Troy Museum

The Museum of Troy (Turkish: Troya Müzesi) is an archaeological museum located near the ancient city of Troy in northwestern Turkey. Opened in 2018, it houses approximately 2,000 artifacts from a collection of around 40,000 pieces spanning 5,000 years of regional history. The museum received the 2020 European Museum of the Year Special Appreciation Award and the European Museum Academy Special Award. Its director from opening until 2025 was Rıdvan Gölcük.

Planning for the museum began in 2012 when the Turkish government expropriated approximately 10 hectares of land near the entrance to the archaeological site, south of Tevfikiye village. An architectural competition was held, and the Istanbul-based firm Yalın Mimarlık won the commission in 2011. Construction started in 2013 but was interrupted in 2015 due to building problems; work resumed in 2017. The museum opened on 10 October 2018, designated as the "Year of Troy" in Turkey. It replaced the Çanakkale Archaeological Museum, which had displayed finds from the province since 1936. The total construction cost was approximately 45 million Turkish lira.

The museum's holdings draw from multiple institutions, primarily the now-closed Çanakkale Archaeological Museum, with additional pieces from the Istanbul Archaeological Museums and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. A request was also made for Troy coins from the İzmir Archaeological Museum. The collection encompasses roughly 40,000 diverse artifacts, of which about 2,000 are on display. The seven-section permanent exhibition covers the broader Troad region (modern Biga Peninsula) and neighboring islands, with artifacts from ancient cities including Assos, Tenedos (Bozcaada), Parium, Alexandria Troas, Smintheion, Lampsacus, Thymbra, Tavolia, and Imbros (Gökçeada). Objects range from the Neolithic through the Iron Age and include tear catchers, glass and terracotta perfume bottles, figurines, gold jewelry, coins, bone tools, metal containers, terracotta vessels, weapons, milestones, inscriptions, altars, sarcophagi, and sculptures.

Among the most significant pieces are the Polyxena sarcophagus, excavated in 1994 at Gümüşçay, which depicts the sacrifice of Polyxena; and a painted sarcophagus with hunting scenes from Altıkulaç near Çan, notable for its preserved traces of color. The 2012-discovered statue of the Greek god Triton is another highlight. The reconstructed burial chamber of the Dedetepe tumulus is displayed within the museum. Stone artifacts including columns, steles, and capitals are exhibited in the outdoor courtyard area.

The museum is located in Tevfikiye village, Çanakkale province, in northwestern Turkey, approximately 800 meters from the ancient site of Troy. It operates under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with information available through the official museum website at muze.gov.tr. The entrance area provides orientation on archaeological science, dating methods, and conservation terminology. The exhibition incorporates visual graphics, dioramas, and interactive displays to present the region's prehistoric and ancient periods.