Where can I see Turkish marquetry?

In Anatolia, exquisite mosaic patterns can be seen everywhere, made of tiles and pottery (which the Sumerians started using 5000 years ago). Many mosaic patterns from the Roman Empire to the Byzantine Empire have survived through historical events and natural disasters and are now mostly housed in several major museums in Turkey. After the Arabs occupied the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire in the 7th century, mosaic techniques were extensively used in the decoration of Islamic mosques and palaces.

Zeugma mosaic Museum

Zeugma is best known for its Roman villas and floor mosaics. The Birecik Dam project brought Zeugma back to light underwater, attracting attention from people around the world. A large-scale rescue excavation in 2000 allowed most of the Roman villas to be brought to light again. A few mosaics were discovered in several excavations starting from 1987. The Zeugma Mosaic Museum is the second largest mosaic museum in the world, displaying 500 meters wide mosaics, 35 inlaid panels and bronze statues of war gods and Aphrodite that are 150 cm long.

The Chora Church

After the occupation of Istanbul, this building was used as a church. In 1511, it was converted into a mosque by Vizier Grand Ali Hadim and a school and relief kitchen were built next to it. After the renovation, the mosaic and mural decorations were covered, some with wooden shutters and others with white plaster. From 1948 to 1958, the American Institute of Byzantine Studies undertook a project to uncover all the covered mosaic and mural decorations.

Gretel palace mosaic Museum

The Great Palace has a courtyard of approximately 1,872 square meters, decorated with various mosaic inlays. In the 1950s, archaeologists from Ankara University and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland excavated behind the Blue Mosque and discovered an early Byzantine pedestrian path (circa 500 AD) paved with mosaic paintings. This beautiful pathway is now on display in the Great Palace Mosaic Museum, accompanied by informational panels about the history of its preservation and restoration.

Mosaic Museum

The Haleplibahçe mosaic was accidentally discovered during a construction project in a certain city, and was subsequently excavated by the Şanlıurfa Museum. It is the most exquisitely crafted mosaic ever found in the Eastern world. The Haleplibahçe mosaic was made from extremely small inlays or colored stones that were carefully processed, vividly showcasing the four Amazon warrior queens from Greek mythology. While most ancient mosaics depicted scenes of war, the Haleplibahçe mosaic is unique in that it portrays a hunting scene.