Sarcophagi...

Aphrodite:

Mosaics...

Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women...

Alexander Sarcophagus...

Thought to have been carved for King Abdalonymos of Sidon, the Alexander Sarcophagus is located in room 3 of the Archaeological Museum.

Alexander himself:

There are still remnants of the original paintwork visible:

Persians battling the Greeks:

A faithful rendering of how the sarcophagus would have looked:

Porticoes...

The design of the porticoes of the museum are based on the Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women (4th century BC):

The museum has one of the world's richest collections of classical artifacts and with a 5 YTL entrance fee is an absolute bargain!

Cinili Pavilion:

Karaman Mihrab...

The richly tiled Karaman Mihrab comes from the city of Karaman in southeast Turkey:

Karaman was the capital of the Karamanid state from 1256-1483. This mihrab is the most important artistic relic of that period.

A mihrab is a niche in the wall that marks the direction of Mecca. Prayer halls are laid out so that most people can see the mihrab.

The Karaman Mihrab is a must see in the Cinili Pavilion.

Cinili Pavilion's Blue Room...

Calligraphic Stylings in the Cinili Pavilion...

Treaty of Kadesh...

The Museum of the Ancient Orient within the Istanbul Archaeological Museum contains a remarkable piece of history - the Treaty of Kadesh:

The Treaty of Kadesh is the world's earliest surviving peace treaty, agreed between the Egyptians and the Hittites in 1269 BC:

Among its clauses are provisions for the return of political refugees!

Museum of the Ancient Orient...

View of the Bosphorus from the Tulip Garden...

Random Shots of Topkapi Palace...

Gate of Felicity...

The Gate of Felicity or Gate of the White Eunuchs was the entrance into the Sultan's private domain.

Library of Ahmet III...