A Pair of Panties and Boxers

This post is part 6 of 17 of my trip to Istanbul. The series intends to give more than just a I-saw-this-and-did-that review. It aims to share the voice inside my head as I explore a world I’ve only read in books.

The Tiled Kiosk

I love the frigid relief of air-conditioning blasting in my face whenever I visit The MET on a hot summer day. I was hoping for the same kind of relief at the Archaeological Museum but the air-conditioning was like lukewarm water. It wasn’t cool enough to cool me down but it was better than baking in the sun.

I didn’t really enjoy walking through the museum. The air inside was still and stuffy but I was probably just being a princess. I enjoyed sitting outside on the stoop of the main building much more. Istanbul always has that crisp, cool wind that made my heart feel light and carefree.

The Tiled Kiosk Designs

The Archaeological Museum, located near Gulhane Park and the Topkapi Palace, consists of three buildings. The first building is the Tiled Kiosk, commissioned by Sultan Memet. It has a huge collection of beautiful Turkish tiles that were thousands of years old. The vibrant turquoise and dark blue tiles contrasted with the plain white wall it was mounted on. It made the building look so majestic but that’s probably because this was once the home of Sultan Memet the Conqueror.

Alexander Sarcophagus

The main museum houses one of their most famous feature, the Alexander Sarcophagus. The freestanding reliefs on all four sides of the sarcophagus jumps out, as if they could come to life. On one of the longer sides of the sarcophagus shows Alexander in battle and the opposite side shows him hunting a lion.

The Kadesh Peace Treaty

The third building is the Ancient Orient Museum, which was converted from a school into a museum. My favorite artifact was the Kadesh Peace Treaty, the oldest known peace treaty in the world. It’s dated 1258 BC and signed between Ramesses II of Egypt and Hattusili III of the Hittite Empire. Partial translation of the treaty reads:

“Treaty of Rea-Mashesha-Mai Arnana the great king, the king of the land the of Egypt, the valiant, with Hattusilis, the great king of the Hatti land for establishing good peace and good brotherhood worthy of great kingship forever. These are the words of Rea-Mashesha-Mai Arnana: Now I have established good brotherhood (and) good peace between us forever. In order to establish good peace (and) good brotherhood in the relationship of the land of Egypt with the Hatti land forever.

(I speak) thus: Behold, as for the relationship between the land of Egypt and the Hatti land, since eternity the god does not permit the making of hostility between then because of a treaty (valid) forever.

If an enemy from abroad comes against the land of Egypt and Rea-Mashesha-Mai Arnana, the king of the land of Egypt, your brother sends to Hattusilis, the great king of the Hatti land, his brother saying: “come here to help me against him” to Hattusilis, the king of the Hatti land shall send his foot soldiers (and) his charioteers and, shall slay my enemies.”

My translation reads: You’ve got my back and I’ve got yours. The end.

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Tags: Alexander Sarcophagus, Archeological Museum, History of the Hittites, Istanbul, Istanbul Series, Kadesh Peace Treaty, Tiled Kiosk, Turkey