Turkish and Islamic art is a rich subject. There are as many styles as there were different brands of Islam. Mohammed had four friends or disciples and they became the first four califs. Upon his death the first big split came with Shia's and Sunni's disagreeing about his successor. Then there came the Whabbi, the Salafi, the Berelvi, the Sufi and the Deobandi. Many of these sects came about as the initial califate, or Islamic Empire, grew then split and then splintered and then grew again. Luckily each room of this museum had a map and a time line showing where and when the artifacts originated and how they were related to Islam. It was a bunch of new information to digest and like the history of the Ottoman Empire is seemed to be one battle after the next. Back in those days it was conquer or be conquered or both. There was a history of polygamy with three wives allowed for each man. Not so much because of the dangers of child birth as I originally thought but because the male population was decimated time and time again in all the fighting. The beautiful calligraphy in the various Qurans were a delight to see. In addition metalworking and glass making was represented in this museum
This is a chart of how Islam has differentiated, no different than Christianity. What with the Baptists, Protestants, Catholics, Lutherans.....
The display area wraps around this courtyard. Under the glass are ruins of the old Hippodrome
Serious gates!
Very nice glaze
Incense censor
My what a cute little bird, it was unexplained
An example of the window in time that these artifacts cam from 1040 - 1157. This was the Seljuks period
Birds and nature were common themes
Oh the detailed rugs!
And the jugs
A fruit stand
A very strong sense of style
Two wooden columns
These metal doors came from the grand Mosque of Cizre. Cizre is a city in eastern Turkey along the Syrian border
The detail is so very intricate
Only part of the sunburst is still intact
The snake and lion head knocker is part of a pair
The matching one is missing but it can be found in Denmark in a private collection
Bronze bowl or the helmet of a giant
The circular brickwork is seen here as well
Owl or cat head?
The head is in this interesting display of an archeological dig
The great mosque of Samarra in Iran
Ceramic pieces that were part of an inlay
An Astrolabe from Spain
One of many Qurans this one was huge
Most of the pieces were sponsored by the Sultans and Shahs who were not only benefactors, they were often scientists and scholars in their own right. The "Dark Ages" commonly the 5th to 14th century CE were only dark for Western Europe. In the East and in the Middle East knowledge and scholarship was flourishing
Great calligraphy
So many documents on display
Old and golden
One huge slab of stone
Bronze animals, the cats are particularly whimsical
We were intrigued by the writing in the margins
The Mamluks stopped the Mongols from advancing any further than they did. Their Sultanate encompassed Egypt, all along the red sea, all of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran
This translucent glass piece was over the top
A old hand loom
Different carpet designs were illuminated on the floor
Ilkhanid Period 1256-1353
Illuminated Qurans
Timurid Period 1370-1507
Beautifully illustrated
They loved their tea!
Safavid Period 1501 - 1722
A huge beggars bowl and a celestial orb
These books were the most impressive of them all
Even the edges
Gold and bright colors
Qajars lived in what is now Iran
Delicately decorated bells or incense censers
A holy relic of Muhammed
A seal ring
A Quran Holder
Tile Work
Another set of great doors
The details are amazing
A griffin on stone
A few soldiers
An entire room or rugs
the rigs and other items are from the Ottoman Period 1300 - 1922
Richly decorated Quran
Hot stuff
Very elaborate
No expense spared
The mother of all mother of pearls
Nice blue areas
the top of the rugs were no covered with the plastic protective barrier. Of course we saw a doofus poking on each carpet
Looks like a musical instrumet
A gravestone
More jewelery
bottle topper?
Tea time!
This carpet has some tears but it is magnificent
The courtyard outside had a hollow tree
The blue mosque in the distance
Great fun!
