The Crumbling Walls of Yedi Kuleh, Stamboul:
The seven towers of this old fortress once confined the ministers of all such states as might be waging war against the Turk. Mohammed II erected a new structure on the foundations of an old Byzantine citadel, not far from the place where the land wall joins the sea wall beside the Sea of Marmora.
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Yedikule, meaning "Seven Towers" in Turkish, refers to the Yedikule Fortress located in Istanbul. Built in the 5th century as part of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, it was later expanded by the Ottomans after the conquest of the city in 1453. The Ottomans added towers and transformed it into a fortress and state prison. Over time, it housed foreign ambassadors, political prisoners, and even royal family members. With its thick walls and looming towers, Yedikule symbolized imperial power and control. Though it fell out of use as a prison in the 19th century, it remains a powerful historical monument. Today, Yedikule stands as a museum and cultural site, offering insight into both Byzantine and Ottoman history through its architecture and storied past.
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