Maiden's Tower and Galata Tower Legends
Posted on Cum Kas, 20 by Administrator
Maiden's Tower and Galata Tower Legends
The Maiden's Tower was established by the Greeks in the 5th century BC at a point close to the Üsküdar Salacak coast of the Bosphorus. It is the only architectural work left from the Roman Empire in Üsküdar. It has been used for different purposes throughout history and many rumors have been produced about it. Let's take a look at its history first and then its legends.
Based on the researches, he expresses that the word "sala" is used in the sense of village. Salacak, on the other hand, derives from “salacık” meaning small village - charming village. So it was probably a small village in the past. The Maiden's Tower was mostly accessed from this village, just like today.
Rocks in Antiquity
Some historians state that the Maiden's Tower was first mentioned in 400 BC. As far as it is known, it was established as a customs point for maritime trade. The builder is an Athenian commander. Athens was an important and regional Greek city-state at that time. It is a known fact that this small rock has fulfilled this task assigned to it for centuries. There is also a legend associated with this.
It is worth noting that the Maiden's Tower is a work of Istanbul that has a lot of rumors and rumors about it, but has the least certain information. I point this out for this, there are also historians claiming that this place was built as a breakwater. Of course, the most accepted information is the first narrative above.
Maiden's Tower in the Roman Period
Centuries later, after Byzantion became Constantinople, the first tower was erected here. According to Roman historians, the person who built this first tower was Emperor Manuel Komnenos (1143 - 1180) from the Komnenos dynasty, which was an important dynasty in Roman history. In some sources, it is called 1110 as the construction date of the tower. However, this coincides with the period of Alexios Komnenos, whose historians do not mention the Maiden's Tower at all.
There were 2 reasons why Emperor Manuel had this tower built: To control the Bosphorus and to collect taxes from commercial ships. In order to support this, it is written that a thick chain was pulled between the tower and the European coast, and dozens of rafts were used to prevent the chain from sinking. In a narrative, it is said that the first tower could not bear the weight of the chain and collapsed despite all efforts.
I said to take control of the Bosphorus, but here I remind you; The Maiden's Tower did not undertake an important task during the conquest of Istanbul. It was fortified only with a small unit under the command of a Venetian commander. Because the Roman finances that had deteriorated in the last few centuries caused the tower to lose importance. For this reason, that famous chain was taken to the Golden Horn in 1453.
During the Roman period, the tower was used as a place of exile and isolation from time to time, just as it was in the Ottomans. The Romans living in the city told many stories about the tower and derived legends. They even gave names to the tower according to these stories from time to time. I will refer to them below.
Maiden's Tower in the Ottoman Empire
The Ottomans acquired the Maiden's Tower with the title of "empire". So as he approaches the peak of his power! Therefore, neither Fatih Sultan Mehmet Han nor other sultans, who conquered the city, used this place for defense purposes. There was no need when there were Rumelia and Anatolian Fortresses.
Historians of the Fatih period write that a new tower was built here by the order of the sultan. I could not find out exactly for what purpose it was used. It probably should have served as a customs tower again. This tower was damaged in the earthquake of 1509, which I remind from time to time in my other articles and which Istanbulites call "Little Apocalypse". It was repaired by Hayrettin, the famous architect of the period who also repaired many works. Approximately 200 years later, it started to be used as a lantern. This expedition caught fire and burned due to the oil lamp oil used. The new tower built in its place was built as masonry.
The Maiden's Tower was also used for cannon shooting in various religious and diplomatic ceremonies. Some Sultans used it as a viewing area or a resting place. According to a story, Sultan Abdülhamit almost dawned here with the sounds of wind and waves. On the other hand, Mahmut I executed a Darüssade lord who was allegedly bribed in the Maiden's Tower.
The most interesting task of the Maiden's Tower, in my opinion, was its use for the isolation of patients during a plague epidemic that spread in Istanbul in the 19th century.
Republic and Maiden's Tower
the establishment of the Republic of Turkey began to be used again as a lighthouse tower just before. The ground was strengthened in the 1940s. It served as a military radar station in the early 1980s. It is currently operated by a private company as a viewing venue and restaurant. Travels to the island where the tower is located are subject to a fee: 20 TL for a student is 10 TL. Visiting hours are between 9 am and 6:45 pm every day from Salacak beach.
Maiden's Tower Legends
As I mentioned above, Kuz Tower is perhaps one of the works of Istanbul that has been derived from the most legends about it. Greeks, Romans and Ottomans told different legends and gave names to the tower according to these stories.
For example, the Greeks called it Damalis Tower. The reason, as I wrote at the beginning, was that these places were Athenians at that time. The Athens King Hares had a very beautiful wife. Because she loved Salacak beach so much, she had her buried here when she died. For this reason, the Greeks called the beach Damalis beach and the tower Damalis tower. If it is true, there was also a statue of Queen Damalis on the rocks.
There is another love legend dedicated to the Maiden's Tower itself.
The Legend of Hero and Leander
Hero is one of the priestesses of Aphrodite, who is defined as the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology, and works in the Maiden's Tower. She is forbidden to love because she is a nun and has no relationship with men.
One day she crosses the tower where she has been for years for a ceremony. There he meets another priest named Leander and falls in love with him at first sight. Priest Leander gets the same feelings. The only way they can meet is for Leander to swim across the cold and flowing waters of the Bosphorus at night. The story of the couple, who lived in love like this for a while, ends on a windy night when the lantern Hero lit to guide her lover goes out. Leaving his way in the dark, Leandros dies by drowning. According to legend, Sister Hero, who witnessed this situation with her eyes, cannot bear the pain she experienced and she puts her life to an end by leaving herself to the waters of the throat.
Based on this legend, the Romans called it Leandros Tower.
The Legend of the Poisonous Snake in the Basket
Another Maiden's Tower legend tells about the poisonous snake that came to the tower with the basket. However, this legend has both Greek - Roman and Turkish variants. Let's explain it in chronological order.
King's Wife
In ancient times, a Roman emperor is told by fortune tellers that his wife will die. She puts her in the Maiden's Tower to protect her queen. She wouldn't let anyone in but her and her private attendants. Still, fate cannot get in the way, and the snake coming out of the food basket sent to the queen kills her by biting her there.
Hanım Sultan
According to this story, one of the Seljuk Sultans sees in his dream that his beloved daughter will die after being bitten by a snake. The sultan, who is caught in the delusion, places his daughter in the tower. He does not allow anyone, including himself, to enter or exit the tower. Even water and milk are poured into the island through special pipes. Then, years later, the lady sultan gets sick. Barely cured by the best physician ever known, the young girl. Thereupon, gifts are sent to the lady sultan from many different places, among which there is a basket of grapes. The snake, hidden inside the grape basket, poisoned the lady sultan that night, causing her death.
Battal Gazi Legend
Another Turkish Maiden's Tower legend is about Seyyid Battal Gazi. Battal Gazi participated in the siege of Istanbul with the army of Harun Reşid, the Islamic Caliph of the period. While the Islamic army, which could not get results without the siege, withdrew, Battal Gazi continued to stay in Üsküdar. Because he is in love with the landlord's daughter. However, Üsküdar's takfuru tries to tear her from Battal by imprisoning her daughter in the tower, with the permission of the emperor. On top of that, Seyyid Battal raids the Maiden's Tower one night and escapes by taking both the landlord's daughter and the treasures in the tower. It is said that the famous saying "who bought the horse passed Üsküdar" is also based on this legend.
Galata Tower Legend and Love Story
Galata Tower is one of the first icons that come to mind when Istanbul is mentioned. Do you think it was thought that the tower will host stories that will last for centuries, great separations and immortal reunions during the construction phase?
I wanted to share with you the most well-known legends of this famous tower, which has survived to this day by spreading the countless stories about it. Maybe we all find something of ourselves in these stories. In this age, our greatest need is perhaps the legends we can believe. …
You Marry Whoever You Take to Galata Tower for the First Time.
Our first legend goes back to the Romans. According to Roman traditions, it was believed that when couples who really love each other go to Galata Tower for the first time together, they will definitely get married.
There were two young people living in this period who were in love with each other. They both were burning with their love and their eyes saw no one else but each other. But the young people could not convince their families to get married. Their only option is to go to Galata Tower together. Until then, neither the tower that brought the lovers together, nor the families that were said to be convinced, agreed to the marriage of their children. They said that going to Galata Tower will save us at best.
But the young man had a situation that disturbed him and that his loved one did not know. The boy has been on this tower before, and with another girl. At that time, the young man took a younger girl to the Galata Tower to deceive a girl he did not like, and then, when he met his loved one, he closed his heart to other girls, but he also has a great conscience. She thought for nights but could not open it to the young girl. In the end, they could not bear the insistence of the young girl, and one night they secretly climbed the Galata Tower. In a magical night, when the magnificent view of Istanbul was unfurled before them with all its glory, the young girl who wished to meet with all her heart believed that despair would be resolved, but the young man's eyes were always shadowy and sad.
At that moment, the sky was pierced, the dark air was illuminated with lightning, and a rain that had not been seen before started. The lovers were surprised, did not know what to do, and ran away from the tower. The young man felt obliged to tell the truth to the girl and his ways parted for not to be united again. If one of the lovers who climbed up the tower after that day went to Galata Tower with someone else, it was believed that this talisman would spoil.
One Hundred Years of Love Between Galata Tower and Maiden's Tower
According to another legend, Galata Tower and Maiden's Tower are two towers in love with each other but not sure of the other's love. And they knew that they would never be able to meet because of the throat between them. But knowing this would neither end their love nor reduce their longing. Galata Tower was filled with hope when Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi told Galata Tower that he wanted to go to Galata Tower one day and fly from the European side to the Anatolian side. And he handed over all the letters he wrote with love to Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi to forward them to the Maiden's Tower.
Just as Ahmet Çelebi put the letters in his saddlebag, he started to fly from the walls of the Galata Tower towards the seemingly endless sky. When he came over the Maiden's Tower during his flight, he left the letters on the tower. Seeing that his love was not unrequited, the Maiden's Tower started to get more beautiful after the letters. Galata Tower also understood that his love for this beauty is not one-sided. Thanks to their love for each other, they have come to this day, resisting everything for centuries.