Yedikule , which is one of the buildings constructed by
Fatih is 500 meters beyond the corner where the
Byzantine territorial waters join the
Marmara Sea. The 6 km. long city walls surrounding
Istanbul comprise 96 towers and walls between them. The most glorious door of the city walls dating back to 423-439 AD during which
Theodisius reigned is known as the “
Golden Gate”. The armies returning from victorious battles in
Europe and
Balkans entered the city through this door decorated with golden and bronze sculptures. A castle with three towers has been added behind the four towers of the
Porta Aurea (
Golden Gate) by
Fatih Sultan Mehmet which was the most important gate of land walls erected by
Theodisius II. Until the reign of
Murat III, this castle has been a part of the system where the
Ottoman off-palace treasury was kept. The actual fame of this place comes from its use as a prison for political prisoners. After the treasury was moved to the Palace, this place started to be used as a warehouse and a prison where ambassadors were imprisoned. During the
Byzantine period one of the towers was used as prison. There are racks and cells in this tower.
Genç Osman who was the first
Ottoman Sultan dethroned was executed in a tower here where he was kept as prisoner in the year 1622. The utilization of the castle as prison was given an end in the year 1831. After this, this place was used for housing the lions of the
Arslanhane (
house of lions) of
Topkapı Palace. It was restored and turned into museum in the year 1959. The buildings which are also known as
Yedikule dungeons are serving as museum.
