Abstract
Fifty-six years after the discovery of the already famous Alexander Mosaic in Pompeii (1831), the 1887 discovery of the necropolis of Sidon marked one of the high points of archaeological research in the Ottoman Empire, and was immediately hailed by the general press and more specialized publications. Of particular interest was one of the historiated sarcophagi, bearing scenes of war and hunting in which Alexander was recognized, hence the name he continues to be known by. At the same time, this discovery marked a new phase in the history of the Istanbul Museum, since its director, Hamdi Bey, came to lead the excavations in the company of Démosthènes Baltazzi and, by order of the sultan, the sarcophagi were then transported to the capital: the "Alexander sarcophagus" adorned the largest newly prepared room, which was opened to the public on June 13, 1891. Hamdi Bey, in collaboration with Théodore Reinach, was also responsible for the publication in 1892 of La nécropole royale de Sidon (Paris), in which the "Grand Sarcophage" plays a key role. Interest in this work of art has never waned since 1887, and debates continue to rage among specialists.
