Three Successive Gates
The next three gates along the Harbour Walls of Constantinople are known today as Odun Kapan Kapoussi, Zindan Kapoussi, and Balouk Bazaar Kapoussi. In...
Walls Along the Golden Horn
The Porta Platea and Its Identification
The next gate mentioned by Pusculus and Dolfin is the Porta Platea, also called the Porta alla Piazza. This...
Identifying the Gate of Melantiados
There is good reason to believe that the gate known as Porta Melantiados (Πόρτα Μελαντιάδος) or Pyle Melandesia (Πύλη Μελανδεσίας) is the same as...
Gate of Selivria
The Gate of Selivria (Selivri Kapısı) and Its Historical Importance
The next major public gate in the Theodosian Walls is known today as Selivri Kapısı....
Gates in the Theodosian Walls
The Second Military Gate
The Theodosian Walls of Constantinople were one of the greatest defense systems of the ancient world. These walls had several gates,...
The Bazaars of Stamboul A Truly Turkish Experience
One of the most fascinating places in Constantinople (now Istanbul) is the bazaars of Stamboul, the old city. These marketplaces are uniquely Turkish and...
The Guilds of Constantinople A Living Tradition
In Constantinople (now Istanbul), many tradesmen and craftsmen still belong to traditional guilds. These guilds were once common all over Europe but disappeared in...
The Historic Khans of Constantinople
In old Constantinople (now Istanbul), there were around 180 khans — large, stone buildings designed to house traveling merchants. These structures are usually two...
The Biblical Story of Hagar and Ishmael and the Sultan’s Religious Power
The Dramatic Story from the Bible
One of the most dramatic and emotional stories in Biblical history involves Abraham, his wife Sarah, and his servant...
Turkish Time, the Crescent Symbol, and the Sultan’s Power
How Muslims Count Time
The Muslim day is measured from sunset to sunset, not from midnight to midnight like in Western countries. Each day is...
