The 1,600-year-old Şerefiye Cistern hosted a remarkable exhibition of historic Milas carpets. Opened on 24 October 2019, the exhibition was titled Flowers Blooming in Caria, a reference to the ancient name of Milas and its surrounding region. It offered visitors a unique encounter between architectural heritage and the enduring legacy of Anatolian weaving traditions.
The exhibition presented Collector Selçuk Mergen’s passionately assembled collection to the public for the first time. It showcased 37 exceptional Milas carpets, some dating back to the 18th century, each representing extraordinary craftsmanship and connoisseurship.
To protect the textiles from the cistern’s naturally humid environment and lighting conditions, the carpets were carefully mounted onto custom-made plexiglass-backed textile supports and installed by a specialized conservation team within the cistern’s central water basin.
The exhibition remained on view for five weeks and continues to hold the distinction of being the first carpet exhibition ever staged in a historic cistern.
