Hagia Eirene Museum

After the conquest of Istanbul, the space was not significantly changed inside or outside, as it was converted into a mosque. It was used as the Cebecihane, where weapons and spoils of war were stored. From the repair inscription dated 1726 on the entrance portico built during the reign of Ahmed I (1703-1730), it is understood that the building was repaired as Darü’l-Esliha and that the weapons stored here were arranged and turned into a kind of arms museum. From the second inscription dated 1744 on the portico, it is also understood that the building was restored to its Cebecihane function after the repairs carried out during the reign of Mahmud I (1730-1754).

The building, which continued to serve as a warehouse under the name Harbiye Ambarı in the 19th century, was turned into a museum consisting of two sections, the Mecma-i Esliha-l Atika (Collection of Old Weapons) and the Mecma-l Asar-I Atika (Collection of Old Artifacts), at the initiative of Fethi Ahmed Pasha, the Commander of the Tophane (Arsenal) in 1846. Later, the building became an artifact depot again and was used as the Military Museum between 1908 and 1940.

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