These spacious rooms are dedicated to the presentation of small finds dating back to the period from 14th century BC to 15th century AD. The exhibits are ordered thematically and chronologically - there are special sections devoted to the Geometric (the 9th-7th centuries BC), Archaic and Classical (the 7th-5th centuries BC) periods as well as Roman and Byzantine eras (the 5th-15th centuries AD).
Below is an amphora used for storing/transporting wine/olive oil
These are archaeological finds from Perge
Children's section
In a hall specially prepared for the youngest visitors there are miniature models of the most important historical monuments in Turkey. Children can see the ruins of ancient cities of Perge, Aspendos and Patara, take a look into Karain Cave or a household from Çatalhöyük as well as the fortifications of Alacahöyük or admire the Lycian rock tombs of Myra And Patara.
Emperors Hall
Along the walls of this room splendidly preserved statues of Roman emperors are displayed, together with their wives and other important figures.
Emperor Hadrian sternly observes the visitors and is easily recognized by his trimmed beard. Actually, there are three statues of this emperor in the hall - two of them present him in full armor and one is classically naked. The beard of Lucius Verus is even more impressive, but unfortunately not much has been preserved from his statue.
Emperor Trajan is depicted in beautiful armor and, in contrast to Hadrian, clean-shaven. Septimius Severus was portrayed in a playful mood, quite surprising for an emperor known for his serious attitude to life. The imposing statue of a woman is actually dedicated to Plankia Magna who played a significant role in the development of Perge in the golden age of the city.
In the center of Emperors Hall there are the statues of Three Graces and a dancing woman.
The Hall of Gods
The Hall of Gods, as its name implies, is dedicated to the statues of ancient gods and goddesses. They were also made in
Perge, in the 2nd century AD, but in majority are just the copies of older, Greek statues. Naked Apollo stares dispassionately into the distance, Artemis - the goddess of hunting - has lost her bow, Athena's breasts are covered with a buckler from leather scales, with the head of Medusa in its center.
Mosaic Hall
The center of this hall is used to display ancient mosaics that were found in Lycia region, in Seleukeia and Xanthos.
The walls are lined with the statues from various locations, including Hermes and Meleager from Perge and a woman from Rhodiapolis. The most stunning exhibit from this section is a three-headed statue of Hekate, the goddess of the underworld, excavated in Pisidian Antioch.
Perge Theatre Hall
A separate museum exhibition is devoted to architectural elements and statues that once adorned the theater in Perge. Many of these statues demonstrate admirable dynamics: Heracles is flexing his muscles, Emperor Trajan is standing nonchalantly, the god of wine - Dionysus - is holding his head, probably sore from too much liquor, only Alexander the Great is standing proudly, like the statues from the Archaic period.
Heads and Portraits Hall
marble heads well-known and anonymous men and women from the ancient world were collected in numerous archaeological sites, including Perge, Patara, Letoon and are dated from the 2nd to the 4th century AD.
Sarcophagus Hall
These exhibits represent the three main groups of Anatolian sarcophagi.
The first group called Pamphylian can be recognized by distinctive garlands and the figures of Nike and Eros. They were made in workshops in Perge, and then exported to all corners of the Roman Empire, including Rome.
The second group is called Sidemara or sarcophagi with columns. It is most common of the sarcophagi found in Asia Minor, and those that are in museum collections come from Pamphylia region. These sarcophagi are characterized by their decorations reminiscent of the temple with a colonnade. Between the columns, in the form of reliefs, the scenes from the life of the deceased are shown.
The most interesting specimen of this kind of sarcophagi displayed in the museum, shows the Labours of Hercules.
Another wonderful example is the sarcophagus of Domitias Julianus and his wife, made in the 2nd century AD.
Additionally, there are sarcophagi for children and one, extremely rare, prepared especially for a dog. A separate part of the exhibition is devoted to the funeral customs of the ancient period. Some attention is also devoted to the exhibition of monumental tomb of the king of Lycia - Pericles - from Limyra, the 4th century BC.
The most unique sarcophagus in the collection of the museum is the one with medallions. This is only one of its kind preserved in its entirety, decorated with medallions supported by the carved figurines of the goddess Nike.
The famous WEARY HERACLES [HERCULES]
The statue was smuggled from the ancient city of Perge (Antalya province) to the USA where it remained in the collections of the Boston Museum for 30 years. It was there discovered by Özgen Özer - a journalist who recognised the statue. Afterwards the campaign to repatriate the statue began.
The top half of the Weary Heracles returned to Turkey in 2011 and was attached to its lower half, found by professor Jale İnan during the excavations in Perge in the 1980s. The complete statue was then put on display at the Antalya Archaeological Museum. It is a Roman copy of original bronze statue called Hercules Farnese created by Lysippos, a Greek sculptor of the 4th century BC. Depicts Hercules leaning on his club after one of his 12 labors.... the lion skin over the club is the one he got when he vanquished the Nmemea lion in his 1st labor
Icons Hall
The icons come from the region of Antalya and are dated to the period from the 18th to the 19th century. The collected icons are a valuable witness to the presence of the Greeks in the region of Antalya, which ended with the population exchange between Turkey and Greece in the 20s of the 20th century. These icons depict the scenes from the activity of Jesus, the Last Judgement, the Ascension of Mary and the life of John the Baptist.
Hall of Coins
The coins displayed in the museum include the pieces from antiquity, the Middle Ages and the modern era. Particular attention of the visitors should be paid to the coin collections or treasures that had been buried for centuries and later discovered intact by archaeologists. A great example of this category is the treasure of Aspendos, which consists of 206 silver staters (Greek coins). These staters, found by archaeologists, were minted in Aspendos, and the latest of them is dated to 350 BC. It is believed that the owner hid his treasure after hearing the news of Alexander the Great approaching the city in 332 BC.
Museum Garden
In the garden of the museum there are mainly stone artifacts from the Roman period, which due to their large size could not be accommodated inside the building.
We had our lunch in the car as the stray cats were very aggressive... see one has jumped on the car nearby and is eyeing us!!
COULD NOT DO THE OLD TOWN WALK AS PLANNED:
Our plan was to do the Old town walk hitting up[12 sights, 2 hrs, 2.6 km]
Atatürk Monument and Republic Square, Attalos II Monument, Kazım Özalp Caddesi (formerly—and still sometimes nowadays—called Şarampol Caddesi) - the location of Antalya Central Bazaar.,Old bazaar, Saat Kulesi (Clock Tower), Hadrian's Gate, Tekeli Mehmet Paşa
Mosque (Turkish: Tekeli Mehmet Paşa
Camii),Yivli Minaret Mosque, Ataturk Boulevard, Uzun Çarşı Sk. (Long Bazzar Street), Old City Marina, Hidirlik Tower, Karaalioğlu Park
The traffic was crazy, we passed by Hadrian's gate etc, there was no way to pull up.
We reluctantly dropped our plan and drove to a parking place near Karaalioğlu Park
Karaalioğlu Park
It has a sea front promenade, shady walks , statues lining the walkways and we can see the Gulf of Antalya and the cliffs.
It was quite underwhelming for us ... the statues were quirky and nice though.
This is the
Hıdırlık Tower, which dates
to the second century.
Walked back to our car park ... it had a license plate recognition technology. Made the payment and drove back to our apartment.
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