MONUMENTAL TOWERS
Each tower of the gracious Yedikule Fortress has a different event, a different function. The monumental towers, which have witnessed many eras and have seen many sultans, are now preparing to witness the present.
In the fortress built by Theodosius II in 413 of the Eastern Roman Empire, his son, who ascended the throne after Theodosius, had four high observing towers built. When three additional towers were built by Fatih Sultan Mehmed Han after the conquest, the fortress had seven towers in total, and with the completion of the towers in 1457, Yedikule, which gave its name to the district, gains the appearance of today’s inner castle.
While the towers were used as an observatory, prison and execution place in the Eastern Roman Period, they were used as a prison, execution place, treasury warehouse, ammunition warehouse, barn and garden warehouse in the Ottoman Period.
The towers surrounding the pentagonal frame of the building are the Young Osman Tower, the Arsenal Tower, the Sultan Ahmet III Tower (Pastorama Tower), the Treasury Tower (Millet Tower), the Dungeon Tower (Inscriptions Tower), the Cannon Tower (Girls’ Tower) and the Flag Tower.
Young Osman Tower: It is the tower where Young Osman, the youngest sultan of the Ottoman Empire, was executed.
Arsenal Tower: As the name suggests, it was used as an ammunition warehouse during the period when it was affiliated to the state. It was also one of the dungeons where state criminals were imprisoned, apart from two prisons. When you visit the building, you can see the wooden floors attached with beams.
The Sultan Ahmet III Tower (Pastorama Tower): The reason why one of the names of the tower is Pastorama is that it has a Byzantine bastion. This tower, which was rebuilt after its destruction, was built during the reign of the Revolutionary Ottoman Sultan Ahmet III.
On the outer surface of the tower facing the street, the inscription “Maşâallahu ta’ala (by Allah’s permission)” on a marble plate attracts attention. After the tower was damaged, the Sultan contributed to the fixing of the floors with beams in the repair. This tower has not reached present day due to the earthquake.
Treasury Tower (Millet Tower): It is the tower where the state booty and treasures were kept during the Ottoman Empire. The Imperial Treasury is located in this tower. Later, during the reign of Murat III, the treasure was transferred to the palace. At that time, the name of the Treasury Tower was also known as the Burning Pavilion. The reason why it became famous with this name is that it was affected by the fire in the Burning Pavilion right next to the tower, but it was later repaired.
Dungeon Tower (inscriptions Tower): As its name signifies, this tower was used as a dungeon. It is also famous by the name of the Tower of Inscriptions, especially because of the inscriptions written by European prisoners on the walls of the building. It was burned because it was made of wood in an Istanbul fire. The famous Serpentine Well is also in this tower.
Cannon Tower (Girls’ Tower): It was used as a prison for a long time. It got this name because of the cannon battlements in it. The presence of these four cannon battlements also indicates that this tower, which protects the fortress, is in a different location than the others. It was badly damaged in an Istanbul fire.
Flag Tower: It is the tower above the Golden Gate. Among the seven towers, it was the most robust one. Since it is the tower where the flag fluttered, this was one of the places where the janissaries keep watch.
