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.

 

Turkey is a peninsula that surrounds the Bosphorus Strait, which forms part of the boundary between Asia and Europe. To the east of the strait is Anatolia, the Asian side of Turkey that comprises the larger part of the nation, while the smaller western side of Thrace, which includes Istanbul, is part of Europe. Since ancient times, the cultural and historical progress of Turkey has been driven by Thrace. Thanks in part to its unique geography, Turkey has played host to a myriad of cultures that have flourished in the region at various times in history.

 

A total of 187 artworks and artifacts are on view, from the Topkapi Palace Museum, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. The exhibition is chronologically divided into four parts Ancient Civilization, Greek-Roman Civilization, Eastern Roman Civilization, and the Ottoman Empire. Visitors can experience first-hand the splendor and brilliance of Turkish culture and civilization, with its unparalleled ethnic and religious diversity.

 

 

Part 1: Hittites and Ancient Civilizations

 

Stag Statuette

Bronze Age (3000 BCE), AAMM

 

Endowment Document by Hattushili I

Hittite (1586 BCE - 1556 BCE), Terracotta, AAMM

 

This ancient Hittite cuneiform tablet is a document about a bequest, with a seal stamped in the center. Unlike other endowment documents, of which the grantor was the king, this tablet was awarded by the king’s representative, Tutula. 

 

  

Jug with Trefoil Mouth

Phrigian (800 BCE), Bronze, AAMM 

 

This jug was found in the Tumulus Midas Mound at Gordion, Turkey, which is thought to be the tomb of the Phrygian King Midas.

 

 

Part 2: Alexandros and the Hellenistic World

 

Alexander the Great

Hellenism (3rd Century BCE), Marble, IAM

 

Excavated in Kos Island, Greece, this larger than life-size marble head of Alexander the Great showcases several characteristic features of Hellenistic sculpture, such as the emphasized contrast between light and dark areas, and the fulsome locks of curled hair that resembles the mane of a lion. The statue presumably once had a crown or helmet carved from a separate stone, but the area above the forehead is now missing

 

 

Part 3: Constantine I and the Eastern Roman Empire

 

Constantinus I

East Roma (4th Century), Marble, IAM

 

This marble head of the Roman emperor Constantine I (r. 306 CE - 337 CE) is more meticulously sculpted than the massive, solemn-faced sculptures of the earlier period. The emperor is depicted to be in his middle age, and there are signs around the ears and back of the sculpture that a metal crown was originally placed on the head.

 

 

Part 4 : Sultan, the Ottoman Emperor

 

Koran

Ottoman (1470), Ink, gold, and pigment on paper, TIEM

 

This book was made in Istanbul during the reign of Mehmed II (1432 - 1481). The cover is stamped with the seal of Sultan Bayezid II (r. 1481 - 1512), to whom the book belonged.

 

Sabre of Sultan Suleyman I

Ottoman (1551-1552), Iron, gold, diamond, wood and leather, TSM

 

This sabre was made for Sultan Suleyman I (r. 1520 - 1566), who reigned during the height of the Ottoman Empire. The hilt is covered with an engraved gold plate that is embedded with 11 diamonds, and the blades are inlaid in gold with Arabic inscriptions. One blade is engraved with a verse from the Koran, and the inscription on the other blade declares that Allah will grant victory to Sultan Suleyman.

 

 

Turban Ornament

Ottoman (17th century), gold, diamond, pearl, rudy, and emerald, TSM

 

This extravagant turban ornament is adorned with teardrop diamonds, emeralds, pearls, and rubies. The stem at the bottom where it is attached to the turban is decorated with a plant pattern enameled in green, red, and white.

 

Koran Chest

Ottoman (16th - 17th Century), wood, mother of pearl and turtle shell, TIEM

 

The Koran was often dedicated to mosques or mausoleums of kings and pashas in the Ottoman Empire, and this Koran chest was made to store the Koran dedicated to the mausoleum of Sultan Mehmed III. The dome on top is decorated with mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell, and inlaid with Koranic verses at its bottom. The main body has four drawers that are also decorated with mother-of-pearl, in which the Koran was divided into 30 parts and stored.

 

Stand for Coffee Cup

Ottoman (19th Century), gold, diamond and silver, TSM

 

These coffee cup stands, originally part of a set of 12, were made to hold small Turkish coffee cups. Made of gold covered with red enamel, each stand has silver ornaments studded with diamonds of varying sizes.

 

 

Silver Ewer and Silver Basin

Ottoman (19th Century), silver, TSM

 

This silver pitcher and basin were used in the Ottoman royal house for hand washing before and after meals, and before prayer. The Topkapi Palace has various sets of washing pitchers and basins made from gold, silver, ceramic, and crystal.

 

 

Rock Crystal Ladle

Ottoman (17th - 18th Century), crystal, gold, ruby and emerald, TSM

 

This bowl of this ladle is shaped like a leaf, and the handle is decorated with gold roses, adorned with rubies and emeralds.