İznik Museum

Iznik Museum, a museum where archaeological artifacts found in the district of Iznik and its surroundings in the province of Bursa are exhibited.

It opened in 1935 at the Yakup Çelebi Zaviyesi, then moved in 1960 to the Nilüfer Hatun İmareti. While both archaeological artifacts and Turkish Islamic artifacts were exhibited there, a new museum building was constructed in Iznik by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism between 2020 and 2022 and the archaeological artifacts were moved to the new building. The Nilüfer Hatun İmareti continues to serve as the Turkish Islamic Artifacts Museum, while the new museum building, named Iznik Museum, has been open to visitors as a museum displaying archaeological artifacts since 16 January 2023.

Works

Nearly 1,500 works are exhibited at the Iznik Museum. The history of the works extends back to 6500 BC. Some of the important works in the museum are as follows:

A marble board game from the Roman period: the game called "Ludus duodecim" (twelve inscription game) or "duodecim scripta", which combines elements of chance and strategy similar to backgammon. Each player has 15 pieces and after the two players place their pieces on the board in a similar manner, the game begins.

Akhilleus (Achilles) sarcophagus: a highly ornate sarcophagus dedicated to the Greek hero Achilles. The carved statues around the sarcophagus depict the Trojan War, the Greek King Agamemnon, the semi-divine Achilles, and Achilles' captive Briseis. One side of the sarcophagus features statues representing spring, summer and autumn.

Antigonos sarcophagus: the sarcophagus of the general of Alexander the Great, I. Antigonos, dated to the 2nd century AD, is one of the important sarcophagi of the Hisardere Necropolis. Antigonos died at the age of 45–50, and his body was buried wrapped in three layers of woolen shroud.

A part of the shroud, the wooden pillow under the head and part of the wooden bed under the body have survived to the present day. The sarcophagus is important because it shows that at that time the dead were wrapped in shrouds when buried and placed on a wooden bed rather than directly on stone. The sarcophagus was commissioned by Agathocles' wife Arete and on the sarcophagus there is a lament text written by her for Agathocles. This 1800-year-old text has been newly translated. In this text, the grief of Arete after the death of her husband Agathokles is expressed in the following words:

I, sorrowful Arete... With all my body and soul I cry out from the tomb of Agathokles. Grief tears my hair, I show my feelings by weeping. This misfortune, death, seized me, believing it will free this noble man.

Nike-Eros sarcophagus: A sarcophagus of the Doximion type dated to the 2nd century AD. The figures of Nike and Eros are depicted independently of each other. The sarcophagus lid is shaped like a lid. Traces of shroud and fabric are still preserved on the body of the tomb owner.

Nigerine and Astyris sarcophagus: A sarcophagus of the chest type. It belongs to mother Nigerine, who died at the age of 30–45, and her daughter Astyris, who died at the age of 25–30. Mother and daughter were found tightly wrapped in a shroud. The bodies inside the linen, wool and silk shroud have survived to the present day without any deterioration. The inscription on the front of the sarcophagus provides information about the tomb owners. Who is buried in the tomb can be understood from the following text:

I, I bought this sarcophagus for my beloved mother Nigerine and for myself, my daughter Astyris.

Replica of the Hespekli Tomb Chamber: Within the borders of Elbeyli, which belongs to İznik, in the Hespekli site, a replica of a tomb chamber dated to the 4th or 5th century AD, measuring 2.75×3.79 metres and decorated with frescoes, which was found in 1967 in a very well-preserved condition but later destroyed by treasure hunters, is in the İznik Museum.