Antakya Glass: The Fragile Story of a Millennia-Old Heritage

Throughout its thousands of years of history, Antakya has been home to many cultures, serving as a significant center for art and craftsmanship. As one of the earliest known places where glass was discovered, this ancient city became a hub for glass production and craftsmanship in Anatolia and the Mediterranean. The region of Antakya and its surroundings in the Eastern Mediterranean is believed to be among the places where glass was first discovered by chance and later refined into an art form. For centuries, master glassmakers in Antakya produced unique works, passing down their skills from generation to generation.

A Craft Rooted in Centuries

Glass production in Antakya was traditionally done by hand, using age-old techniques. Bottles, jars, and plates - especially those used for storing liquids and dry goods - were crafted by melting and reshaping old glass. Until the 1940s, itinerant glassmakers carried out this work, traveling from place to place. However, from this period onward, permanent glass workshops began to emerge. One of the key figures in modernizing Antakya’s glass industry was Asaf Asfuroğlu and his family. By bringing skilled glassworkers from Syria, they established a more structured production system for glass bottles and jars. These handcrafted glass products were then transported and sold across Anatolia, making Antakya’s glasswork widely known.

The February 6 Earthquakes and the Antakya Glass Museum

The Antakya Glass Museum was a unique space dedicated to preserving this rich heritage. Showcasing the traditional green glass of Antakya and rare handcrafted glass artifacts from the Asfuroğlu family’s collection, the museum stood as a testament to the city’s long history of glassmaking. However, the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023, inflicted severe damage on many of Hatay’s historical sites, including the Antakya Glass Museum. This institution, which once brought centuries of glass artistry to light, suffered extensive destruction, and part of its collection was tragically lost.

This loss serves as a stark reminder of how fragile cultural heritage is and how much effort is needed to protect it. Antakya’s glass tradition was more than just a craft; it was an inseparable part of the city’s history and artistic identity.

Now, it is our responsibility to keep this heritage alive and pass it on to future generations.This is not just nostalgia for the past but also a hope for the future. The glow of glass must continue to illuminate the spirit of Antakya.

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