Maiden's Tower
The Maiden's Tower | |
---|---|
Kız Kulesi | |
General information | |
Type | Observation tower Broadcasting tower |
Location | Bosporus, Istanbul, Turkey |
Coordinates | 41°01′16.2″N 29°00′15.3″E / 41.021167°N 29.004250°E |
Construction started | 1110 |
Completed | 1725 |
Opening | 1725 |
Owner | City of Istanbul, Turkey |
Management | Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Turkey) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 5[1] |
Lifts/elevators | 1[1] |
Website | |
kizkulesi | |
References | |
[1] "Maiden's Tower". Emporis. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. |
The Maiden's Tower (
.The tower appeared on the reverse of the Turkish 10 lira banknote from 1966 to 1981.[2]
History
After the naval victory at Cyzicus, in 408 BC the Athenian general Alcibiades probably built a custom station for ships coming from the Black Sea on a small rock called Arcla (small castle) and Damialis (its calf) in front of Chrysopolis (today's Üsküdar).[3]
In 1110
The tower was destroyed during the
After the 17 August 1999 earthquake and tsunami in the Sea of Marmara steel supports were added to the tower to strengthen it.[4] The interior was converted into a café and restaurant, with views of the former Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman capital at Sarayburnu.[5] Private boats ply back and forth between the tower and the shore throughout the day.[6]
In 2021 work on restoring the tower yet again . The work was completed in 2023 and the tower reopened to the public in May of that year.[2]
Origin of the name
There are several stories about the tower's name. According to one of them, an
The tower's alternative name, Leander's Tower (
In popular culture
- The tower features in a romantic scene in the Turkish TV series Kördüğüm ("Deadlock"), Season 2, Episode 6.
- It also featured in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough and was visible in the background in the 1963 Bond film From Russia with Love.
- It was also used in the film Hitman.
- It was a point on the American reality game show The Amazing Race 7.
- The tower featured prominenty in the Turkish drama series Kurtlar Vadisi (Valley of the Wolves).
- It appeared in the Turkish drama programme Kırgın Çiçekler.
- It featured in the game Assassin's Creed: Revelations, where the tower is the location of one Masyafkey that the playable character must collect to complete the game.
- The tower featured prominently in the logo for Istanbul's unsuccessful bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
- It also featured in the Turkish drama programme Erkenci Kuş ('Early Bird').
- The tower appeared in sixth episode of the Turkish drama series Zengin Kız Fakir Oğlan ('Rich Girl, Poor Boy').
- It also featured in the Turkish drama programme Yasak Elma ('Forbidden Fruit')
- It also appears in the background of the ferry scene in Agatha Christie's 1974 film Murder on the Orient Express
See also
- List of lighthouses in Turkey
- List of columns and towers in Istanbul
References and notes
- ^ a b "Maiden's Tower". Emporis. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021.
- ^ Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Archived 15 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Banknote Museum: 6. Emission Group - Ten Turkish Lira - I. Series Archived 2009-04-17 at the Wayback Machine & II. Series Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine. – Retrieved on 20 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Müller-Wiener (1976), p. 334
- ^ "Maiden's Tower official website: Restoration".
- ^ "Maiden's Tower official website: Photo gallery".
- ^ "Maiden's Tower official website: Timetable of boat transfers to the tower".
- ^ "Maiden's Tower". The Byzantine Legacy. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ "Maidens Tower - All About Istanbul". www.allaboutistanbul.com. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
Sources
- ISBN 9783803010223.