Antakya Archaeological Museum 
Garden of the Antakya Archaeological Museum. Photo © Dick Osseman.
General view of a room inside the museum. Photo © Dick Osseman.
Mosaic of Soteria, or Salvation. Photo © Dick Osseman.
Mosaic of Iphigenia in Aulis. Photo © Dick Osseman.
View from above of the Megalopsychia mosaic. Photo © Dick Osseman.
Daphne in the 5th cent., Megalopsychia mosaic. Photo © Dick Osseman.
Mosaic of Oceanus. Photo © Dick Osseman.
Stele from the 3rd century. Photo © Dick Osseman.
Roaring lions on the base of a Hittite temple column in Tainat, 8th century BC. Photo © Dick Osseman.
The Hatay Archaeological Museum or Antakya Archaeological Museum is an excellent museum of ancient art in Antakya, Turkey. Its collections include most of the Roman mosaics from ancient Antioch that were discovered in 1932-39, and is thus sometimes known as the Antakya Mosaic Museum.
History
Construction of the the Hatay Archaeological Museum began in 1934, inspired in part by the excavations of ancient Antioch that began in 1932 and on the recommendation of the French archaeologist M. Prost. The museum was completed in 1938, and a year later the Hatay province was reunited with Turkey. The museum was reorganized and reopened in 1948, and again in 1975.
What to See
The collection of the Hatay Archaeological Museum is spread throughout seven rooms and two halls, arranged according to where the artifacts were found. The rooms are tall and full of large windows, providing plenty of natural light. Most of the labels are in Turkish and English.
One of the most famous mosaics in the Antakya Museum is the Megalopsychia Hunt Mosaic, a large mosaic pavement dating from 450-75 AD. Discovered in Yakto village near Daphne, the mosaic is especially celebrated for its border, which depicts major landmarks and daily activities in ancient Antioch and Daphne. It is an important source for archaeologists, since virtually no structures from these ancient cities survive today.
Other highlights of the superb mosaic collection include the Boat of Psyches, the Drinking Contest, a rare Menander with Glykera and Comedy, the Buffet Supper with dishes full of ancient foods, and the magical Evil Eye mosaic that was intended to deflect curses from a 2nd-century home.
In addition to its mosaics, the Hatay Archaeological Museum displays many important artifacts discovered in Antioch and surrounding regions. These include column capitals, a sacrificial altar, idols, reliefs, grave steles, pottery objects, frescoes, coins, jewelry, and statues from the Hittite to Byzantine periods.
The museum's garden contains Roman period sarcophagi, building stones, water jars, and other objects, as well as a mosaic from the Church of Seleucia Pieria.
To explore many of the museum's exhibits yourself, please see our Antioch Museum Photo Gallery, with over 200 fully captioned photos.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Antakya Archaeological Museum; Hatay Archaeological Museum |
| Location: | Antioch, Turkey |
| Category: | Museums |
| Faith: | Museum |
| Date: | 1938 |
| Features: | Roman Mosaics |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 36.20201° N, 36.16004° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Cumhuriyet Meydani, Gündüz Caddesi No. 1, Antakya, Turkey |
| Phone: | +90 (326) 214 6167 |
| E-mail: | hatayarkeolojimuzesi@yahoo.com |
| Hours: | Tue-Sat 8:30am-12:30pm, 1:30-5:30pm Closed Mondays |
| Cost: | 8 TL |
| Photography: | Permitted |
Travel Resources for Antioch
- Antioch Map - our detailed interactive map of Antioch, plus hand-picked links to more
- Antioch Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Antioch Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Antioch Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Antioch tourism
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Antakya Archaeological Museum. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Antioch Map.
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Christine Kondoleon, ed., Antioch: The Lost Ancient City.
- Glanville Downey, Ancient Antioch (1963).
- Hatay (Antakya) Archeology Museum - Turkey Travel Planner
- Antakya Archaeological Museum - Wikipedia
Article last updated: 10/27/2009.
