How the impregnable walls of Constantinople, which had protected the city for a thousand years, became a gathering place for the homeless
Looking at these poor fragments of once magnificent buildings, through the fence of bare December trees, one wants to ask, "Where is the Great Wall of Constantinople that has protected the city for more than a thousand years?" Unfortunately, that's what she is. In this state, it is now a large part of the city walls that once surrounded the entire city.
The walls of Constantinople were built in the 5th century AD during the heyday of the Byzantine Empire. The Western Roman Empire at that time was torn apart by constant barbarian attacks, while Byzantium, on the contrary, was stronger than ever. Huge walls were built around the entire city of Constantinople, 12 meters high and more than 5 kilometers long.
Every 55 meters a tower was built on the city walls to protect the city from enemy attacks, most of which are now either completely destroyed or in a deplorable state.
Even a thousand years after construction, when the Ottoman Turks occupied Constantinople in the mid-15th century, the walls were a daunting task for stormtroopers. There is now a panoramic museum of the city storm in Istanbul, where the events of 1453 are vividly displayed.
Fragments of the attack on the panorama of Constantinople
As a result of the raid, the Turks managed to break the city walls with the core of a cannon. Now, the place where the Janissaries first broke through the city walls is marked by their sculptures.
Although UNESCO has funded the restoration of the wall, much of it remains semi-abandoned. The walls and cavities in the towers were often used as temporary shelters by the homeless. It is said that the inhabitants of the Great Wall started fires at night, and as darkness came, it became unsafe here.
One of the niches on the wall
The police could not control the entire length of the wall. Non-social elements gathered here are sometimes raided, but they are often released for lack of a criminal record. Well, they sit on the wall drinking different drinks – why not put them in jail for that?
The people across the wall were ready to move into the newly built stone house of 413. Just as the homeless settled along heating pipes and basements, in Istanbul, the ancient walls of Constantinople became their permanent home.
Some niches on the walls are specially closed with railings to prevent uninvited guests from appearing inside. But the latter is clearly a bit awkward: when will you have the opportunity to live in a UNESCO-protected historic building for free?
This is the impregnable wall that protected the second Rome from enemies in a thousand years, turned into a lair of the homeless this evening and an unpopular landmark of Istanbul during the day that only a few tourists can see.
