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Yedikule – City Walls |
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Surrounded on three sides by water, huge walls across the peninsula completed the city defenses. In the 5th century AD, under the Byzantine emperor Theodosius II, four miles of city walls were built, stretching from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara. The fortifications were a series of stone towers, connected with a line of inner and outer walls, and a moat. From the towers, the defenders could catapult their favorite weapon at the attackers, the famous “Greek fire.” |
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These walls held for a thousand years, as Constantinople was besieged by Attila the Hun, Arabs, Russians, Seljuk Turks and Crusaders, until 1453. The Ottoman Turks, led by Mehmet the Conquerer, bombarded the walls with enormous cannons until the walls were breached, and the invaders poured into the city. |
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The best place to see the city walls is Yedikule, at the southern end of the walls. (Take the train and get off at Yedikule.) Designated as the Yedikule Museum, “the Castle of Seven Towers,” has a Byzantine gateway with two towers, and five more towers added by the Ottomans. Kids will have fun exploring the walls and towers, and deciding whether they want to be an attacker or defender. |
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Miniaturk Park (Carsamba) – Miniaturk is a miniature city with models from Istanbul and all over Turkey – the Aya Sophia (Hagia Sophia), Suleyman Mosque, Galata Tower, famous tombs, minarets, synagogues, monasteries, castles, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum at Halicaranassus, etc. |
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A young girl has a busy morning in Old City Istanbul, watching fishermen down by the water, simit seller hands her a warm crunchy sesame round to eat (she shares the bun with sea gulls), hops on a ferry ride, sips pomegranate juice and enjoys rose candy at the Spice Bazaar, takes a Turkish bath. Plus fun facts about Istanbul. (Picture book)
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12th century, Constantinople. Anna is a brilliant scholar, the daughter of the emperor, and heir to the throne. But when her father dies, Anna’s willful younger brother becomes the new emperor, and her life is in danger. Based on historical events, the Byzantine empire is vividly brought to life. (Chapter book)
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How a typical 16th century mosque in Istanbul was built – from the foundations, to the walls of the prayer hall, and eight huge piers supporting a great dome, topped with a bronze crescent. The mosque complex also included a school for religious education, public kitchen, baths and fountains, a tomb, and minaret for call to prayer. (Picture book)
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