An overview of the room where the splendid and impressive anthropoid sarcophagi are housed. Most are from near Sidon and were brought it Istanbul in 1891 - 1910. Naming them anthropoid (human formed) dates from 1864. They represent men as well as women, and come in two groups, Imported and Imitation (with local Phoenician-Ionian workmanship). In all cases there are protrusions on the top and bottom ends as well as the sides, four in all, to hoist the lid. A large head is always represented on the otherwise mostly bare surface.

In the Phoenician-Ionian type the hair is visible, either in three wide rows of curls or gathered in a plain bunch on the forehead with three long plaits coming down either side. In the Egyptian style the hair is covered with a cloth. There the chin is bearded and the face wide, with almond shaped eyes. The mouth is slightly smiling.

The sarcophagi of these types are believed to be work of Ionian sculptors from Anatolia who left their land after the Persian invasion and wandered over Mesopotamia, becoming influenced by Egyptian art. Their works thus reflect a characteristic combination of western and eastern art. [edited by me from notice in the room]