Day 1: Exploring What Istanbul Has To Offer, Zoe Richardson
We started our day with a great breakfast at our hotel and around 9:30 we met up and went out into the city.
After a short bus ride, the first place we visited was the Theodosian Walls.
The walls protected Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and were first built during the reign of Theodosius II (408-450 CE). The neighborhood they’re in is called Yedikule (meaning 7 towers) which was previously named Beshkule (5 towers.) They have prevented various attacks and sieges for over 800 years.
One highlight of these Walls is called the Golden Gate.
The Golden Gate was actually a single building that existed before the walls were constructed and later connected to it. The Gate itself is the arch with the various dots* and it served to welcome victors or to impress kings and ambassadors from other countries as it was the main entry into the city.
*The dots represent where a gold letter was nailed in the stone. Written in Latin, the inscription references a victory over a tyrant. Unfortunately, the gold letters (as well as other gold structures, including an entire bronze statue of Constantine in the Hippodrome) were taken and melted down into coins that paid for restoration caused by the Crusades.
The view from the top of the Theodosian Walls was incredible (even being as cloudy as it was!)
Fun fact: During the Ottoman period, the structure functioned as a mini-zoo until the eighteenth century.
Outside the walls, there was a mass cemetery. And as you may know, Istanbul is also home to many community-shared cats. These two facts lead to this photo while we waited for our bus to pick us up.
Later today, we visited the Basilica Cistern (aka the Sunken Palace) and is known locally as Yerebatan Sarayi. It was constructed from 1527 to 1565 during Justinian rule. It was never intended to be seen or admired but instead to hold up to 80k tons of water.
The enlarged cistern provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings nearby and continued to provide water into modern times. Visitors used to use rowboats to explore the cistern but recently (within the past 30 years) metal grates were installed instead!
From there, we walked to the Hippodrome. What used to be a massive stadium that could hold up to 100k people was overtime converted into a public square.
The then Hippodrome Stadium was used for chariot races, which was the then most popular form of entertainment. These races were 3 miles (around the track) and consisted of teams “Red”, “Blue”, “Green” and “White.” These teams not only represented the name of the team but also social class.
After a short bus ride, the first place we visited was the Theodosian Walls.
The walls protected Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and were first built during the reign of Theodosius II (408-450 CE). The neighborhood they’re in is called Yedikule (meaning 7 towers) which was previously named Beshkule (5 towers.) They have prevented various attacks and sieges for over 800 years.
One highlight of these Walls is called the Golden Gate.
The Golden Gate was actually a single building that existed before the walls were constructed and later connected to it. The Gate itself is the arch with the various dots* and it served to welcome victors or to impress kings and ambassadors from other countries as it was the main entry into the city.
*The dots represent where a gold letter was nailed in the stone. Written in Latin, the inscription references a victory over a tyrant. Unfortunately, the gold letters (as well as other gold structures, including an entire bronze statue of Constantine in the Hippodrome) were taken and melted down into coins that paid for restoration caused by the Crusades.
The view from the top of the Theodosian Walls was incredible (even being as cloudy as it was!)
Fun fact: During the Ottoman period, the structure functioned as a mini-zoo until the eighteenth century.
Outside the walls, there was a mass cemetery. And as you may know, Istanbul is also home to many community-shared cats. These two facts lead to this photo while we waited for our bus to pick us up.
Later today, we visited the Basilica Cistern (aka the Sunken Palace) and is known locally as Yerebatan Sarayi. It was constructed from 1527 to 1565 during Justinian rule. It was never intended to be seen or admired but instead to hold up to 80k tons of water.
The enlarged cistern provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings nearby and continued to provide water into modern times. Visitors used to use rowboats to explore the cistern but recently (within the past 30 years) metal grates were installed instead!
From there, we walked to the Hippodrome. What used to be a massive stadium that could hold up to 100k people was overtime converted into a public square.
The then Hippodrome Stadium was used for chariot races, which was the then most popular form of entertainment. These races were 3 miles (around the track) and consisted of teams “Red”, “Blue”, “Green” and “White.” These teams not only represented the name of the team but also social class.
However upon Mehmed’s conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it was no longer used for chariot racing as gambling (which is illegal in Islam) was a large part of this activity, and Mehmed, being a devout religious follower, banned racing. This resulted in the Hippodrome eventually being taken apart and materials became used in various building structures.
In the current square, there are several statutes and obelisks to take note of!
This structure is actually a public water fountain. Every single piece of it was made in German but the fountain was assembled in Turkey in 1898. It serves as a symbol of German and Turkish friendship (especially economically) that is still strong today.
This structure is an Egyptian Obelisk. It was erected in the 1300s and it took 32 days to put up. It is made entirely from Granite and tells the life story of Moses the Third. Theodosis brought it over from Egypt. The pedestal (only all 4 sides) portrays a stadium crowd with Theodosis and his two sons, alongside other higher-ups watching the races.
This is the Wall Obelisk and it marks the end of the Hippodrome. There used to be a bronze statue of Constantine, but it (as mentioned above) melted down into coins.
From there, we walked to The Great Palace Mosaics Museum.
It contains mosaics unearthed in excavations in the northeastern section of the Eastern Roman Grand Palace in 1935, which are magnificent both in terms of artistic and in terms of depictions of the scenes. The works exhibited are dated between 450-550 AD and do not have religious content. The depictions taken from daily life, nature, and mythology are incredibly realistic. There are hundreds of millions of fragments that make up the entire mosaic! It was amazing to see in person!
After that, we had time to explore the city around our Hotel, eat dinner on our own time and get ready for what tomorrow has in store for us.
Day Number One: Complete!
In the current square, there are several statutes and obelisks to take note of!
This structure is actually a public water fountain. Every single piece of it was made in German but the fountain was assembled in Turkey in 1898. It serves as a symbol of German and Turkish friendship (especially economically) that is still strong today.
This structure is an Egyptian Obelisk. It was erected in the 1300s and it took 32 days to put up. It is made entirely from Granite and tells the life story of Moses the Third. Theodosis brought it over from Egypt. The pedestal (only all 4 sides) portrays a stadium crowd with Theodosis and his two sons, alongside other higher-ups watching the races.
This is the Wall Obelisk and it marks the end of the Hippodrome. There used to be a bronze statue of Constantine, but it (as mentioned above) melted down into coins.
From there, we walked to The Great Palace Mosaics Museum.
It contains mosaics unearthed in excavations in the northeastern section of the Eastern Roman Grand Palace in 1935, which are magnificent both in terms of artistic and in terms of depictions of the scenes. The works exhibited are dated between 450-550 AD and do not have religious content. The depictions taken from daily life, nature, and mythology are incredibly realistic. There are hundreds of millions of fragments that make up the entire mosaic! It was amazing to see in person!
After that, we had time to explore the city around our Hotel, eat dinner on our own time and get ready for what tomorrow has in store for us.
Day Number One: Complete!
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