Greek Side of Istanbul
Istanbul is a perfect place to be visited and explored by the visitors for its history and architecture. The city has not one but a number of historical city structures including palaces, churches, mosques and towers to boast that evidence numerous foreign influences on the soil of this city throughout the history.
According to sufficient historical evidence, the most ancient and the oldest civilization in Istanbul was Greek. Way back in 685 B.C., the inhabitants of Megara, an ancient Greek town, decided to settle in Chalcedon, which is now in Kadikoy district. The main aim behind their settlement in Chalcedon was to make Bosphorus as a medium for trading between the Black Sea and the Greek polities. However, in 667 B.C., the city of Byzantion was found when Greek King Byzas succeeded in his efforts to colonize the European side of the Bosphorus.
Leander’s Tower and the Serpentine Column happen to the two finest examples of the Greek architecture. Considered to be the oldest surviving Greek monument of Istanbul, the Serpentine Column is nearly 2,500 years old. This ancient monument was built in the honor of the victory of the Greeks over their rivals, namely the Persians, at Plataea.
Originally located at Delphi, the monument was moved in 324 B.C. by Constantine the Great to Istanbul for declaration of the new capital, Constantinople, of the newly found Roman Empire. The three serpents which provided support to the golden bowl were approximately eight meter in height. Although, the golden bowl is now lost or probably stolen during the sacking of the city in the Fourth Crusade.
Moving on to the next example glorifying the brilliant Greek architecture is Leander’s Tower also known as Maiden’s Tower. This tower is located in the Bosphorus. The tower was built by an Athenian general in the 408 B.C. in order to stop the ships belonging to the Persians along the Bosphorus shores.
According to yet another story, this tower was built by a sultan to save his daughter from a snake after it was predicted by an oracle. However, as fate would have it, the sultan gifted his daughter a fruit basket on her 18th birthday which had a snake hiding beneath the fruits. One can reach the tower by taking a small boat from the nearest shore and enjoy the food served in the romantic restaurant in this tower.
After the fall of Rome in 476, the glorious Roman Empire was merely reduced to the Byzantine Empire. For being the hub of orthodox Greek Christianity and being Greek in culture, the capital city of Byzantine Empire, namely Constantinople, had a number of churches including the most famous, Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya. Ayasofya was once a largest Christian church in the world.
Under the Byzantine rule, a number of other churches were built. Some of the important among these include the Church of St. Savior in Chora and Pammakaristos Church, now in the Fatih district.
A number of city structures were damaged in 1453 when the capital of the Byzantine Empire was conquered by the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Mehmed II. Mehmed was mainly concerned with re-structuring the defenses of the city and went on to work towards making Istanbul prosperous. So, he ordered all the Greeks and Armenians, Jews as well as Slavs to return to the city to help re-shape the city by using their special skills.
As per a census report of 1477, inhabitants of nearly 9486 houses were Muslims, while other inhabitants including Greeks occupied 3743 houses, Jews 1647 houses, Christians 267 houses and Gypsies lived in 31 houses. So, this indicated that every third house was inhabited by a Greek signifying an important role of Greeks in the economic, social and political life of Istanbul. Thus, the Greek community’s leader went on to become the ecumenical patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church.
The Greek High School for boys had become a popular educational institute for teaching orthodox clergy and Ottoman bureaucracy. Other famous educational institutes include Yoakimyon High School for girls and Marasli Greek Elementary School that exist even now. So, the list of Greek footprints in Istanbul is quite long and seems unending. Take a trip to Fener to discover the Greek connection.
A Guide to Byzantium
Byzantium
The Byzantine Empire that flourished for almost 11 centuries during the 330-1453 AD and included almost entire Europe, the Middle East and several parts of North Africa succeeded over the Roman Empire. Earlier known as Byzantium, the imperial capital called Constantinople that is now known as Istanbul was a powerful city till it was attacked and subsequently ruled by the Turks of the Ottoman period.
Today’s Byzantium- With its exemplary architecture, Byzantium is considered to be a traveler’s delight. Whether you visit the churches in Sofia or the cathedral in Kiev, you will be smitten by the exotic beauty of these places for their exquisite design. The mosaic décor created in the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem by the skilled craftsmen of Byzantine era is unmatched for and hence won a place among the coveted collection in the Cathedral Treasury in Troyes and the National Museum in Belgrade.
The starting point---Istanbul--- The charm of old Constantinople is held intact in the triangular peninsula called Istanbul. That Emperor Constantine built a great number of public buildings in this city to outdo the importance of Rome is a truth.
To visit Istanbul, you can catch a flight of the British Airways or the Turkish Airlines from Heathrow. Moreover, if you are in Stansted or Manchester, you can fly on Turkish Airlines to the imperial city called Istanbul. Starting from Sultanahmet Square, you will come across the Hippodrome, built and expanded further by the Byzantine rulers. Near by is the famous Byzantium Hotel that life in the heart of the old city.
The ancient Emperors’ Palace that once had a complete dominance over the Byzantine city is completely beneath the structure of the modern city. The church of Hagia Sophia is still Istanbul’s wonderful monument belonging to the Byzantine period. Emperor Constantine ordered a basilica built just opposite the Forum because he wanted to make Constantinople a Christian city. Aya Sofya is still the greatest and the most ancient building surpassing Rome’s St. Peter’s. Aya Sofya mosque was modeled on Ravenna’s St. Vitale church.
The Italian city of Ravenna is worth a visit for every tourist. It can be accessed quite easily from a number of cities including East Midlands, Stansted, Edinburgh and Birmingham. Once a famous city of the Roman period, Ravenna was structured by the Byzantines to become a center of artistic excellence in Italy. A large number of monuments in this city have mosaics lending special charm and beauty. Many are considered to be the masterpieces displaying Byzantine art. Some of the masterpieces add décor to the Basilica of St Apollinare in Classe and Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, the St. Vitale Church, the Orthodox Baptistery and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia.
Another place worth visiting is the famous St. Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt constructed by Justinian the Great. The church still has some of the greatest collection of icons which can be seen by any visitor to this place. In the seventh century, Egypt no longer remained a part of the influential Byzantine Empire following the rise of Islam religion. This was a blessing in disguise as many precious ancient pieces of art were saved from possible devastation.
Where did the treasures of Byzantium go? --- In 1204, Constantinople was removed by the Crusaders. The Crusaders also looted its treasure which is now among the collections at European museum.
Bode Museum, the museum on the Museum Island in Berlin, which has been thrown open to the public only recently, is a must visit for every tourist. It has some of the finest collection of icons and carvings brought from the Byzantine court.
Any other place worth visiting? ----That is not all, for the second city of Greece named Thessaloniki is a cool and calm place to visit. The city has many small churches that contain some marvelous mosaics of Ezekiel. Also do visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Green which has collection of art pieces depicting the social life of Thessaloniki.
Although Bristol was not a part of the Byzantine Empire, however, the city does have some industrial buildings with colored bricks and designer archest that are reminiscent of the Byzantine period.