The amazing Yedikule Fortress has witnessed many events and political disturbances in history.
History
Located on the coast road leaning to Bakırkoy from Sarayburnu, that great structure was built as an entrance door of the town ‘’Constantinople (todays Istanbul) ’’ for Byzantine Emperors. At the start, that glorious entry door, also called golden door was established by Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I to be used as a arch in 412. During the reign of Theodosius II, two towers were added on each side of the door and it combined with the town walls. Afterwards, within the period of Byzantine Emperor Kantakuzen IV, other two towers were added again next to those towers.
Once upon a time, opened to the largest street within the city, that fascinating golden door met magnificently not only the Emperors gaining a victory from the war but also the eligible people, which appears like a Red Carpet welcoming Hollywood stars. Additionally, because it absolutely was ornamented with golden gilts and silver leafs, that famous door was named Gilded Door apart from Golden Door. In time, another smaller golden door was erected between ditch and walls around that gilded door so as to defence town against the any attacks. Also it had been surrogated with the sculptures belonging to Goddess of the Victory and Byzantine Eagle but they might not stand today.
After the conquest of Istanbul, Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, the Conqueror turned the town walls with four towers into a closed fortress by adding three different towers. Since then it absolutely was named as Yedikule Fortress (Fortress of the Seven Towers) which may be a production of Ottoman-Byzantines. Today it's an admirable museum.
The Features
Except for the history, used for various purposes, functions, Yedikule Fortress has many attractive features with interesting events. Firstly, that amiable structure was used as Treasure Building in Ottoman Period; Resembling pentagram shape, this fortress was an area where the primary Ottoman State Treasury (Hazine-I Humayun) and also the Booties were kept here between 1458 and 1789 years.
Secondly, It also used as a prison; many famous people like Çandarlı Halil Pasha, grand vizier Ferhat Pasha, Mahmut Pasha, Krym Khan Mehmet Giray, Georgian King Simon, Trebizon-Rum Emperor Comnenos, Maltha Knights and Ottoman Sultan Young Osman were imprisoned, tortured and executed here.
Thirdly, the magnificent Fortress was damaged because of Big Istanbul Earthquake in Sultan Mahmut II time but renovated again. Moreover, Sultan Abdulaziz established here the women School of Art where 400 girls were educated for 4 years, while during the reign of Sultan Abdulmecit, brother of him, it absolutely was used because the zoo.
Fourthly, in 1883 the fortress was given to Mersul Baba who was the one amongst Bektashi Dervishes to found the vegetable patch. After several years, that breath taking construction was protected by the gardener Cemil Bey. Lastly, in 1895 being under the control of Museums General Directorate, Yedikule Fortress has belonged to the Fortress Museum Directorate since 1968.
Torture Chamber
There was an unlimited boiler full of the nails so as to persecution the guilty people within that room. The people were executed therein scary caldron. Therefore it absolutely was called room (Room).
Bloody Well
There is a well dating back from Byzantine Era. Once upon a time, when the guilty people were executed, their cutting heads were thrown thereto awesome well. As a result, those heads created the bloody scenery. Therefore the well takes its name from that bloody sight.
Young Osman Tower
Because of that at just one occasion, Ottoman Sultan Osman II (called also Young Osman) was slaughtered in this part, it absolutely was well-known as Young Osman Tower. Also many guilty people were executed within that section. After you step into the tower, you see that there are found many torture instruments, wheel and stake which symbolize that part as a death and torture of tower. Additionally, the walls of that section attract the visitors because there are found many names in Ottoman Turkish belonging to prisoners were carved with their bloody nails on those walls.
Arsenal Tower
It is located across Young Osman II Tower, on the north of Golden Door. At the start used because the armory, this tower was also worked as dungeon within the period of Ottoman and Byzantine.
Ahmet Tower
Called firstly Pastroma Tower in Byzantine Time, that charming structure was named Ahmet after the rebuilding with octagonal shape by Ottoman Sultan Ahmet III in 18th century because it had been demolished because of an earthquake. thanks to that it absolutely was popularly known that Ahmet Tower.
The Treasure Tower
After the conquest of Istanbul, that section was begun to be used because the first treasure chamber by Turkish Empire. Within that point, all gold, silver, jewel and also the other precious stuffs were kept in here.
Dungeon Tower
It is one in every of two towers used as dungeon. That part was assigned for the noble people; the kings, princes and viziers were imprisoned within that section.
The Watch Tower
Being nearest tower to Marmara Sea, the watch tower was in-built order to shield the town from any attacks coming from the ocean.
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