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The History and Mystery behind the Seven Hills of Istanbul

The ancient Constantinople, also known as Nova Rome, is surrounded by the seven hills of Istanbul. Historic Peninsula, which is the center of Istanbul, is the place where seven hills reside. Whenever anyone mentions the ‘city of seven hills’, the name of Istanbul comes to the mind, although, apart from Istanbul, Rome is another city that is famous for being the city of seven hills. Obviously, there is a strong connection between the two cities, namely Istanbul and Rome. While the former is situated along the confluence of the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn, latter is situated on the banks of the river Tiber.

The seven hills have been located within the walls of the ancient city of Istanbul, a triangular shaped city that is also famous for its Topkapi Palace, Haghia Sophia and Seraglio Point. The seven hills can be found within the city’s three corners. The Bayrampasa River, also known as the Lycius, separates the three highest hills of the city. While the two hills are parallel along with the Golden Horn, the third hill lies down towards south. Beginning from Seraglio Point, the central ridge goes westwards along the shores of the Golden Horn.

So, as per the geography of the city, the city comprises a larger number of high ridges that are separated by different valleys than the hills. However, the question that still remains is where actually are the other four hills or where can we find them. And if the hills are not there in the city, then why is the city famous as the ‘city of seven hills’?

The number seven has been and is regarded as a sacred number as per several faiths and religions including paganism, monotheistic religions and even mythology. The fact that the city of Rome, which has been built on seven hills, has the mystical number seven surrounding the city, further emphasized that the ancient Constantinople must be built on seven hills to become sacred like the Old Rome. Thus, the two cities came to be known as the cities of seven hills with seven central points in each of the two cities.

While Rome was found in 753 B.C. by Romulus who bore a mundus through the Palatine Hill, Constantine also bore a mundus in 330 A.D. through the second hill of the city and found New Rome. A basic plan was kept in mind while building the different cities by the Romans. Regarded as the east-west axis of Istanbul, Mese’s starting point is Augusteion Square and goes westward along the ridge that has city’s six focal points.

The six hills were gifted with imperial mosques which gave the city the Ottoman stamp. These mosques, which are on the focal points of the city, are the fundamental features of the city of the Ottoman era. The ancient city of Byzantium was founded on the first hill that begins from Seraglio Point and goes on to cover the whole area that includes Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Sultan Ahmet Mosque.

The second hill that is divided by a deep valley has Grand Bazaar, Column of Constantine and the Nuruosmaniye Mosque. The third hill has Suleymaniye Mosque to the North, the Bayezid II Mosque to the south and Istanbul University. The fourth hill has the Fatih Mosque and the Church of the Holy Apostles. The fifth hill has the Mosque of Sultan Selim while the sixth hill includes the districts of Ayvansaray and Edirnekapi. The seventh hill begins from Aksaray and goes on to include Marmara. It has three summits that produce a triangle at Yedikule, Aksaray and Topkapi.

The image of the city was created by the Ottomans in some great monuments that reflect a unique culture of their own. This creation, however, did not pose any hindrance in the urban structure of the city and preserved its connection with the past. Hence, the seven hills can be found very well in the geography and history of the city as well as in our memory itself.