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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.
Page revised in February 2009.

From Yedikule Kapi to Mermer Kule

Yedikule Kapi

Yedikule Kapi

Yedikule Kapi is named after the nearby fortress "of the seven towers" (Heptapyrghion in Greek, Yedikule in Turkish). On this site there was an old fortress with five towers which was incorporated in the walls. During the XIVth century two other towers were added.

Yedikule

Yedikule

Two powerful circular towers protect Yedikule from attack coming from the city itself, making clear the real purpose of this fortress, which was to provide a safe haven in case of riots. Like the Tower of London Yedikule was used as a treasure house and as a prison.

The Golden Gate

Golden Gate

Two square towers on the walls side of Yedikule protect the Golden Gate, a triumphal arch erected in honour of Theodosius I in 380. The arch was then well outside the walls of Constantine and Theodosius II included it in the new walls. It was preceded by a smaller arch which became a gate of the walls (see image below - June 2006).

Golden Gate

Mermer Kule

Mermer Kule

Mermer Kule (marble tower) is the last tower of the walls between the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea. The junction with the maritime walls was protected by a small castle.

Introduction to this section
From the Golden Horn to Top Kapi
From Top Kapi to Yedikule Kapi
The Maritime Walls

Other pages dealing with Constantinople/Istanbul:
Basic Istanbul
Galata

Clickable Map of Turkey showing all the locations covered in this website (opens in another window).