This is one of the most important ar­cheological museums in the world. it was also Turkey's first museum, and possesses, in its colleetion, a number of unique objeets from various past civilisa­tions. Colleeting works of fine art is a tradition in Turkey begun during the reign of Mehmet II, who had gathered up various antiques, such as Byzantine imperial sarcophagi uncovered during excavations for the foundations of the Sultan mosque at Fatih. He also colleeted columns and capitals from Sultanahmet square and the bqse of the famous sculpture of the charioteers by Porphirius which he had placed)n the courtyard of Topkapi Palace, along with other impor­ta nt finds. ,It was these artefacts which formed the core of the first Turkish museum colleetion. Asimilar cicumstance has meant that the entire wardrobes of successive sultans, including their childhood elothes were stored wrapped in eloth. Later, ancient artefaets from all corners of the empire were collected in the church of Aya Irini (Haghia Eirene). In 1876 it was decreed that the Çinili Köþk should be used as a museum. it opened to the public with the title 'Müzei HümayCm' - Imperial Museum.

As artefacts recovered from various ex­cavations throughout the Ottoman pro­vinces begqn to increase in number, the present are he ology museum building W?lS constructed between 1891-1908. The ar­chitect is Valaury. The facade of the building is inspired in form by the famous Alexander sarcophagus and the sar­cophagus of the weeping women.

There are twenty large halls on the ground floor and 16 on the first floor. In the lower galleries are displayed examples of Greek, Roman and Byzantine architec­ture and sculpture, while the first floar galleries are devoted to earthenware, bronze and glassware, mainly smpll artefacts recovered from various different excavations. There are over 50,000 such items in the collection. In addition there is a numismat~c section, with 600,000 coins, medallions and medals which are kept in a cabinet, and an archiye of stellae, including 70,000 cunieform tablets. The Treasury section, on the first floor, contains up to 1600 ancient artefacts and pieces of jewellry, and special permission is needed to visit this part of the museum.

The museum also contains a library of 45,000 volumes as an aid to museum researchers.

The most famous rooms in the museum are salon VIII and IX. Salon, which con­tains the sarcophagi found in the royal tombs at Sidon. These were uncovered during excavMions carried out north of Sidon by th~ founder of the museum, the artist Osman Hamdi Bey in 1887. Con­sidered the greatest archeological discoveries of the 19 century, they were the cause of the museuItý's foundation.

Sarcophagi of various periods were discovered in catacombs of various eras in the two separate caves which constituted the necropolis.

Tomb of the weeping women: Relief carvings of weeping women, each one framed by columns, cover the four faces of the tomb. There are 18 figures in all, some standing, others seated, but all bearing a different expression of grief. The sarcophagus is similar to a Greek temple in appearance, the lid resembling the roof of a temple. On the balustrade around the tomb are represented two separate funeral processions. Originally painted, the. colours have now faded. This funereal monument was made for a notable of Sidon in 350 B.C.

Alexander's tomb: This amazing monu- : ment is decorated with reliefs on all four ,sides. On one long side the GrecoPersian wars are represented. Alexander is shown with a lion's pelt over his head, : mounted. The artist manages to portray human figures and animals intertwined in combat, with great skill. On the other long face we see the scene of a lion in combat with a stag. There is a battle scene on one, short facade and a hunting scene on the other. This sarcophagus is also in the form of a Greek temple dating from the last quarter of the 4 century B.C. it was originally painted.

The three smail sarcophagi at the end of the hall were als o recovered from the same tomb. Although und~corated with relief carving, it is plain that theyare from the same workshop.

The Satrap's tomb: Three of the four faces.

faces of this tom b bear carved relief portraits of a Persion governor - satrap, hence its title. The satrap is shown on one, of the long sides on his throne, preparing to go hunting. The opposite face shows a hunting seene. A banquet is shown in relief on one end, and the figures of servants on the other. Although like a Greek temple on the facade, the interior of the tomb is anthropoid. Originally painted, almost all traces of the paintwork have now disappeared since the tomb in which it was found was filled with water.

The Lycian Tomb: This has the typical pointed arched!id of Lycian tombs. A lion hunt is shown on one face. Two chariots drawn by four hourses, each containing two youths completely fill the relief. On the other side is the relief of a boar hunL On the panel at one end two centaurs are engaged in combat with a aLapith. At the other end is a scene of two centaurs in combat with a stag. In one of the pediments are two addorsed griffins, and on the other are two reversed sphinxes, their wings outstretched.

The T abnith sarcophagus: The !id is in the form of a mummified figure with Egyptian facial features. On the lower part of the sarcophagus is an inscription in hieroglyphics stating that the tomb is that of Peneftah, an Egyptian general. Below this is an inscription in Phoenician in the words of T abnith, king of Sidon, cursing any who lay hands on the tomb. It is dated to the early 6 century B.C. The mummified corpse of Tabnith is displayed in a glass cas e nearby.

Other anthropoid sarcophagi in the hall als o originated from the necropolis of Sidon.

Artefads found in the sarcophagi together with the corpses are displayed in cases along the wall.