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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. Click here for more info. |
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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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Islam (Eyewitness Books)
Caroline Stone
Before you visit the mosques of Istanbul, check out this excellent introduction to Islam – the prophet Muhammad, Ottoman caliphs and sultans, society and culture, festivals and ceremonies. Rich, detailed illustrations. (Picture book)
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Gripping novel of the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. A shipwrecked English boy, attached to the court of Constantine XI, watches as the city is bombarded by the sultan's fiercesome cannons and the emperor of Byzantium makes his last stand. (Chapter 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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More children's books on other Turkey pages |
