Special Exhibition 

 The Civilizations of Turkey: Emperors in Istanbul  

This is the first major exhibition in Korea to highlight the extraordinary culture of Turkey, offering visitors the rare chance to examine the largest collection of Turkish cultural artifacts ever exhibited in Korea. Lying at the crossroads between Eastern and Western civilizations, Turkey has cultivated a rich and flourishing culture that is marked by remarkable religious diversity. Civilizations of Turkey: Emperors in Istanbul is the latest in NMK’s extremely popular World Civilization Series of exhibitions, highlighting the greatest civilizations in history. The previous entries in the series were The Glory of Persia (2008); Egypt, the Great Civilization (2009); The Great Myth and Mystery of Peruvian Civilization: Inca (2009); and Gods, Heroes, and Mortals: Art and Life in Ancient Greece (2010).

The Civilizations of Turkey: Emperors in Istanbul focuses on the abundant cultural heritage of Istanbul, from the Hittite Empire, one of the four great ancient civilizations, to its days as the capital of the Greek and Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire, and finally, the Ottoman Empire. Turkish treasures from the Topkapi Palace Museum and other institutes will be shown for the first time in Korea, including artifacts from ancient civilizations well known through myths, such as Troy, Anatolia, and Persia, as well as fine Greek and Roman sculptures, holy relics of the Eastern Roman Empire, and national treasures from the court of the Ottoman sultans.