ROMAN TRACES IN ISTANBUL-1
Istanbul has been the capital city of two great empires, so
naturally it is the site of many historical masterpieces. One of these two
great empires, the Roman Empire—which would later become the Byzantine Empire
after the split of Rome into East and West—left behind many great monuments. In
this series of articles, we will be taking a look at some of the Roman and
Byzantine Empire structures Istanbul has to offer.
The Galata Tower
The Galata Tower is one of the oldest towers in the world,
and it was originally built by the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius in 528 as a
lighthouse. The tower, which was destroyed in the Fourth Crusade in 1204, was
later rebuilt in 1348 by the Genoese using masonry stones, in addition to the
Galata walls, and was known as the “Tower of Christ.”
It was used as an observation tower during the reign of
Selim II. It functioned as a fire-spotting station until 1964 before it was
closed for restoration. It reopened to the public in 1967. In the first half of
the 17th century, during the reign of Murat IV, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi flew from
the Galata Tower to Doğancılar (in Üsküdar) in 1638, wearing wings he had
fashioned from wood, after observing the winds and practising flight in
Okmeydanı. This flight attracted interest from Europe, and engravings
illustrating this flight were made in England.
The Aqueduct of
Valens
The Aqueduct of Valens, built by Emperor Valens, is the
oldest aqueduct in Istanbul. The structure, which was connected to water
sources outside the city during the reign of Theodosius I, became one of the
most important components of the city’s water network, meeting the city’s water
needs for more than 1500 years in the late Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman
periods.
The Maiden's Tower
This famous tower is located 150–200 metres off Salacak in
Üsküdar. Although there is no definite information about when the Maiden's
Tower was built, some sources claim that it dates back to 341 BC.
Former names for the Maiden's Tower include Damalis and
Leandros. Damalis was the name of the Athenian king Kharis’s wife. When Damalis
died, she was buried on these beaches and the tower was named after her. In
addition, the tower was also called Arcla in Byzantine times, which means
"small castle."
Initially home to a tomb during the Greek period, this
island was used as a customs station with an annex built during the Byzantine
period. In the Ottoman period, it served many functions, from show platform to
defence castle, from exile station to quarantine venue. It has never lost its
primary function of guiding people with its lighthouse, which has been there
for centuries and winks at passing ships at night. The Maiden's Tower was
restored in 2000, converted into a restaurant, and became a tourist attraction.
Access to the Maiden's Tower is by boat from Salacak and Ortaköy.
The Theodosius
Obelisk
The Theodosius Obelisk, or simply the Obelisk (Dikilitaş),
is an ancient Egyptian obelisk located on the south side of Sultanahmet Square,
next to the Serpent Column. It was brought from Egypt by the Roman emperor
Theodosius I in 394-395 and erected in its current location.
The Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is the largest indoor cistern in the
city, located on the European side of Istanbul. It is accessed via a small
building to the southwest of the Hagia Sophia building. The ceiling of the
place, supported by a forest of columns, is built from brick, and
cross-vaulted. The cistern was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I
(527-565). Due to the many marble columns rising from the water, it is known
locally as the Yerebatan (Sunken) Palace. The building is also called the
Basilica Cistern because there used to be a basilica where the cistern is
located. The cistern was also the subject of Dan Brown's novel Inferno.
The two Medusa Heads used as column bases in the northwest
corner of the cistern are masterpieces of Roman sculpture art. It is not known
from which structures the Medusa heads were taken. These Medusa head column
bases are popular with visitors.
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