While in Istanbul-The Mosaic Museum

Behind the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, otherwise known as the Blue Mosque, is a small, undistinguished but charming little museum of mosaics found in a the pavement of a peristyle court of the Byzantine period. It is at the end of the Arasta Bazaar, discovered during excavations of the area in 1935-1938 and 1951-1954. The archeologists were originally from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, but by the 1980s, Germans and Austrians had also become involved so that this museum is a good example of cultural diplomacy at work.

 

The museum only shows the mosaic of this one court which is so large that it spanned three rooms, of which one is shown below from the museum site. Above are detailed scenes that show a certain lack of narrative cohesion in the mosaic, though display varied country farm scenes. As an interesting random note, in the one on the left, there is an arch which hopes for perspective but does not quite attain it–as how could it, having been designed in the 6th century AD.

 

The detail scenes are quite charming. They are self-sufficient little moments that made me smile.

 There are so many more to show, but the highlight for me was the monkey trying to get fruit.

Lastly, I had no idea that the colors of mosaics could be so varied, permitting a subtlety in the visual effect. It can not be seen at a distance but a close-up shows how many variants on a hue were used to produce a bright effect. Originally the colors would have been so bright, polished and cared for in the court life. They can not be polished or wet now to show their vividness simply because they are antiques and precious as is. Though that makes perfect sense, I wish it were possible to see these mosaics in all their original splendor.

This museum is not well known by tourists or locals. During the hour that I was there, besides the three employees, I saw two other people. For 8 Turkish Lira it is certainly an experience worth having, and a break from the crowds and heat on an afternoon in the Old City.