Ankara - Independence War Museum (I.Turkish Grand National Assembly Building)

Ankara - II. Turkish Grand National Assembly Museum of the Republic 

The building, designed by architect Vedat Tek (1873-1942) and built as the Republican People's Party Headquarters in 1923, was later converted to function as the Assembly building. The two-storey building also has a basement floor. The centrally located two-storey high main assembly hall is surrounded by rooms on three sides. The main entrance hall, which stretches all along the entry facade, has two grand stairs at opposite ends and its ceiling is decorated with Seljuk and Ottoman ornaments and patterns. The main assembly hall, with audience boxes arranged in sections within, is also decorated in a similar style. Its star patterned timber ceiling, arcs, cornices and many sections with mosaic decorations, except the crown door and a few other items, which are included into the main hall afterwards, reflect the architectural characteristics of its time. 

I. Turkish Grand National Assembly building, in spite of some alterations made later, was inadequate to satisfy the growing needs of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic. That is why the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly was built and opened on 18 October 1924. 

II. Turkish Grand National Assembly is an important building in which Atatürk’s principals and reforms came to life, the most important decisions taken on the way to develop the new Republic by contemporary legislation, also where the international treaties and agreements made to increase Turkey's prestige and activities in the international arena and the transition to a multiple party system took place between 1924 - 1960. II. Turkish Grand National Assembly played an important role in Turkish political history for a period of 36 years until 27 May 1960. After moving the Assembly to its new modern building in 1961, the building was allotted to the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). The building functioned as the headquarters of CENTO between the years 1961 and 1979 and after the abolishing of CENTO in the same year, it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture. The decision was made to arrange the front section of the building as the Museum of the Republic and the rear section as the administration building for the the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums. The museum section, after refurbishment and restorations, opened to public exhibition on 30 October 1981 as “Museum of the Republic”. It functioned with this arrangement until 1985. This same year it was closed to public and new restoration work started. The work continued until 1991 and in January 1992 the museum reopened to public. The events comprising the era of the first three presidents of the Republic are presented by their own words, speeches, photos and personal items and also the decisions taken and the laws passed by the Grand Assembly during the same period are on display in this museum. 

Sections of the Museum 

First Room on the Right Side of the Corridor 

This room, originally the Accountancy Room of the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly, today is called “Atatürk's Principles Room”. Atatürk’s Republican, Nationalist, Populist, Statist, Secularist and Reformist principals are presented by his own words and photos through illuminated panels in this room. 
Second Room on the Right Side of the Corridor 

What originally was the prayer room of the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly, today is “Atatürk’s Reforms Room”. The Constitution, establishment of new laws, dress and attire reforms, international calendar, time and measurements, new Turkish Alphabet, surname law, Great Speech, X. Year Speech, Turkish Aviation Society; railways, economy, industry and events related to Atatürk’s reforms, legislation proposals, laws, newspaper clips, Atatürk’s words and photos, items related to above subjects are exhibited in this room through illuminated panels and showcases. 
Third Room on the Right Side of the Entrance 

Originally used as “Legal Proceedings Secretariat” room during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly, it is today “Atatürk Room.” Atatürk's signatures and handwritings of his own words and speeches, abolishing of religious orders and cells, establishment of the Turkish Historical and Turkish Language Societies, foreign policy, Montreux Agreement of Turkish Straits, agriculture, archeology and fine arts, granting the Turkish women’s suffrage and the events about Atatürk’s death, are presented by illuminated panels and showcases. Some of Atatürk’s personal belongings are also displayed in this room. 

First Room on the Left Side of the Entrance 

During the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly this room was used as “Legislation Secretariat Room.” Today in this room, III. President of the Republic Mahmut Celal Bayar's life and events between 1950 and 1960 are presented in his own words and photographs. Some of his personal belongings, donated to the museum by his family, are also displayed in this room. 

Second Room on the Left Side of the Entrance 
Originally used as “Board of Directors Room” or “Administrative Committee Room” during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period. Today it is being used to display banknotes and coins, stamps, memorial coins and medals which were put into circulation since the founding of the Republic. 
Third Room on the Left Side of the Entrance 

Originally used as “Archives Secretariat Room” during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period. Today it is being used to display the II. President of the Republic, Ismet Inönü's life and events between 1938 and 1950 in his own words and photographs. Some of his personal belongings, donated to the museum by his family, are also on display in this room. 

Main Assembly Hall 

The General Assembly Hall of the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period has a very important place in the history of the Turkish Republic. From the very first days of the Republic, this hall had been the centre stage of all the speeches, decisions taken to materialize the great enterprises of the nation. The Assembly’s presidential pulpit is located at the centre between the main entries of the hall.The entries are for the Ambassadors’ lodges and the Honourable Presidential lodge is on the left side and the audience and press boxes are at the back of the hall. In this hall that the number of members of parliaments at times had been up to 610, between 1924 - 1960. 

In order to achieve the present day modern museum exhibition, and for the better education of the visitors, live presentation techniques are used, the natural environment preserved and wax statues are made for this purpose. Atatürk’s Great Speech, given on 15 - 20 October 1927, the most important document and the source of the history of the Turkish Republic, starting from the Independence War, is presented in this hall. Important passages of the speech are also narrated by the actors of the State Theatre to support the live presentation. 
The Great Speech is the most important source of our political and military history, and also the most mature and beautiful example of Turkish oratory art. 
This Speech is a first hand account of Rebirth of the Nation, Independence War and the first years of the Republic (1919 - 1927) based on documents and sources in great detail. 

Love of the Nation, respects to the humanity and understanding of morality are the basics of this speech. Atatürk says “The day I arrived in Samsun in May 1919, I had no power in my hands, only highest spiritual power filling my conscience stemming from the nobility of the Turkish Nation. Trusting only in this power and in the Turkish Nation I started this noble mission.” 

This building was converted to a museum after being transferred to the Ministry of Culture after having functioned as the Turkish Grand National Assembly until 1960. Today in this museum, besides the routine exhibitions, occasional exhibitions, video shows and serial conferences take place in order to introduce the Independence War, the Republic and Atatürk to the visitors, especially to the young generation. 

Second Floor of the Museum 
During the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly the second floor rooms were Presidential Room, Presidential Reception Room where the President received the foreign and Turkish statesmen, President’s Private Secretary’s Room, Prime Minister and Cabinet Rooms, Assembly Chairman’s Room, Assembly Chairman's Private Secretary's Room and Committee Room. However, the functions of the rooms were altered from time to time according to the changing conditions. 

Address: Cumhuriyet Avenue, Ulus / Ankara 

Telephone: +90 (312) 311 04 73

Ankara - II. Turkish Grand National Assembly Republican Museum

The building, designed by architect Vedat Tek (1873-1942) and built as the Republican’s People Party Headquarters in 1923, was later converted to function as the Assembly building. Two-storey building has also a basement floor. Centrally located two-storey high main assembly hall is surrounded by rooms on three sides. The main entrance hall which stretches all along the entry facade, has two grand stairs at opposite ends and its ceiling is decorated with Seljuk and Ottoman ornaments and patterns. The main assembly hall, with audience boxes arranged in sections within, is also decorated in a similar style. Its star patterned timber ceiling, arcs, cornices and many sections with mosaic decorations, except the crown door and a few other items which are included into the main hall afterwards, reflect the architectural characteristics of its time.

I. Turkish Grand National Assembly building, in spite of some alterations made later, was inadequate to satisfy the growing needs of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic. That is why the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly was built and opened on 18 October 1924.

II. Turkish Grand National Assembly is an important building in which Atatürk’s principals and reforms came to life, the most important decisions taken on the way to develop the new Republic by contemporary legislation, also where the international treaties and agreements made to increase Turkey's prestige and activities in the international arena and transition to multiple party system taken place between 1924 - 1960. II. Turkish Grand National Assembly played an important role in Turkish political history for a period of 36 years until 27 May 1960. After moving the Assembly to its new modern building in 1961, the building was allotted to the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). The building functioned as the headquarters of CENTO between the years 1961 and 1979 and after the abolishing of CENTO in the same year, it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture. The decision was made to arrange the front section of the building as Museum of Republic and the rear section as the administration building for the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums. The museum section, after refurbishment and restorations, opened to public exhibition on 30 October 1981 as “Museum of Republic”. It functioned with this arrangement until 1985. This same year it was closed to public and new restoration works started. The works continued until 1991 and in January 1992 the museum reopened to public. The events comprising the era of the first three presidents of the Republic are presented by their own words, speeches, photos and personal items and also the decisions taken and the laws passed by the Grand Assembly during the same period are on display in this museum.

The building, designed by architect Vedat Tek (1873-1942) and built as the Republican’s People Party Headquarters in 1923, was later converted to function as the Assembly building. Two-storey building has also a basement floor. Centrally located two-storey high main assembly hall is surrounded by rooms on three sides. The main entrance hall which stretches all along the entry facade, has two grand stairs at opposite ends and its ceiling is decorated with Seljuk and Ottoman ornaments and patterns. The main assembly hall, with audience boxes arranged in sections within, is also decorated in a similar style. Its star patterned timber ceiling, arcs, cornices and many sections with mosaic decorations, except the crown door and a few other items which are included into the main hall afterwards, reflect the architectural characteristics of its time.

I. Turkish Grand National Assembly building, in spite of some alterations made later, was inadequate to satisfy the growing needs of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic. That is why the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly was built and opened on 18 October 1924.

II. Turkish Grand National Assembly is an important building in which Atatürk’s principals and reforms came to life, the most important decisions taken on the way to develop the new Republic by contemporary legislation, also where the international treaties and agreements made to increase Turkey's prestige and activities in the international arena and transition to multiple party system taken place between 1924 - 1960. II. Turkish Grand National Assembly played an important role in Turkish political history for a period of 36 years until 27 May 1960. After moving the Assembly to its new modern building in 1961, the building was allotted to the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). The building functioned as the headquarters of CENTO between the years 1961 and 1979 and after the abolishing of CENTO in the same year, it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture. The decision was made to arrange the front section of the building as Museum of Republic and the rear section as the administration building for the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums. The museum section, after refurbishment and restorations, opened to public exhibition on 30 October 1981 as “Museum of Republic”. It functioned with this arrangement until 1985. This same year it was closed to public and new restoration works started. The works continued until 1991 and in January 1992 the museum reopened to public. The events comprising the era of the first three presidents of the Republic are presented by their own words, speeches, photos and personal items and also the decisions taken and the laws passed by the Grand Assembly during the same period are on display in this museum.

Sections of the Museum 

First Room on the Right Side of the Corridor

This room, originally the Accountancy Room of the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly, today is called “Atatürk's Principals Room”. Atatürk’s Republicanist, Nationalist, Populist, Statist, Secularist and Reformist principals are presented by his own words and photos through illuminated panels in this room.
Second Room on the Right Side of the Corridor

Originally the prayers room of the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly, today is “Atatürk’s Reforms Room”. The Constitution, establishment of new laws, dress and attire reforms, international calendar, time and measurements, new Turkish Alphabet, surname law, Great Speech, X. Year Speech, Turkish Aviation Society; railways, economy, industry and events related to Atatürk’s reforms, legislation proposals, laws, newspaper clips, Atatürk’s words and photos, items related to above subjects are exhibited in this room through illuminated panels and showcases.
Third Room on the Right Side of the Entrance

Originally used as “Legal Proceedings Secretariat” room during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly, is today “Atatürk Room.” Atatürk's signatures and handwritings of his own words and speeches, abolishing of religious orders and cells, establishment of the Turkish Historical and Turkish Language Societies, foreign policy, Montreux Agreement of Turkish Straits, agriculture, archeology and fine arts, granting the Turkish women’s sufferance and the events about Atatürk’s death, are presented by illuminated panels and showcases. Atatürk’s some personal belongings are also displayed in this room.
First Room on the Left Side of the Entrance

During the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly this room was used as “Legislation Secretariat Room.” Today in this room, III. President of the Republic Mahmut Celal Bayar's life and events between 1950 and 1960 are presented by his own words and photographs. Some of his personal belongings, donated to the museum by his family, are also displayed in this room.
Second Room on the Left Side of the Entrance

Originally used as “Board of Directors Room” or “Administrative Committee Room” during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period. Today it is being used to display banknotes and coins, stamps, memorial coins and medals which put into circulation since the founding of the Republic.
Third Room on the Left Side of the Entrance

Originally used as “Archives Secretariat Room” during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period. Today it is being used to display the II. President of the Republic, Ismet Inönü's life and events between 1938 and 1950 by his own words and photographs. Some of his personal belongings, donated to the museum by his family, are also on display in this room.

Main Assembly Hall

The General Assembly Hall of the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period has a very important place in the history of the Turkish Republic. From the very first days of the Republic, this hall had been the centre stage of all the speeches, decisions taken to materialize the Assembly’s presidential pulpit is located at the centre between the main entries of the hall are for the Ambassadors’ lodges and the Honourable Presidential lodge is on the left side and the audience and press boxes are at the back of the hall. In this hall there are times that the number of members of parliaments had been up to 610, between 1924 - 1960.

In order to achieve the present days modern museum exhibition, and for the better education of the visitors, live presentation techniques are used, the natural environment preserved and wax statues are made for this purpose. Atatürk’s Great Speech given on 15 - 20 October 1927, the most important document and the source of the history of the Turkish Republic, starting from the Independence War, is being presented in this hall. Important passages of the speech are also narrated by the actors of the State Theatre to support the live presentation.
The Great Speech is the most important source of our political and military history, and also the most mature and beautiful example of Turkish oratory art.
This Speech is a first hand account of Rebirth of the Nation, Independence War and the first years of the Republic (1919 - 1927) based on documents and sources in great detail.

Love of the Nation, respects to the humanity and understanding of morality are the basics of this speech. Atatürk says “The day I arrived in Samsun in May 1919, I had no power in my hands, only highest spiritual power filling my conscience stemmed from the nobility of the Turkish Nation. Trusting only to this power and to the Turkish Nation I started this noble mission.”

This building was converted to a museum after transferred to the Ministry of Culture which functioned as the Turkish Grand National Assembly until 1960. Today in this museum, besides the routine exhibitions, occasional exhibitions, video shows and serial conferences take place in order to introduce the Independence War, the Republic and Atatürk to the visitors, especially to the young generation.

Second Floor of the Museum 
During the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly second floor rooms were Presidential Room, Presidential Reception Room where the President received the foreign and Turkish statesmen, President’s Private Secretary’s Room, Prime Minister and Cabinet Rooms, Assembly Chairman’s Room, Assembly Chairman's Private Secretary's Room and Committee Room. However, the functions of the rooms had been altered time to time according to the changing conditions.

Address: Cumhuriyet Avenue, Ulus / Ankara

Telephone: +90 (312) 311 04 73

Amasya Museum




To begin with, a "Museum Store" was formed in 1925 combining a part of Sultan Beyazıd II's Complex_(two rooms of the school), few archaeological artefacts and Islamic Period mummies.

Then, when the number of artefacts increased and the new locations were needed for their exhibition, in 1962 the museum was moved to Gökmedrese Mosque dating from 1266, one of works of art of the Seljuk Period. Until 1958 the museum was managed through voluntary official servants and was converted into a Museum Directorate in June of the same year.

The museum was moved into the present building on March 22, 1977; and then the museum was rearranged and all artefacts were exhibited in their chronological order and opened for service in 1980.

With about twenty four thousand works of art consisting archaeological and ethnographical artefacts, coins, seals, manuscripts and mummies of 11 individual civilisations, the museum is the most modern and the richest one in the region, and has been serving the culture and tourism of our country.

The museum building is a three-storey building with a storage section, a laboratory and other service units in the basement floor, a kiosk, a resting hall and a small exhibition hall on the first floor and on the upper storey; it has two large exhibition halls where archaeological, numismatic and ethnographical artefacts are exhibited. In the garden there are 6 mummies of the Ilhanlı Period within Sultan Mesut I Tomb and works of fine masonry.


Exhibition of First Floor

Amphora

They are made of earthenware, with two handles, sharp bottoms, dating from the Roman and Byzantine Periods. They were used in the transportation and storage of wine, olive oil and similar liquids during the antiquity. The works of art known to be found from a sunken ship near Bafra were granted to the museum in 1977.


Tombs

There are four tombs in this section. Three tombs were made of earthenware, and the fourth one was made of bronze.


Bronze Tomb

It is made in a hammering technique and in the shape of a modern bathtub. There are four symmetrical ring handles on the corners near the opening edges. It was excavated from a big tumulus called Çakırmıstığın tepesi in Esençay of Taşova District and is an artefact of the Hellenistic period.

Earthenware Tombs

One of them is cornered, the second one is cylindrical and the third one is in the shape of a bathtub. They were used as tombs during the Roman Period.

Sculptures

There are two sculptures exhibited here, dating from Hellenistic and Roman Period. One is the priest sculpture without head in clothes, and the other represents Dionysus and his son on relief.

In the section where tombs are exhibited, original marble inscriptions of mosques, madrassas and similar buildings built in Amasya during the Ottoman Empire Period are on exhibition.

The carpets, carpet seccade, carpet bags and rugs brought by the immigrants from Azerbaijan, the surrounding of Amasya during the 1897-1898 Ottoman-Russia War, are exhibited here. Also Milas, Kırşehir and Avanos carpets and rugs are exhibited here.

Wooden Works of Art

In this section, magnificent samples of wooden carpentry artefacts of Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman origin are exhibited.

Door panel from Byzantine Period

It is from Gümüş Town of Gümüşhacıköy District. It has branches of vine symbolising the fertility made through embossing technique coinciding with vine leaf in circle shapes and big grape bunches. It is an artefact from the late Byzantine Period.

Door from Seljuk Period

The original door of Gökmedrese was built in between 1266-1267 during the Seljuk Period. Made of Abanose wood, it has two panels and it is a monumental work of art. It has carved decorations, roman type and curved branched round vault, and within the border, on the forehead section, the saying of Muhammad in Arabic meaning "in the other world human beings are asked their good works and the knowledge they taught the world or their off-springs thanking and praying for them." On the centre of the door there is a triangle, a pentagon and a hexagon formed by means of coincidence of broken lines decorated with curved branch motifs.

Mosque Door from Ottoman Empire Period

The original door of Mehmet Paşa Mosque is dated to 1485, the Ottoman Empire Period. A two panel door with pentagons formed through coincidence of broken lines and decorated with star motifs. It is one of the rare samples of the Ottoman wooden carpentry. This section has closet covers and cleaning parts collected from the civil architecture samples of Amasya in the 19th century.

Second Floor Exhibition

The storey is divided into two halves, namely the archaeological and ethnographical sections. At the end of the archaeological section there are closets where coins and jewellery are exhibited.

Works of Art from Bronze Age (B.C. 3500-2100)

the works representing this age in the museum are exhibited in three separate windows. In the first one, black and red coloured, finely gilded and some having groove metal imitations, with and without handles, spherical, round mouthed, flat bottom, pottery and jugs are exhibited. All of the works of art excavated from Mahmatlar and Merzifon Oymaağaç Village of Amasya centre are handmade artefacts.
Other windows have bronze knives, axes, bone needles and stamps.

Hittite Age (B.C. 1750-1200)
They are exhibited in two windows.
In the first one, there are filters with beak mouthed, camel feature coloured earthenware jugs, pottery, bowls and an earthenware temple.
In the second one, bronze and stone seals, earthenware bull heads, human figures, idols and various type earthenware ritons and three sacred containers are exhibited.

Hittite God Sculpture
In Archaeological literature the "Amasya Sculpture" or "Hittite Storm God Teashop" is one of the unique works of art in the world.
It was found accidentally in a tumulus in Doğantepe Town of Amasya centre. It is made of bronze casting technique but its arms, legs and some other parts have not been found yet.
God figures seen in the Hittite Empire Period embossing artefacts are similar to embossing of gods discovered in Yazılıkaya open temple in Boğazköy (Hattuşaş).
The current height of the artefact with sharp hat, short skirt, in a stepping forward posture, is about 21,5 cm, and its weight is 1.340 kg.
Among other metal sculptures dating to the Hittite Empire Period (1400-1200 B.C.) is the biggest human sculpture. Thick eye brows, hollow eyes, smooth grooved lines make it look moderate as well as giving it a strong and serious expression.

Urartu Period (B.C. 900-600)

The artefacts of the civilisation in the Van region of Eastern Anatolia were obtained through purchase. Bronze bracelets with stylized lion heads, bronze containers and one boiler handle are exhibited.

Frygian Period (B.C. 850-600)

Frygians migrating to Anatolia upon the immigration of clans around B.C. 1200 ruled the regions which previously had been ruled by the Hittites. Their capital city was Gordion near Ankara. The works of art, namely ritons with camel feature clay, plant mouthed, large bodied single handled flat bottom, cream primed in parallel to body lines are exhibited.


Iskit Period (B.C. 6th century)

These are the works of art discovered from excavation carried out in Imirler Village, Gümüşhacıköy district in 1970.
One folded sword belonging to an Iskit warrior found in a tomb has a handle made of bronze, many arrow heads formed like willow leaves, horse riding sets and one embossed and one bronze medium size bell are exhibited.


Hellenistic Period (B.C. 330-29)

The artefacts of this period on exhibition in the museum contain plates made of earthenware, flat bottom, light brick coloured clay, having double and single handles, jugs, and a large plate.
There is an artefact here made of earthenware, a curved body, round ring pedestal, double handled, body divided with metaphase, and interior decorated with a duck on a brown background. Also a jug processed with red figure technique having a swan figure made of earthenware is also exhibited.

Roman Period (B.C. 29-A.D. 476)

The artefacts of this age constitute the richest collection of the museum. They are exhibited in five separate windows.

Glass Works

Most of them are tear bottles, odour containers and bowls having thin long forms. Also an artefact dating from B.C. 7th century made with black, blue and brown colour technique, with double handles, yellow body, and amphora of the round mouth, short neck type is also exhibited.

Roman Ceramics

Double and single handled jugs are in different forms. They are generally light brick coloured and painted with red. Some of them have decorations on bodies and handles. There are also bowls similar to each other in having large shapes.

Masks
Made of earthenware, only having face lines, with mouth in the shape of a singing person.

Woman Jewellery

Most of jewellery made of gold, silver and glass are rings and ear-rings. The stones of akik stone rings have human and animal figures.
The ear-rings have different shapes. Some of them have valuable stones on the hanging parts. In addition, bracelets made of colourful glasses and diadems made of gold are exhibited.
The necklace consisting of the rows of double headed bird figures was obtained in 1988 together with the double ear-rings and the Roman Period ring.

Bronze Containers
They are single handled, without handles and boiler handled. They are made with hammering technique for daily use. They were generally left in children tombs as they were gifts for the dead. Particularly bull and eagle sculptures and snake figures are important artefacts.

Candles
Candles were used as lighting means during the Hellenistic and Roman Times. They are made of earthenware and in various heights and types, generally in brick colour clay.

Coins
Most coins exhibited at the end of the archaeological section are Hellenistic, Roman bronze coins and Byzantine Period copper, Seljuk Period silver and golden coins of the Ottoman Empire, and they are exhibited in chronological order.

Hoards are exhibited in the last two windows. One of the windows has a bronze treasure of the Hellenistic Period and 1134 bronze coins minted in nine types during the reign of Costantine the Great of the Roman Empire (A.D. 306-337) in Istanbul and Antakya. The copper hoard belonging to Byzantine Period and the copper hoard of the Seljuk Period are exhibited.

There are coins of Middle Age dukes of the Ottoman and Ilhanlı Periods in silver exhibited in other windows.

Byzantine Period (A.D. 476-1453)

The artefacts of this period are exhibited in the last window of the archaeological section. There are single handle cream coloured jugs, candles made of bronze, jewellery, communion wafer stamps, steel stamps and three earthenware plates obtained in 1992.
The works of art are made of brick coloured clay, large mouthed, concave bodied, round ring form. Inner and outer surfaces are yellow, and there are animal figures on the centres. On interior edges there are geometrical stars and calligraphic decorations (A.D. 12-13th century).

Section of Ethnographical Arts
The artefacts of this section are exhibited according to their types. On the south side of the hall, agricultural tools and accessories, yarn twisting and weaving tools are exhibited.

Kitchen Tools

Spouts, containers, buckets, bowls and pans made of copper reflecting the taste of the 19th century decorated with carvings made for daily use

Women Jewellery Artefacts

Accessories, jewellers, bracelets, necklaces, rings, head caps, silver knitted bags and belts reflecting the Ottoman Empire women's fashion made of silver, bafum and valuable stones

Mother-of-pearl cases

The cases showing rarely seen workmanship applied on wood during the Ottoman Empire Period, reddening case, spoons and "Souvenirs of Victory" with portraits of Atatürk and his friends during the National Independence War.

Weapons

The weapons of the Ottoman Empire from the early to late period are exhibited in three different windows including arrows, bows, knives, swords, fighting knives, axes, and sticks, golden rifles, pistols, metal cartridges, and steel moulds

Ceramics
A glazed bowl made in sigrafitto technique from the Seljuk Period, with an angel figure and blue white coloured Kütahya, Iznik, Çanakkale ceramics and jugs dating from the 17th-19th centuries of the Ottoman Empire.

Astronomy Instruments

The artefacts brought from the Beyazıt II Complex and used for the arrangement of azan times (call to ritual prayer) and astronomy education, are made of wood and exhibited along with kiblenumas, compass, land measuring and astromonical instruments.

Bath Sets
Towel sets and bath wear sets made of velvet, bowls and bath paraphernalia made of silver, dating from the Ottoman Empire Period.

Clocks

golden and silver clocks, pocket watches and wooden guards of wall clocks

Lamps
Blue, yellow and red glass and porcelain gas lamps used for lighting during the Ottoman Period.

Tea, Coffee and Tobacco Sets

Tea and coffee sets, coffee pans, coffee mills, pan and wooden coffee case, cup guards and samovar used during the Ottoman Empire Period are exhibited together with lighters, tobacco cases and pipes.

Clothes, carpets, bags

In the middle section of the ethnographical museum there are traditional bindalls, night clothes, waistcoats, regional motif wool socks, carpets, carrying bags of Amasya exhibited together with various types and sizes of money bags, glazed bags, neck cloths, scarves and men's belts.

Health Charms, Buhardanlık and Muskas

Here, health and evil eye charms, buhardanlık and clothes with prayers keeping the devil away in silver and various sizes with various techniques of processing are exhibited as well as candle holders in various sizes.

Qur'an Manuscripts

Here Qur'ans in handwriting, decrees of sultans with their signature, writing sets, ink pen tips and holders, paper scissors and ink pen holders, Qur'an cases and wooden rahles are exhibited.

Flags of the City

Two flags taken from the Sultan Beyazıt III Mosque are exhibited in the last section of ethnography:

Small flag of the city

With a signature of Sultan Reşit and the Ottoman emblem on one side and Kelime-i Tevhid printed on the other side

Great flag of the city

Known as the "Işkodra Flag", with the entire Besmele, Ayet-el Kürsi, and Fetih (Conquest) part of the Qur'an from the beginning until the 17th sentence printed on atlas and Besmele, Mümin Sure of the Qur'an and H.1326 in the middle.

Small flag of the city

There is the signature of Sultan Reşit and the Ottoman emblem on one side of a small flag and Kelime-i Tevhid is printed on the other side.

Great flag of the city
The entire Besmele, Ayet-el Kürsi, and Fetih (Conquest) part of the Qur'an from the beginning until the 17th sentence are printed on atlas; the middle has Besmele, Mümin Sure of the Qur'an and H.1326. It is known as the "Işkodra Flag".

Open Air Exhibition

In the museum garden located on the west side of the museum, large stone monuments of the Hittite, Hellenistic, Byzantine, Ilhanlı, Seljuk and Ottoman Periods are exhibited. Hittite Door Lions, Hellenistic and roman inscriptions from Esençay area and Doğantepe and tomb steles with busts, ionic and corinthian column heads, monumental parts of structures, vine leaf decorated tomb inscriptions, tomb steles from the Byzantine Period, embossed tomb inscriptions, construction inscriptions from Byzantine, Seljuk, Ilhanlı Periods, tomb stones in case type with heading and without headings, earthenware storage cubes and original column heads of the Sultan Beyazıt II Mosque demolished during the 1939 earthquake are exhibited here.

Roman Inscriptions

The foundations of the construction in Amasya Centre Yüzevler Quarter were found in the yard in the west part of the tomb. They are made of calcer stone with a dedicating inscription. This Greek inscription was made by the head of state of Pontus and dedicated to the Emperor of the Roman Empire Alexender Severus and his mother.

Mile Stones

Marble mile stones used as mile stones on the "Ancient Roman road" from Erba, Esençay, Yukarı Beraklı, Yassıçaal (Ebemi) and Zile and extending to various part of Amasya are exhibited. There is the number 21 on the stones found in Uygur town, and they contain names of Contantinus II and Diocletianus of Roman Empire and the names of governors. The artefacts are from A.D. 237-305.

Mummies

There are six mummies of the Ilhanlı Period within the Tomb of Sultan Mesud I in the museum garden. This section receives the most visitors.
The mummies belong to Şehzade Cumudar, Anatolian Governor, Emiri İşbuğu Nuyin, İzzettin Mehmet Pervane Bey, his wife, son and daughter. They were brought from the Amasya Burmalı Minare and Fethiye Mosque tombs.

Royal Tombs

There are stone tombs of kings in various parts of Amasya, which are Pontus kings' tombs, according to the historian Strabon from Amasya. The tomb called "Kızlar Sarayı (Girls' Palace)" by Strabon has five stone tombs in monumental style. The royal tombs were made in the locations overlooking the city, and they have remained intact until the present time.
Some stone tombs of the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire ending Pontus rule are used as chapels. The stone tombs used for various purposes during the Ottoman and Seljuk Periods are open to pilgrims.
The Royal Tombs on the Kızlar palace location and the ones on the pilgrimage road to Aynalı Inn f km from the city are different from other royal tombs both in size and shape. They have an inverse U shape in comparison to the stone block where they are located. The other tombs do not have this characteristic. Therefore it can be said that those monumental tombs were of Pontus origin, and the others were made in small sizes and more simply and belong to some wealthy people of the Period (religious people).

HAZERANLAR HOUSE (ETHNOGRAPHY MUSEUM)

It is an example of civil architecture of the 19th century and was made by Hasan Talat Efendi working for Amasya Book Keeping Office. They were expropriated by the Ministry of Culture in 1977 and the restoration was started. The works were completed in 1979. In 1984 they were first exhibited and arranged to serve as the "Museum House".

The house is in the style of Safranbolu and Kastamonu houses in terms of architecture. The house is arranged in haremlik and selamlık (for women and men respectively) sections and has two floors above the basement. It has a middle sofa, four sitting rooms, and cornered rooms constructed in hımış technique, covered with a cradle roof. There are 11 rooms in the house and they are exhibited and arranged according to the ancient house decoration of Amasya.
The basement of the house has been serving as State Fine Art Gallery Directorate.

ALPASLAN MUSEUM

The first core of Alpaslan Town Municipality Museum, Taşova district, Amasya was formed from archaeological and ethnographical artefacts collected from the region in 1964. In 1991 a bath from the Ottoman Empire Period was arranged as a museum and in 1994 started to serve as Alpaslan Town Municipality Museum. There are ceramics, bronze and golden works of art reflecting the Old Bronze, Hittite, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Periods. Furthermore, various fossils are exhibited. In the regional village room exhibition, there are samples reflecting the carpentry and wood carving of Seljuk and Ottoman Empires Periods.

AKSARAY MUSEUM (ZİNCİRİYE SCHOOL) AND RELATED RUINS

The museum is located in Zincirli District of Aksaray. It was built in 1969 in "Zinciriye Madras", which was established by the Kahramanoğulları Government in the 14th century and its activities continued in the same building.


Zinciriye Madras [Islamic school of law and theology] is made of stone and brick in terms of its plan. It has an open courtyard, four vaulted recesses and a pavilion. The entrance is from the Crown Door at the east. There are eight rooms covered with cupolas and a vault. The building served as a school until the beginning of the 20th century, and was used as a prison from 1940. It has been serving as a museum since 1969.


There have been 6134 monuments in the museum since 1997 obtained by means of purchase, donation and archaeological diggings carried out within the borders of Aksaray.


Archaeological Old Monument Section



There are 2022 archaeological artefacts in total.

The Artefacts of the Neolithic Age

Aşıklı Tumulus: 367 artefacts in total have been obtained as a result of the diggings for the museum. These artefacts include stone axes, human figurine bone sticks, belt clasps, spatulas and barbs made of obsidian and bull figurines made of earthenware which all belong to humans who lived more than 10.000 years ago.


Musular Region: 24 monuments have been brought to the museum as a result of the archaeological diggings carried out since 1996 in Musular, which belongs to Neolithic Age, located in Kızılkaya village of Gülağaç County of Aksaray. These artefacts include sticks, beads and dolls made of bone, stone axes and cutting tools made of obsidian.

The Artefacts of the Calcolithic Age

Güvercinkayası Region: 24 artefacts have been brought to the museum as a result of the archaeological diggings carried out since 1996 in this region, which belongs to the fifth millennium B.C., located near Mamasun Dam Lake, 1 km west of Çatalsu / Apsarı Village of Gülağaç County of Aksaray.

Among the findings of this region, which reflect the Chalcolithic Age of Central Anatolia, are cutting tools made of obsidian, vessels, rubbing and grinding stones, sticks and ornaments made of bone, animal and human figurines made of earthenware.

The Artefacts of the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period

Acemhöyük: In total, 819 artefacts have been brought to the museum as a result of the diggings carried out to date. Among the artefacts which best reflect the characteristics of the period there are rhytons, jugs made of earthenware; glazed vases; spindle whorls; stamps, seals and bulla; tools, stamps and wall-lights made of bone; stone axes; animal figurines made of faience and earthenware; objects made of rock crystal and silver ingots; small findings of gold as well as bronze needles.


There are 11 artefacts of Seljuk times and many artefacts of various times in the museum, found in the diggings made in Darphane (Melik Mahmud Gazi Hangahı).

Ethnographic Monuments Section: This section includes 584 artefacts including various clothes (such as three-layered skirts, velvet embroidered with flowers, short jackets with slit sleeves, caftans), ornaments, carpets, socks, money bags, swords and weapons collected from the environs of Aksaray.


Coin Section: There are 3528 golden, silver, bronze and copper coins belonging to Hellenistic, Rome, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Times.

Related Ruins

Aşıklı Tumulus

The tumulus is located in Kızılkaya village 25 km south-east of Aksaray and one side of the tumulus overlooks the Melendiz River, and the other side looks upon the arable fields. It is erected on an agricultural location close to the river.





Acemhöyük


It is 13 km north-west of Aksaray. It is located in Yeşiloca County. It is an oval shaped tumulus 700m x 600m in dimension. It is one of the biggest tumuli of Anatolia, beside Aşağı Şehir. The data obtained from the archaeological diggings show that the tumulus was erected in BC 3000 and the most successful period of the tumulus was seen in the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period that is in BC 1800. In the Colony Period, Aşağı Şehir was also a large settlement area beside the tumulus. It is the centre of one of Anatolia's important kingdoms in this period. At the end of this period, both the tumulus and Aşağı Şehir were deserted. However, settlement occurred in the tumulus in the Early Hellenistic and Rome Periods. The tumulus was completely deserted at the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. 3 nomad families, who came from Hoy City of Azerbaijan / Iran in 1517, settled at the foot of the tumulus and founded today's Yeşilova.

Two palaces found in the 3rd level belonging to the Colony Period, the most successful period of the city, are not only important for Acemhöyük, but also for Anatolian architectural history. The palace at the south side of the tumulus is called Sarıkaya, and the one at the north-west is called Hatipler Palace.


Ancient Nora City

The city is within the borders of Helvadere District of Aksaray. There are ancient city ruins of Roman and Byzantine Periods at the foot of Hasan Mountain (Argaios) and on the Royal Road.


Manastır Valley


It is a 4-5 km valley within the borders of Güzelyurt County, a place of natural beauty, 50 km east of Aksaray. It has a view of "Small Ihlara" with 28 churches with rock engravings reflecting the best characteristics of the period and with underground cities.

Many churches and underground cities such as Sivişli Church, Big Church Mosque, Priest House, Kalburlu Church, and Kömürlü Church belong to our cultural and natural heritage.


Ihlara Valley

It is located in the Ihlara County of Aksaray and north-east of Hasan Mountain. The Melendiz Stream, which passes through the 14 km Ihlara Valley, the older name of which is "Peristremma", and forms a canyon of 100-200m depth, first flows to Selimiye County in the north-east, then to Tuz Lake and the wide valley where Yaprakhisar and Belisırma villages and the Ziga thermal springs lie. Rather than a settlement region, Ihlara Valley is especially a religious centre.


Many closed or open churches with a Greek cross ground plan and chapel-like churches, reflecting the religious understanding of the period with their descriptions and architectures, with frescos or without frescos, with single and double naves are located on the steep slopes of the valley and combine with the waters of Melendiz Stream. In terms of its natural structure, the valley was used as a hermitage and place of worship by the Christian priests and monks since the 9th century. It was also used as a sanctuary and a hiding place during the war.


There are frescos in the churches of the valley reflecting such subjects as the Nativity, the Gospel, the Epiphany, the Exodus, and the Last Supper.

Afyon Museum 

April 15th / October 2nd
Summer Opening Time: 08:00
April 15th / October 2nd
Summer Closing Time: 19:00

October 3rd / April 14th
Winter Opening Time: 08:00
October 3rd / April 14th
Winter Closing Time: 17:00

Closing Day:
Open everyday

Admission Fee: FREE

MİSİS MOSAIC MUSEUM

ADANA ETHNOGRAPHY MUSEUM