Walls,
Gates, Towers, Pillars, Monuments
 It is believed that the first walls were on the hill
where Topkapi Palace is situated today. They have been collapsed leaving no traces behind.
Emperor Septimus Severus had these walls torn down when he attacked the town. He had the
walls made starting in Sirkeci and ending at Hagia
Sophia. Remains of these walls have not
been rendered either. Emperor Constantinus is one who has surrounded the city with walls
for the third time. Gate of Jesus in Cerrahpasa is the only remain of these walls which
remained to our days. These walls covered five hills of the city.
When population increased, new sections started
forming outside the walls.Then, Theodosius II made the city surrounded with walls
containing these new sections too (412). Walls start on the shores of Sea of Marmara and
end on the shores of the Golden Horn. They are 5 km long and were strengthened with 110
towers. Of these Golden Horn walls, only those walls in the direction of the Sea of
Marmara and of the land have remained to our day, around these walls, ditches and double
walls are formed. Most important gate of the walls is the Porta Aurea (Gilded Gate) on the
Yedikule walls (Sultan Mehmet "the Conqueror" had these walls repaired and
extended in 1458). Walls destroyed in an earthquake, were repaired by Governor
Constantinus in the period of Theodosius'. Heraklius had the north of the walls
reconstructed in 627. Also in Leo V's and Manuel Comnenos' period repairs were made. The
walls which Emperor Anasthase I had made between the years 507 and 511 outside the walls
encircling the city are important. These walls start at Avcik quay and end in Silivri.
 Genoeses
living in Byzantium, although founded their own cities, have dominated Galatia. They dug
trenches around the city and built high houses on the sides of these trenches in
1303-1304. Connecting these houses to each other with high walls, they formed the city
walls. Beyazid II had the walls repaired but they were destroyed again in an earthquake
(1509). These walls were repaired again in Sultan Murat IV's period (1635).Ottomans did
not attach much importance to the walls, but by constructing towers in certain places,
they have strengthened them.
Pillars
Hopped Column (Cemberlitas):Constantinus
I had the pillar at the Temple of Apollo brought to Istanbul in 330 and made the Apollon
statue situated thereon be replaced by his own statue. Later, each new emperor removed the
statue of his predecessor and replaced it with his own. It is 40 meters high. Sultan
Mustafa II, had the pillar reinforced with hoops for protection purposes (1700).
 Obelisk (Dikilitas):It is known as the Obelisk of Theodosius I; it was
erected in the Hippodrome in 390. It is 18.54 m high.
Snaked Column (Yılanlı Sutun): It is on
the Sultanahmet Square. It was dedicated in the Temple of Apollon by Greeks. Constantinus
brought it to Istanbul in 390. It is 5.35 m high and resembles three snakes wrapped around
each other.
Goths Pillar: It was erected following
the victory against Goths. It is situated in the Gulhane Park. The pillar dates back to
4th century and is 15 meters high.
Arcadius' Pillar: It was erected in 421
for the memory of the victory gained against the Goths at Cerrahpasa in 403.
Maiden's Column (Kız Tası): It is in
the township of Fatih; it is 10 m high made of granite. It was erected in the period of
Emperor Marcianus (450-57).
Plait Column (Orme Sutun): Constantinos
VII had it made in 944. It is 20.68 m high.
Monuments
Cabbage Monument: It is on the road descending
from the right, at the entrance of Imperial Porte of the Topkapi Palace. It was ordered to
be built by Selim III (1790).
Okra Monument: It is next to the cablage
monument. It was caused to be built by Sultan Mahmut II in 1811 . Hadika (Fruit Orchard):
It is located at the Kabatas Quay. In 1851, it was ordered by Sultan Abdulmecid to be
built to symbolize the construction of the Kabatas Quay. |
