Byzantine Constantinople, the walls of the city and adjoining historical sitesVan Millingen, Alexander
Philosophy
Byzantine Constantinople, the walls of the city and adjoining historical sites
Van Millingen, Alexander
Istanbul (Turkey); Istanbul (Turkey) -- Antiquities
The lower portion of a tower had evidently little to do directly with
the defence of the city, but served mainly as a store-room or
guard-house. There, soldiers returning home or leaving for the field
were allowed to take up their temporary quarters.[190] The proprietors
of the ground upon which the towers stood were also allowed to use
them,[191] but this permission referred, doubtless, only to the lower
chambers, and that in time of peace.
The upper chamber was entered from the parapet-walk through an arched
gateway, and was well lighted on its three other sides by comparatively
large windows, commanding wide views, and permitting the occupants to
fire freely upon an attacking force. Flights of steps, similar to the
ramps that led to the summit of the wall, conducted to the battlemented
roof of the towers. There, the engines that hurled stones and Greek fire
upon the enemy were placed;[192] and there, sentinels watched the
western horizon, day and night, keeping themselves awake at night by
shouting to one another along the line.[193]
The Inner Terrace.
Ὁ Περίβολος.[194]
The Inner Embankment, or Terrace, between the two walls was 50 to 64
feet broad. It was named the Peribolos, and accommodated the troops
which defended the Outer Wall.
The Outer Wall.
Τὸ ἔξω τεῖχος:[195] τὸ ἔξω κάστρον:[196] τὸ μικρόν τεῖχος.[197]
The Outer Wall is from 2 to 6-½ feet thick, rising some 10 feet above
the present level of the peribolos,[198] and about 27-½ feet above the
present level of the terrace between the Outer Wall and the Moat. Its
lower portion is a solid wall, which retains the embankment of the
peribolos. The upper portion is built, for the most part, in arches,
faced on the outer side with hewn blocks of stone, and is frequently
supported by a series of arches in concrete, and sometimes, even, by two
series of such arches, built against the rear. Besides strengthening the
wall, these supporting arches permitted the construction of a battlement
and parapet-walk on the summit, and, moreover, formed chambers, 8-½ feet
deep, where troops could be quartered, or remain under cover, while
engaging the enemy through the loophole in the western wall of each
chamber.
The towers which flanked this wall[199] were much smaller than those of
the inner line. They are some 30 to 35 feet high, with a projection of
about 16 feet beyond the curtain-wall. They alternate with the great
towers to the rear, thus putting both walls more completely under cover.
It would seem as if the towers of this line were intended to be
alternately square and crescent in shape, so frequently do these forms
succeed one another. That this arrangement was not always maintained is
due, probably, to changes made in the course of repairs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account