In 1925 firstly a "Museum Store" was formed from combination of a part of Sultan Beyazıd II's Complex(two rooms of the school) and few archaeological arts and Islamic Period mummies.
Then when the number of arts increased and the new locations were needed for exhibition of them, in 1962 the museum was moved to Gökmedrese Mosque dating from 1266, one of art works of Selcuklu Period. Until 1958 the museum was managed through voluntary official servants and was converted into Museum Directorate in the June of the same year.
The museum was moved into the present building on March 22, 1977; and then the museum was arranged again and all arts were exhibited in their chronological orders and opened for service in 1980.
With about twenty four thousand works of art consisting archaeological, ethnographical, coin, seal, handwriting and mummies of 11 individual civilisations, the museum is the most modern and richest one in the region, and has been serving to culture and tourism of our country.
The museum building is three-storey building, and it has store section, laboratory and other service units in the basement floor, and has buffet and resting hall and small exhibition hall on the first floor and on upper storey, has two large exhibition halls where archaeological, coin and ethnographical works of art are exhibited. In the garden there are 6 mummies of İlhanlı Period within Sultan Mesut I Tomb and stone works of art.
Exhibition of First Floor
Amphora
They are made of baked soil, with two handles, sharp bottom dating from Roman and Byzantine Period. They were used in transportation and store of wine, olive oil and similar liquids during Antique Period. The works of art known to be found from a sank ship near Bafra were granted to the museum in 1977.
Tombs
There are four tombs in this section. Three were made of baked soil, and the other was made of bronze.
Bronze Tomb
Made through hammering technique, and is in the shape of modern bathtub. There are four symmetrical ring handles on corners near to mouth edges. It was excavated from big tumulus called Çakırmıstığın tepesi in Esençay of Taşova District is an art of Hellenistic period.
Baked Soil Tombs
One of them is cornered, the other is cylindirical and the last one is in shape of bathtub. Were used as tombs during Roman Period.
Sculptures
There are two sculptures exhibited here, dating from Hellenistic and Roman Period. One is the priest sculpture without head in clothes, and the other Dionysos and his son on relief.
In the section where tombs are exhibited, original marble inscriptions of mosques, medrese and similar buildings built in Amasya during Ottoman Empire Period are exhibited.
The carpets, carpet seccade, carpet bags and rugs brought by the immigrants from Azerbaijan and surrounding to Amasya during 1897-1898 Ottoman-Russia War are exhibited here. Also Milas, Kırşehir and Avanos carpets and rugs are exhibited here.
Wooden Works of Art
In this section, magnificent samples of wooden carpentry arts of Byzantine , Seljuki and Ottoman are exhibited.
Door panel from Byzantine Period
It is from Gümüş Town of Gümüşhacıköy District. It has branches of vine symbolising the fertility made through embossing technique coinciding with vine leaf in circle shapes and big grape bunches. An art from late period of Byzantine Period.
Door from Seljuki Period
The original door of Gökmedrese built between 1266-1267 during Seljuki Period. Made of Abanose tree, has two panel and a monumental work of art. It has excavated type decorations, roman type and curved branched round vault, and within border, on forehead section, the saying of Muhammad in Arabic meaning "in the other world human beings are asked of their helps and science they taught in the world or their off-springs thanking and praying for them." On the center of the door there is a triangle, pentagon and hexagon formed by means of coincidence of broken lines decorated with curved branch motives.
Mosque Door from Ottoman Empire Period
The original door of Mehmet Paşa Mosque dated 1485 of Ottoman Empire Period. A two panel door having pentagon formed through coincidence of broken lines and decorated with star motives. Is one of the rare sample of Ottoman wooden carpentry. This section has closet covers and cleaning parts collected from samples of civil architecture samples of Amasya in 19th century.
Second Floor Exhibition
The storey is divided into two halves, namely archaeological and ethnographical sections. At the end of archaeological section there are closets where coins and treasury are exhibited.
Works of Art from Bronze Age (B.C. 3500-2100)
The works representing this age in the museum are exhibited in three separate windows. In the first one, black and red colored, fine gilded and some having groove metal imitations, with and without handles spherical, round mouth, flat bottom, pottery and jugs are exhibited. All of the works of art excavated from Mahmatlar and merzifon Oymaağaç Village of Amasya center are handmade works.
Other windows have bronze knives, axes, bone needles and stamps.
Hittite Age (B.C. 1750-1200)
They are exhibited in two windows.
In the first one, there are filters with beak mouthed, camel feature coloured dough, baked soil jugs, pottery, bowls and baked soil temple.
In the second one; bronze and stone seals, baked soil bull heads, human figures, idols and various type baked soil ritons and religious three holy containers are exhibited.
Hittite God Sculpture
In Archaeological literature "Amasya Sculpture" or " Hittite Storm God Teashop" art is one of the unique works of art in the world.
It was found accidentally in a hoyuk in Doğantepe Town of Amasya centre. Made of bronze, casting technique, but arms, legs and some parts have not been found yet.
God figures seen in Hittite Empire Period embossing arts are similar to embossing of gods discovered in Yazılıkaya open temple in Boğazköy(Hattuşaş).
The current height of the art with sharp hat, short skirt, stepping forward posture is about 21,5 cm, and weight is 1.340 kg.
Among other metal sculptures dating to Hittite Empire Period(1400-1200 B.C.) it is the biggest human sculpture. Thick eye brow, hole eyes, smooth grooved lines makes it look moderate, as well as gives a strong and serious expression.
Urartu Period (B.C. 900-600)
The arts of the civilisation existed in Van region of Eastern Anatolia were obtained through purchase. Bronze bracelets having stylized lion head, bronze containers and one boiler handle are exhibited.
Frygian Period (B.C. 850-600)
Frygians migrating to Anatolia upon immigration of clans around B.C. 1200 had ruled the regions where had been ruled by Hittite previously. Their capital city was Gordian near Ankara. The works of art, namely ritons with camel feature dough, plant mouthed, large bodied single handled flat bottom, cream primed in parallel to body lines are exhibited.
Iskit Period (B.C. 6th century)
Are the works of art discovered from excavation made in İmirler Village, Gümüşhacıköy district in 1970. One folded sword belonging to an Iskit warrior found in a tombs has a handle made of bronze, many arrow heads made of willow leaf, horse riding sets and one embossed and one bronze medium size bell are exhibited.
Hellenistic Period (B.C. 330-29)
The works of this period being exhibited in the museum contain plates made of baked soil, flat bottom, light brick coloured soil, having double and single handle, jugs, and a large plate.
There is a work of art here made of baked soil, curved body, round ring pedestal, double handled, body divided with metaphase, and interior decorated with duck on brown background. Also a jug processed with red figure technique having swan figure, made of baked soil is also exhibited.
Roman Period (B.C. 29-A.D. 476)
The works of this age constitute the richest collection of the museum. They are exhibited in five separate windows.
Glass Works
Most of them are tear bottles, odour containers and bowls having thin long forms. Also a work dating from B.C. 7th century made with black, blue and brown colour technique, with double handles, yellow body, amphorae type round mouth, short neck is also exhibited.
Roman Ceramics
Double and single handled jugs are in different forms. They are generally light brick coloured and painted with red. There are decorations on bodies and handles of some. Also there are bowls similar to each other having large shape.
Masks
Made of baked soil, only having face lines, with mouth in shape of singing
Woman Jewellery
Most of jewellery made of gold, silver and glass are rings and ear-rings. The stones of akik stone rings have human and animal figures.
The ear-rings have different shapes. Some have valuable stones on hanging parts. Beside, bracelets made of colourful glasses and diadems made of golden are exhibited.
Necklace consisting of rows of double headed bird figures were obtained in 1988 together with double ear-rings and Roman Period ring.
Bronze Containers
They are single handled, without handle and boiler handled. Made with hammering technique for daily use. They were left in generally, children tombs, are dead person gifts. Particularly bull and eagle sculptures and snake figure are important arts.
Candles
Were used as lightening means during Hellenistic and Roman Times. Made of baked soil and are in various height and types, and generally in brick colour dough.
Coins
Most of coins exhibited at the end of the archaeological section are of Hellenistic, Roman bronze coins and Byzantine Period copper, Seljuki Period silver and golden coins of Ottoman Empire, and are exhibited in chronological order.
In the last two windows, treasury is exhibited. One of the windows has a bronze treasure of Hellenistic Period and 1134 bronze coins printed in nine types during reign of Great Costantinus of Roman Empire (A.D. 306-337) in İstanbul and Antakya. And copper treasury belonging to Byzantine Period and copper treasury of Seljuki are exhibited.
In other windows are coins of Middle Age dukes, of Ottoman and Ilhanlı Period in silver.
Byzantine Period (A.D. 476-1453)
The arts of this period are exhibited in the last window of archaeological section. There are single handler cream coloured jugs, candles made of bronze, jewellery, holy bread stamps, steel stamps and three baked soil plates obtained in 1992.
The works of art are in the form of brick coloured dough, large mouthed, concave bodied, round ring form. Inner and outer surfaces are yellow, and there are animal figures on centers. On interior edges there are geometrical star and calligraphic decorations (A.D. 12-13th century).
Section of Ethnographical Arts
The arts of this section are exhibited according to their types. On south of the hall, agricultural tools and accessories, yarn twisting and weaving tools are exhibited.
The works of art exhibited here are:
Kitchen Properties
Spouts, containers, buckets, bowls and pans made of copper reflecting taste of the 19th century decorated with carving technique, made for daily use are exhibited.
Women Jewellery Properties
Accessories, jewellers, bracelets, necklaces, rings, head caps, silver knitted bags and belts reflecting ottoman empire women's terse made of silver, bafum and valuable stones are exhibited.
Mother-of-pearl Cases
The cases having rarely seen workmanship applied on wooden during Ottoman Empire Period, reddening case, and spoons are exhibited, and "Memory of Victory" where portraits of Atatürk and his friends during National Independent war are exhibited.
Weapons
TH weapons of ottoman empire from late to new period are exhibited in three different windows. Arrow, bow, knives, swords, fighting knives, axes, and sticks, golden rifles, pistols, cartridge of metals, and steel moulds are some of the collection.
Ceramics
A bowl made with sigrafitto technique from Seljuki Period, having angel figure and glazed. Blue white coloured Kütahya, İznik, Çanakkale ceramics and jugs dating from 17th-19th century of Ottoman Empire are exhibited.
Astronomy Tools
The works brought from Beyazıt II Complex were used for arrangement of ezan time and astronomy education, are made of wooden, kiblenumas, compass, earth and astromony tools are exhibited.
Bath Sets
Towel sets and both wearing sets made of velvet and bowls and bath tools made of silver dating from Ottoman Empire Period are exhibited.
Clocks
There are golden and silver clocks, pocket clocks and wooden guards of wall clocks here.
Lamps
Blue, yellow and red glass and porcelain gas lamps used for lightening during Ottoman are exhibited.
Tea, Coffee and Tobacco Sets
Tea and coffee sets, coffee pan, coffee mils, pan and wooden coffee case, cup guards and semaver used during Ottoman Empire Period are exhibited together with lighter, tobacco cases and pipes.
In middle section of ethnography museum there are traditional bindalls, night clothes, waistcoat, regional motive wool socks, carpet, carrying bags of Amasya are exhibited together with various type and size money bags, glazed bags, neck clothes, scarves and men belts.
Health bowls, Buhardanlık and Muskas
Here, health and devil eye bowls, buhardanlık and clothes having prays keeping devil away in silver and various sizes with various technique processing are exhibited here, also candle holders in various sizes.
Handwriting Koran
Here Koran in handwriting, decrees of sultans with their signature, writing sets, ink pen tip and holder, paper scissors and ink pen holder, Koran case and wooden rahle are exhibited.
Flags of the City
At the last section of Ethnography, two flags taken from Sultan Beyazıt III Mosque are exhibited.
Small flags of the City
On one surface of this small flag there is signature of Sultan Reşit and Ottoman symbol and on the other side Kelime-i Tevhid is printed is exhibited.
Big flag of the City
Entire besmele, Ayet-el Kürsi, Fetih(Conquering) part of Koran from beginning until 17 sentence are printed on atlas, the middle has Besmele, Mümin Part of Koran and H.1326. It is known as "İşkodra Flag".
Open Air Exhibition
In the museum garden located on west side of the museum, big stone arts of Hittite, Hellenistic, Byzantine, İlhanlı, Seljuki and Ottoman Period are exhibited. Hittite Door Lions, Hellenistic and roman inscriptions from Esençay area and Doğantepe and tomb stelles with busts, ion and Korinth type column heads, monumental structure parts, vine leaf decorated tomb inscriptions, tomb steles from Byzantine Period, embossed tomb inscriptions, construction inscriptions from Byzantine, Seljuki, İlhanlı Periods, tomb stones in case type with heading and without headings baked soil store cubes and original column heads of Sultan Beyazıt II _Mosque demolished during 1939 earthquake are exhibited here.
Roman Inscriptions
It is in the west part of tomb in the yard was found in the fundamental of a construction in Amasya Center Yüzevler Quarter. Made of calcer stone and is a dedicated inscription. This Greek inscription was made by head of state of Pontus and dedicated to Emperor Alexender Severus and his mother from Roman Empire.
Mile Stones
Marble mile stones used as mile stones in "Antique Roman road" from Erba, Esençay, Yukarı Beraklı, Yassıçaal(Ebemi) and Zile and extending to various part of Amasya is exhibited. There is number 21 on the stones found in Uygur town, and has name of Contantinus II and Diocletianus of Roman Empire and names of governors. The works of art are from A.D. 237-305.
Mummies
There are six mummies of İlhanlı Period within Tomb of Sultan Mesud I in the museum garden. This section is taking the most visits.
The mummies belong to Şehzade Cumudar, Anadolu Governor, Emiri İşbuğu Nuyin, İzzettin Mehmet Pervane Bey, His Wife, son and daughter They were brought from Amasya Burmalı Minare and Fethiye Mosque tombs.
King Tombs
There are stone tombs of kings in various parts of Amasya, which are Pontus kings' tombs according to historian Strabon from Amasya. The tomb called "Kızlar Sarayı(Girls' Palace)" by Strabon is five stone tomb in monumental nature. The king tombs were made in the locations viewing the city, and they have reached present time.
Some stone tombs of Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire ending Pontus ruling are evaluated as chapels. The stone tombs used for various purposes during Ottoman and Selçuklu Period are offered to visits of people.
King Tombs on Kızlar palace location and the ones on visit road to Aynalı Inn f km away from the city are different from other king tombs both in size and shape. They are in inverse U shape in comparison to the stone block where they are located. The others do not have this characteristic. Therefore it can be said that those monumental tombs were Pontus originated, and others were made in small sizes and more simply and were belong to some wealthy people of the Period(religious people).