Istanbul: Archaeology and Feasts

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One of Phil's fascinations with Turkey is the archaeology from many different civilizations. So of course we had to go to the Archaeology Museum in the grounds of Topkapi Palace.

The museum is in several buildings and separated into eras. In the oldest section, in a large display on cuneiform writing, we saw the oldest known poem, a love poem, inscribed into clay with minute writing that would have gotten a gold seal on penmanship day.

There is a massive building which houses Greek and Roman marble statuary which is arranged in a very dramatic way. At the entrance you start with the older examples and as you move through gallery after gallery the statues get more and more magnificent, ending with a giant statue of Zeus facing you off as you enter the last chamber.

Another huge part of this building housed the Necropolis with rooms and rooms of sarcophagi, again getting bigger and more grand as you passed through the exhibition area. How some of these were ever even moved is hard to understand.

I didn't take many pictures in the museum, but if the topic interests you, you can check out the website of an excellent photographer named Dosseman at:

Www.pbase.com/dosseman/archeaological_museum_istanbul

And now for feasting: It's very popular in Istanbul for restaurants to be open-air on rooftops, with a view of the city and the Marmara Sea. Dinners usually start with assorted mezzes, which are lots of savouries like humus, yogurt dips, stuffed vine leaves, tiny fish and many other tasty things. There's always yummy fresh bread and a delicious main dinner. We splurged and for the first time ever bought a whole bottle of wine. The dinner was close to Phil's birthday so we used that as our celebration--though in fact we did Phil's birthday again in Kusadasi. Why not? Birthdays do seem to come quicker these days!

Our terrace night was definitely one of our best meals in Turkey, and I hope you all get to have your own terrace dinner one day!

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Photos

Beards became popular
The first statue of a ruler with a beard. (Hadrian?) Phil has continued the trend into the new millenium.

Sappho
The first known woman poet whose work has survived.

Statue of plenty
This female statue symbolized plenitude, with the chubby child and the cornucopia behind it.

Cherubs and chickens
This is for the Reads and all our other chicken-loving friends.

Tile archway
One of the museum buildings was given over to ceramics displays.

Tiled entranceway
Non-representational tile art, and of course in turquoise.

Finest sarcophagus
This elaborately carved sarcophagus is considered one of the finest in the world.
The word sarcophagus comes from the idea that the container itself ATE the flesh of the dead person because when it was opened there would be just a skeleton.

Phil terrace dinner view
Our finest meal in Istanbul was one night when we decided to eat at one of the many terrace (rooftop)) restaurants. Behind Phil is a view of the Marmara Sea and the "Asian side" of Istanbul.

Martha wishes you cheers
Early evening on the terrace restaurant. For those of you in winter in Australia, shut your eyes and imagine yourselves here with us.

Mezzes on terrace
Dinner starts with an assortment of savoury "mezzes, served with wonderful bread, The mezzes are fresh and delicious, and actually would have been enough for us, but we then moved on to a full meal.

Terrace dessert
And to top it all off, a chocolate concoction.

Terrace view to Hagia Sophia
L
At dinner on the terrace, looking back up the hill of the Sultanahmet, you can see the dome and some of the 4 minarets of the Hagia Sophia.

Comments

[Michelle Cavanagh]

Horn of Plenty
The meal looks divine - I definitely hope to emulate it one day!! The Horn of Plenty reminds me of my darling first-born as I had her twenty first birthday cake decorated with one - all of thirty years ago!! That statement makes me agree with yours that birthdays come around quicker these days!! Keep on having a great time. M xx

[afshin]

Happy Birthday Phil
I think have a dinner in terrace restaurant with birthday event never forget for you. Happy Birthday Phil.

[Ron Cooper]

Love your work
Hi Phillip and Martha I have been envious every time I get yet another travel blog. Please to see that Turkey is all you hoped it would be. It certainly was for me,and some. I look forward to spending an evening on a rooftop with you both. Have you had a chance to have a look over the beautiful waterways yet. The coast is simply spectacular, maybe that is something we could share over there. Keep up the good work and enjoy... Lots of love Ron