Karun Treasures await visitors in homeland

UŞAK

A priceless collection of 432 pieces known as the Karun Treasures is now open to visitors at the newly set up Uşak Archaeology Museum in the western province of Uşak. 

The collection belongs to the King of Lydia Croesus, who lived between 560 BC and 546 BC, and includes a precious winged seahorse brooch, which was stolen twice previously and had been smuggled abroad. 

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency, Uşak Archaeology Museum director Şerif Söyler said the museum would be appreciated both for its architecture and design, adding that it included conference halls and playrooms for children.

The two-storey museum is home to nearly 2,500 historical artifacts, Söyler said, adding that the museum was perched on a 14,500-square-meter closed area. 

He informed that the museum’s official opening would be made at a later time

Speaking of the importance of the Karun Treasure, he said the artifacts on display were picked up meticulously and placed in chronological order. 

“The museum is home to artifacts from the Paleolithic Age to the first years of the Republic era. Along with the artifacts removed from the ancient cities of Acmonia and Sebaste, we revived the Ottoman Bank and the mint coins section. On the second floor, we show the Lydian civilization and the Karun Treasures. We believe that the recreation of the Lydian civilization and the Karun Treasure will draw great attention. Six short films featuring the city’s history are also screened in the museum,” he said. 

The Karun Treasures were found by treasure hunters in the Toptepe, İkiztepe and Aktepe tumuli near the village of Güre in Uşak in 1965, 1966 and 1968 before being smuggled abroad. 

The 432-piece treasures began to be displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum in 1985 and the collection was returned to Turkey in 1993 after a long legal battle. 

Among the most precious artifacts in the treasure, the Winged Seahorse Brooch was brought back to Turkey in March 2013 after being stolen from the museum in Uşak in 2005. The brooch is made of pure gold and is worth millions of Turkish Liras.