Message from the President

Welcome to the American Friends of Turkey website. Please take a moment to learn about our programs, lectures and trips which are designed to strengthen the cultural ties between Turkey and the United States.

You are cordially invited to participate in our programs, as well as to learn about the many events in the Washington area and around the country dedicated to enhancing Turkish-American relations. In addition, you will find information about museum exhibits, books, current affairs and activities involving other Turkish-American organizations.

I hope that you will join our many friends and associates by becoming a member of The American Friends of Turkey, and I look forward to welcoming you at some of our outstanding future programs.

Cordially,
Nina Solarz

News

Upcoming Trip: Mediterranean Coast Sept. 25 - Oct. 8

Sept. 25-Oct. 8: Please join us on this Spectacular Trip following the route of Alexander the Great to the Cities of the Famed Lycian League, guided by famed Turkish and American historians and archeologists.

$5500 per person includes international and domestic airfares, five-star accommodations (double occupancy), all breakfasts, lunches and some dinners; private boat cruises on the Aegean and the Mediterranean.
Click here for more details and to register for this trip to Turkey.

AFOT Announces New Membership Levels and Benefits

American Friends of Turkey, Inc. (AFOT) is excited to announce new yearly membership levels and benefits which will allow us to provide unique programs, events, and services for those in our network.

Friend - $35
This category has the following benefits:

Advance notice of special events, programs and trips.

Contributing Friend - $100
This category has the following benefits:

Advance notice of special events, programs, and trips;
10% discount on book purchases;
Invitation to quarterly briefings by officials on Turkish-American policy issues.

Sustaining Friend - $250
This category has the following benefits:

Advance notice of special events, programs, and trips;
10% discount on book purchases;
Invitation to quarterly briefings by officials on Turkish-American policy issues;
Once a year dinner with the President and an official for a private discussion on American-Turkish issues.

If you're not already a member, please take a moment to register today. Click here to register.

Penn Museum and Longwood Gardens

A small but eager group traveled to Philadelphia on Sunday, May 5, to meet with Prof. Brian Rose of the University of Pennsylvania, to listen to his lecture on the Phrygian civilization (8th Century B.C.E.) and view important artifacts in the Penn Museum with him. Following our “indoors” education, we traveled to the Longwood Gardens for our “outdoor” education, and an afternoon of glorious sunshine and flowers.

Dr. Brian Rose, Professor of Classical Studies, the James B. Pritchard Professor of Archaeology, and the Curator-in-Charge, Mediterranean Section, Penn Museum, treated us to a splendid illustrated lecture on the Phrygian civilization as seen through the work of the Penn excavators at Gordian over the decades. This astonishing, advanced civilization, located near the Sakarya River in Turkey, is largely unknown to the public, and Dr. Rose’s lecture helped us understand the importance of these groups in the history of Anatolia.

Touring the museum, we were able to see some of the objects found in Gordion, and witness the sophistication of their intricate jewelry work, the artistry of the vessels and extensive use of precious metals. Gordion is the city where King Midas lived --a real person, not a mythological figure -- known to history for his “golden touch.”

At the museum we were also able to see the Lod mosaic from Israel, a large, beautifully preserved and intact recent find, dating from the fourth century C.E.. Dr. Rose not only interpreted the figures in the mosaic (see attached slides) for us, he also showed us a video illustrating the method used to remove the mosaic in one piece without damage from where it was uncovered so that it could be sent to museums around the world and shared with thousands of people.

Longwood Gardens were at their luxurious height with spring flowers – especially tulips, which we know had their origins in Turkey. Please see the accompanying selected photos for an idea of the richness and beauty of the flowers.

The American Friends of Turkey will continue to sponsor one-day trips to help members discover the extraordinary resources available to us in near-by cities and institutions.