The Incredible History of Maiden Tower, Istanul wikimapia.org/l/s7aaab The Maiden’s Tower, located on a tiny islet near Uskudar on the Asian side, has a history spanning over 2,500 years. Also known as Leanders Tower (Kiz kulesi in Turkish), this beautiful landmark is well worth a visit. The first structure on the island was a mausoleum built in 341BC, and later, in 410 BC, it was used as a customs office to control the movement of navy ships passing through the Bosphorus Strait. In the 12th century, the Byzantines built a defense tower on the island and during the Ottoman Empire the tower was used for performances by Janissary bands and a lighthouse was added. It has also been used as a prison and as a cholera quarantine hospital and in the 1950’s the Turkish military took it over and used it as a radar station and cyanide warehouse. Like many of the buildings in Istanbul, the Maiden’s Tower succumbed to natural and man-made disasters including an earthquake in 1509 and a fire in 1716. The fire completely destroyed the Tower and it was rebuilt in 1725. Many legends have evolved about the Tower over time. Perhaps the most well known of these is the story of the nun Hero, who was forbidden to love and kept in the island’s tower to protect her from men. One day, on her visit to the temple, she meets a man, Leandros, and falls in love with him. Each night he swims to the island to visit Hero but on one stormy and fateful night on his way to see her, the lighthouse fails him and he drowns. On discovering Leandros’ death, Hero takes her own life. Another legend centres around the daughter of a Byzantine emperor who suffered an unlucky fate. Following a prediction by an oracle that the girl would succumb to a deadly snake bite before her 18th birthday, her father had her moved to the island. Just before her birthday, the girl was given a basket of grapes. Hidden in these grapes was a snake, who escaped and bit her, leading to her death. Legends aside, in 2000, the Tower was restored by a private company and opened to the public for the first time. Private ferries leaving from Kabatas and Salacak now take passengers to the island’s cafeteria and restaurant, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of Istanbul. #wikimapia #wikiplaces #Turkey #Istanbul
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 13:34:35 +0000
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