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Aydos Museum, shedding light on the history of Aydos Castle, the fortress that opened the gates to the conquest of Istanbul, has been opened to the public by the Sultanbeyli Municipality.
According to a statement from the municipality, the new museum, which will illuminate Istanbul's deep-rooted history, was brought to life at Aydos Castle, located in the Sultanbeyli district on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Sultanbeyli Mayor Ali Tombas, whose remarks were included in the statement, said the museum would offer free admission to all visitors.
"At Aydos Museum, we're bringing the castle's rich historical, political, and cultural significance into the present," Tombas said. "Visitors can now see firsthand the fortress's deep-rooted history, along with the historical artifacts uncovered during restoration work."
Tombas noted that historian Halil Inalcik once described Aydos Castle as "the place where the conquest of Istanbul began."
He continued, "Aydos Castle is one of the most important heritage sites not just for Sultanbeyli, but for Istanbul and for our civilization's history. As Prof. Inalcık noted, this is widely regarded as the starting point of the historical process that led to the conquest of Istanbul. We are committed to preserving this great legacy, protecting the castle while ensuring its history is told accurately and thoroughly. I hope this exhibition hall serves our district, our city, and all history enthusiasts well."
At the Aydos Castle Exhibition and Promotion Hall, historical artifacts unearthed during excavation and restoration work are now on display.
The exhibition features load-bearing columns and pedestals, decoratively carved stones once used around doors and windows, fragments of arches, relief-carved decorative panels, sections of stone balustrades, stones joined together with iron clamps, an ancient construction technique, and remnants of the site's old water channels.
Dating back to the Early and Middle Byzantine periods, these artifacts offer insight into the stone masonry, architectural style, and construction techniques used in defensive structures of the era.
The hall also features video projections telling the story of the castle's history, along with epoxy-printed photographs documenting the different stages of the 12-year restoration process.
Aydos Museum is open for free visits, on Istanbul local time, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, except on Mondays.
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