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OLD CITY WALLS OF ISTANBUL

Istanbul’s first city walls were built to protect the acropolis, placed where Topkapi Palace is today. The second set was established by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in 203 and were outside the Greek walls by some 300 meters.

TODAY FROM PAST THE OLD CITY WALLS
Among the many well known monuments in Istanbul, the centuries-old city walls stand out with their effective surroundings and construction. They extend for 22 kilometers, stretching from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn and demolished only twice in their all history. The firstly it was demolished by the Latin Crusaders who were supposed to be heading toward the Holy Land in 1204 and again in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks who tried to conquer the city of Constantinople.

Once upon a time the Constantinople (Istanbul) was surrogated the walls because it had geopolitical importance and too beauty city. Every state struggled to take this dreamy city. Furthermore, the public of Constantinople got measures by founding the walls;
At the beginning the city walls were used as a defence mechanism to prevent any attacks from other country. They were about six kilometers long with 27 towers spread throughout. The second set was established by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in 203 and located just outside the walls about some 300 meters. After, in 324 AD, Constantine the Great ordered to build the city to eastern capital, its walls were constructed some six kilometers further to the west.

Built by Emperor Theodosius II between 412 and 413 A.D, walls, which today is well known as the Theodosian Walls, had three parts - a main wall, a lower front wall and a moat or trench divided in thats way it could be filled with water. 

But the walls were critically damaged in 447 AD due to the earthquake. During these years, Attila the Hun invaded and conquered Byzantine cities in the Balkan areas and also reached the walls of Constantinople, but the great warrior was failed because there was not weapon to attack walls of this size at that time. Therefore frightened Byzantines immediately fixed the damaged walls in 448. During this same date the emperor constructed a sea wall.

Actually those sea walls were kept away many enemy, for example ; in between 672 and 673 Arabs attacked those walls but they were failed because the Byzantines advanced a technique named as Greek Fire which is a kind of an burning liquid to shoot at the enemy. The muslims like Arabs wanted to take over that city by breaking those walls so, the companion of the Prophet Mohammed, Eyüp Sultan died and was buried outside the walls. Also it was ordered in the hadith to take over the city. As it is seen that many people tried to take that city but that failed. Finally great Ottoman Empire Fatih Sultan Mehmet succeed to conquer by breaking those walls with the weapons

Fatih Sultan Mehmed repaired and strengthened against any attacks. He added three towers to the four already built at the Golden Gate. Then it was made seven towers named Yedikule” or Seven Towers in Turkish.

Today, when you visit in Istanbul, you can see the remains of those fascinating walls.
Content Author   : Ebrar OKÇU
Page Editor           : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published              : 19 July 2014
  • ISTANBUL

    About Istanbul

    Blue Mosque

    Hippodrome

    Topkapi Palace

    Hagia Sophia

    Sogukcesme Street

    Little Hagia Sophia

    Basilica Cistern

    Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum

    Arasta Bazaar

    Gulhane Park

    Archaeology Museum

    Old City Walls

    Suleymaniye Mosque

    Eyup Sultan

    Kalenderhane Mosque

    Pierre Loti Hill

    Miniaturk Museum

    Panorama 1453

    Chora Museum

    Seven Tower Dungeons

    Grand Bazaar

    Sahaflar Bazaar

    Mahmut Pasha Bazaar

    Spice Bazaar

    New Mosque

    Rustem Pasha Mosque

    Tekfur Palace

    Galata Tower

    Galata Dervish Lodge

    Emirgan Park

    Yildiz Royal Garden

    Maiden’s Tower

    Dolmabahce Palace

    Beylerbeyi Palace

    Ciragan Palace

    Rumeli Fortress

    Anatolian Fortress

    Khedive Pavilion

    Ihlamur Pavilion

    Yusha Mosque

    Kadikoy Bazaar

    Camlica Hill

  • BURSA

    About Bursa

    Silk Market

    Grand Mosque

    Green Mosque & Tomb

    Uludag Mountain

    Cumalikizik Village

    Emir Sultan Mosque

    Iskender Kebab

  • EDIRNE

    About Edirne

    Selimiye Mosque

    Sultan Bayezid Complex

    Edirne Palace

    Uc Serefeli Mosque

  • CANAKKALE

    About Canakkale

    Troy

    Assos

    Mirror Mall

    Ida Mountains

    Gallipoli National Park

  • BERGAMA

    About Bergama

    Acropolis

    Asclepion

    Red Court

    Bergama Museum

  • IZMIR

    About Izmir

    Kordon

    Velvet Castle

    Clock Tower

    Greek Agora

    The Lift

    Kemeralti Mall

  • Kusadasi

    About Kusadasi

    Ephesus

    Isa Bey Mosque

    Temple of Artemis

    House of Virgin Mary

    Basilica of St.John

    Sirince Village

  • Pamukkale

    About Pamukkale

    Hierapolis & Cotton Castle

    Laodicea

    Colossea

    Karahayit

    Painted Mosques

    Buldan

  • Antalya

    About Antalya

    Alanya

    Aspendos

    Demre

    Santa Claus

    Kale Ici

    Kas

    Manavgat Waterfalls

    Finike

    Patara

    Perge

  • Konya

    About Konya

    Mevlana

    Mevlana Museum

    Aladdin Mosque

    Kilistra Ancient City

    Aya Elena Church

    Sultanhani Caravanserai

  • Cappadocia

    About Cappadocia

    Kaymakli Underground City

    Goreme Open Air Museum

    Pigeon Valley

    Uchisar Castle

    Saratli Underground City

    Pasabagi

    Zelve

    Three Graces

    Avanos

    Ihlara Valley

    Ozkonak Underground City

    Wish Hill

    Hot Air Balloon

  • Ankara

    About Ankara

    Ankara Castle

    Ataturk Mausoleum

    Hittite Museum

    Augustus Temple

  • Safranbolu

    About Safranbolu

    Kaymakam House

    Safranbolu Bazaar

    Watchtower

    Cinci Inn

  • Amasya

    About Amasya

    Yalibolu Houses

    King Rock Tombs

    Amasya Castle

    Sultan Bayezid II Complex

  • Samsun

    About Samsun

    Amazon Village

    Amisos Hill

    Gazi Museum

    Hamamyagi Thermal

    Honorary Monument

    Mater Dolorasa Church

    Samsun Archaelogy Museum

    Tekkekoy Inns

  • Ordu

    About Ordu

    Golkoy Castle

    Osman Pasha Fountain

    Pashaoglu Mansion

    Tasbasi Church

Tour Maker Turkey is the source of information that introduce destinations in Turkey with detailed explanation of Sight Seeing points. You can plan your trip with soft explanation of tourist attractions with clear images.
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