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Latin Inscription and Its Meaning
A Latin inscription carved into the Inner Wall of Constantinople reads:
"PORTARUM VALID FIRMAVIT LIMINE MUROS, PUSAEUS MAGNO NON MINOR ANTHEMIO."
This can be roughly translated...
Repairs on the Theodosian Walls
The Theodosian Walls of Constantinople were some of the strongest city walls in the medieval world. Keeping these walls in good condition was extremely...
The Kerko Porta and Its Discrepancies
The history of the Kerko Porta is a bit confusing due to a key issue. According to the historian Ducas, the Kerko Porta led...
The Pigeons of the Bayezid Mosque
The famous Bayezidiyeh Mosque, also called the Pigeon Mosque, was built in 1497 by Sultan Bayezid II. It gets its nickname from the many...
The Firefighting Equipment and Spectacle
The fire engines used in old Constantinople (now Istanbul) were small and simple. They were so light that four men could easily carry one...
Firemen More Interesting Than Dogs
While the dogs of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) often attract attention, some visitors find the firemen even more interesting. Fires are quite common in the...
Said Pasha An Honest Man in a Corrupt System
Said Pasha, who served as the Grand Vizier (the highest official after the Sultan), was known for being honest. Unlike most high-ranking Turkish officials,...
The Navy Yard on the Golden Horn
A Marine Graveyard
The navy yard on the Golden Horn is like a marine graveyard. Long rows of old ships lie side by side, many...
The People’s Plea and the Sultan’s Refusal
The people from the district returned to the Sultan to ask for help again after the new bridge was destroyed. But the Sultan refused...
Towers in Latin Mainland Greece and The Peloponnese
Chair Stavros Mamaloukos
This session focuses on medieval and Latin-period towers in Central Greece and the Peloponnese, with new findings and architectural studies.
Petros Kounouklas &...
