Afyonkarahisar Museum is a regional cultural and historical center that presents a rich collection of archaeological and ethnographic artifacts dating from the Chalcolithic Age to the Republican era, using modern exhibition techniques. The museum's origins trace back to the early years of the Republic of Türkiye, when the Society of Antiquities Enthusiasts (Asar-ı Atika Muhipleri Cemiyeti) initiated efforts to preserve ancient artifacts by gathering them at the Taş Medrese in Afyonkarahisar. In 1931, it was officially established as a museum depot, and in 1933, it was organized as a Museum Directorate. The institution moved to a new service building in 1971, and in 2023, the modern museum building currently in use was opened. The museum exhibits the region’s rich archaeological and cultural heritage in chronological order.

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History

In the early years of the Republic, the Society of Antiquities Enthusiasts (Asar-ı Atika Muhipleri Cemiyeti) in Afyonkarahisar led efforts to preserve and collect ancient artifacts in the region. As a result of these efforts, an official museum depot was established in 1931, and in 1933 the institution was granted the status of a museum directorate. Between 1933 and 1970, the institution operated as a combined museum (archaeology and ethnography) in the Taş Medrese building. In 1971, it moved to a modern archaeology museum building. In 2023, a new five-story museum building was opened to visitors.

Museum Building and Exhibition Areas

The current museum building has five floors, with artifacts displayed chronologically on each floor, covering the Chalcolithic, Bronze, Hittite, Phrygian, Lydian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman, and Early Republican periods. The museum building also includes offices, a library, a conference hall, a photography workshop, laboratories, and storage areas. The exhibitions feature reconstructions, realistic mannequins, and multimedia support. The fifth floor is dedicated to the theme of the Turkish War of Independence.

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Exhibited Artifacts and Collection

The museum’s collection includes pottery, stone, marble, bone, glass, and metal objects such as vessels, sculptures, coins, and architectural fragments. These artifacts provide important insights into the lifestyle, beliefs, production, and trade activities of the region’s inhabitants from around 3000 BCE to the present. Additionally, sculptures, sarcophagi, and tombstones related to the marble trade and art are part of the museum’s collection.

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Important Artifacts

Among the significant artifacts housed in Afyonkarahisar Museum are the Apameia Sarcophagus, dating to the late 2nd century AD and excavated from the Dinar district; an Early Bronze Age figurine-headed jug; a small statue of Artemis holding a bow and arrow on a pedestal; and a bronze coin from Synnada dating after 133 BC. Additionally, the Çavdarlı-Kovalık Sculpture Group, discovered in 1964 in the Kovalık area of Çavdarlı Village and dating to the late 2nd century AD, offers a rich collection of 71 statues, statue fragments, votive steles, busts, and animal sculptures. This group sheds light on the religious life of the region through depictions of various gods and goddesses.