Antalya Archeology Museum

Antalya Museum witnesses a period extending from the Lower Paleolithic Age to the Roman Period, where the statues unearthed from the Ancient City of Perge played a role from other works. It is dedicated to Lycia, Pamphylia and Pisidia, three important Mediterranean ancient civilizations that lived within the borders of Antalya. The museum received the Museum of the Year award from the Council of Europe in 1988.

30,000 Square Meters Area

Antalya Museum was established with the great efforts of teacher Süleyman Fikri Erten. The establishment of the museum emerged with the idea of protecting historical artifacts from occupation forces during World War I. In 1919, Süleyman Fikri Erten applied to the governorship of Antalya and had himself appointed as an honorary Âsâr-ı Âtika (historical artifacts) officer, and firstly collected the works in the center and established the museum.

The museum was established in the Alaeddin Mosque in Kaleiçi in 1922 and later moved to its current building in 1972. Today, the museum is spread over an area of 30 thousand square meters. It attracts attention with its 14 exhibition halls, children's section and open-air galleries, as well as its garden.

A Journey from Prehistory to Ottoman Culture

Various works such as natural history and prehistory collection, statues of gods and emperors, works belonging to funerary cults, coins, mosaics and icons are exhibited in Antalya Museum. In addition, rescue excavations in the region and environmental planning of the ruins are also carried out by the museum. A large part of the museum's collection was obtained from excavations carried out in the surrounding area, and ethnographic works were also collected from the region.

A significant part of the museum's extensive ethnography collection describes Ottoman culture. This collection is an important resource reflecting the cultural and historical heritage of the region.

Children's Department

In this area, toys and games that children played ages ago are exhibited. Additionally, typical examples of a now vanished Anatolian city bazaar can be seen here.

Natural History and Prehistory Hall

In this area, fossils that witnessed the formation of the world and artifacts that are the first finds of human history are exhibited. Useful items produced by people who transitioned from hunting and gathering to settled life and took their first steps towards civilization, idols and figurines belonging to their beliefs, and a jar tomb display reflecting one of the oldest burial traditions of Anatolia are also located in this hall.

Ceramic Works Hall

It is possible to see the aesthetic and technological development in terracotta works with the advancement of civilization chronologically in this hall, from the Geometric Period (1100 BC) to the Byzantine Period (1100 AD).

Regional Excavations Hall

In this hall, artifacts from regional excavations are exhibited. It is possible to see examples of artifacts unearthed as a result of archaeological excavations carried out by universities and salvage excavations carried out by the Museum in the ruins of the Lycian, Pamphylia and Pisidia regions.

Hall of Emperors

In this hall, statues of the emperors, empresses and important political figures of the Roman Period are exhibited. These artifacts are examples found in Perge, dating back to the 2nd century AD.

Hall of the Gods

In this hall, it is possible to see the magnificent combination of sculpture and mythology. Statues of the gods mentioned in Greek mythology are exhibited. Statues of important figures such as Zeus, the king of the gods, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and Apollo, the god of sunlight, are located in this hall.

Mosaic Hall

In this hall, impressive works such as the "Philosophers' Mosaic", found in the agora of the Pamphylia city Seleukeia, are exhibited. In addition, a sculpture group, which is the product of the Perge sculpture workshop, and the lower half of the Statue of Herakles, the upper half of which is in the USA, belonging to the same workshop, are also presented to visitors in this hall.

Perge West Street and F5 Fountain Hall

In this hall, a total of 13 statues are exhibited, including the Athena statue unearthed from Western Street, the Aphrodite statue unearthed from the square in front of the Hellenistic Period Towers, and the F5 Nymphaeum pool located in the western corner of the northern bath.

Perge Theater Hall

Seventeen monumental sculptures, friezes and some architectural pieces recovered from the stage building as a result of archaeological excavations at Perge Theater are exhibited in this hall.

Hall of Sarcophagi

Most of the sarcophagi exhibited in the Hall of Sarcophagi were unearthed during excavations in the Perge necropolis. Medallion, Column and Garland Pamphylia type sarcophagi, as well as fragments of the Garland Sarcophagus and the Heracles Sarcophagus can also be seen in this hall.

Hall of the Cult of the Dead

Examples of burial traditions are exhibited in the Cult of the Dead Hall, on the lower floor of the museum annex building. Carved tomb animation unearthed in the Ancient City of Patara; The magnificent Dionysian sarcophagus found in Perge; A carbir caryatid, pediment and friezes belonging to the Heroon of Limyra; Statues and inscriptions from the temple built by the Limyrians for the Ptolemies family can also be seen in this hall.

Hall of Coins, Small Artifacts and Icons

Coins from the Pamphylia, Pisidia and Lycia regions, Elmalı Coins, and coins from the Principalities Period, Anatolian Seljuk and Ottoman are exhibited in the Coins, Small Works and Icons Hall.

Ethnography Hall

The Ethnography Hall contains the Ethnography section of the Antalya Museum, consisting of two large halls and a passage connecting these halls. In these halls, Turkish-Islamic Works and the most beautiful cultural objects and animations of our recent history can be seen.

Cinevision Hall

Sinevision Hall is a hall where information about Antalya province and its historical sites is given, explanations about the Antalya Museum Directorate are made and various visuals can be watched.

While You're At It

Atatürk Culture Park, located next to the museum, has a large and green area. There are many cafes, restaurants, artificial lakes, open-air theatres, glass pyramids, Ataturk Cultural Center and aquaparks within the park. You can also rent a bike in the park and have a pleasant ride. You can add more historical places and museums to visit in Antalya to your route by visiting the Antalya Museums page on our website.