the wife and husband are shown in a lying position.
The Erases on the corners symbolize the happiness of a family. The other
important walled tomb, dates from 2 A.D., its subject is Hercules. One of
the walled tombs is the most striking example of illegal trafficking of
antique objects. A piece of the walled tombs, which was broken off and
smuggled out, was brought from the USA and mounted in its place in 1983.
Appropriate to the original positions, grave steles sprinkled on the soil
ground and ash pots are presented in the hall.
The Hall of Mosaics and Icons
The most important of the mosaics in the museum is the Mosaic of
Philosophers, which was found in the Seleukeia excavation and on the
border of which the names of famous thinkers of antiquity, such as Solon.
Tukyclides, Lykurgos, Herodotus, Demosthenes, Itesiodos and the names of
orators, historians and mathematicians are inscribed. On another mosaic
coming from Seleukia, Orpheus charming the wild animals with his flute is
depicted.
There are also corners reserved for examples of local sculpture, chipping
equipment and bronze sculpture techniques in this section.
The icons presented in this hall are collected from the region of Antalya,
dating generally from 18th and 19th centuries.
The Hall of Coins
The 2500 year long tradition of minting coins, dating from 6th century
B.C., its technique and economy are presented in an educational order in
the hall. In the presentation, state coins of the Pamphilia, Pisidio,
Likia regions, and generally regional coins of the chronological order of
Classic, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk ages and the Ottoman period
are the main focus.
There are also gold and silver hoards in this section.
Etnography Halls
The ethnography section of our museum comprises of two big halls and a
passage combining these halls.
In the first hall, chinaware, porcelains, religious artefacts, insignia,
seals, charms, watches, ornamental objects, locks, keys and clothes are
presented.
The chinaware is from Seljuk and Ottoman periods. The Seljuk chinaware was
brought from Aspendos and there is also the Kubadabat style with objects
crafted in the “Sıraltı” technique in the middle of 13th century.
The Ottoman chinaware in square panel forms presents examples of İznik
artisanship from 15-16-17 and 18th centuries.
Five porcelain plates were produced at the Yıldız Factory, which operated
for a short time till the end of 1920.
Religious artefacts are objects that can always be seen in all of the
regions of Anatolia. But the Seljuk Qur'an, which we may claim to be a
regional work of art has a special importance.
Signs, seals, charms and watches are presented in one of the display
windows. The charms are spell binding prayers and these charms are used
for different purposes.
The ornamental objects are the best examples of accessories still used in
Antalya.
There are also keys and locks presented as quality artisanship.
Clothes, purple velvets embroidered with silver tread and Yörük (nomad)
materials can be examined in two sections. Yörük clothes, socks, baggy
trousers, long robes worn over baggy trousers, undershirts, purses,
girdles and caps can all be examined.
In the section ensuring the passage to the 2nd hall there are inscription
plates, such as hilyes, naats, icazets and katığs of our calligraphers.
The second hall is formed of four sections of carpets, Yörük materials,
interiors and guns. Besides the regional artefacts and materials in
this hall, the carpets of Uşak, Gördes, Ladik, Mucur, Bergama, Kula and
Avonos are presented. The oldest carpet in our carpet collection is an
Uşak carpet of the 16th century.
The Döşemealtı carpet has an important place in the ethnographical objects
of the region. Döşemealtı is the name of a place in the northeastern part
of Antalya District. The “Halelli” carpets are the oldest and traditional
examples of the carpets among Döşemealtı carpets. These works are of nomad
character and small in size. The sacks, saddle boas, iğliks, prayer rugs,
sills, cicims, sumaks which show the rug techniques of Antalya region are
presented with black tents as Yörük artisanship.
A part of the hall is reserved for a living, sleeping and bath rooms of a
modest Antalya home.
In a part of the display windows, arrows, bows, knives, guns and rifles
with flint stones and swords, equipment of dervish lodges, powder flasks,
powder scales, and oil cans and also guns and supporting materials are
presented.
Besides this, the scales, goat hair spindles and counters such as Çulfalık,
musical instruments and spoons can be emphasized as local tools and
artefacts.
The pipe with cover, Yörük and zerk kemence (a string-bow instrument) and
the flute made from an eagle’s wing bone are interesting artefacts.
Spoons from Bademli village of Cevizli of Akseki are presented from their
design phase to their completed and organized forms.
Children's Section
A hall in the entrance of our museum was organized as a Children's Museum,
which is the first of its kind in our country.
In the display windows of this section, there are various children's toys
and antique moneyboxes. Simple restorations, and educational activity
oportunities for ceramic sculpture and drawing are provided and their
works are presented in the studio section, in order to make the children
enjoy museums, antique objects and to awaken their interest.
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