Showing posts with label obelisk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obelisk. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

ÇEMBERLİTAŞ COLUMN

ÇEMBERLİTAŞ COLUMN

Çemberlitaş, Fatih - Istanbul - Turkey

GPS : 41°00'30.6"N 28°58'16.4"E / 41.008509, 28.971224

 photo constantine_column105.jpg

PHOTOGRAPHS ALBUM

The Column of Constantine (or Burnt Column) (Turkish: Çemberlitaş sütunu, from çemberli 'hooped' and taş 'stone') is a Roman monumental column constructed on the orders of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great in 330 AD. It commemorates the declaration of Byzantium (renamed by Constantine as Nova Roma) as the new capital city of the Roman Empire.

The column is located on Yeniçeriler Caddesi in central Istanbul, along the old Divan Yolu (the 'Road to the Imperial Council') between Sultanahmet and Beyazıt Square (known as Forum Tauri in the Roman period.) The column was dedicated on May 11, 330 AD, with a mix of Christian and pagan ceremonies.

In Constantine's day the column was at the center of the Forum of Constantine (today known as Çemberlitaş Square), an oval forum situated outside the city walls in the vicinity of what may have been the west gate of Antoninia. On its erection, the column was 50 meters tall, constructed of nine cylindrical porphyry blocks surmounted by a statue of Constantine in the figure of Apollo. The orb he carried was said to contain a fragment of the True Cross.

At the foot of the column was a sanctuary which contained relics claimed to be from the crosses of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus Christ at Calvary, the baskets from the loaves and fishes miracle, an alabaster ointment jar belonging to Mary Magdalene and presumably used by her for the washing of the feet of Jesus, the palladium of ancient Rome a wooden statue of Pallas Athena from Troy.

A strong gale in 1106 AD caused the statue and three of the upper cylinders of the column to fall. Some years later, Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos (reigned 1143-1180) placed a cross on top, in the place of the original statue, and added a commemorative inscription that read "Faithful Manuel invigorated this holy work of art which has been damaged by time." Bronze wreaths once covered the joints between the drums, but these were taken by the Latin Crusaders who looted the city during the Fourth Crusade in 1204.

The cross was removed by the Ottoman Turks after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Earthquakes and a fire in 1779 destroyed the neighborhood surrounding the column, leaving it with black scorch marks and earning it the name "Burnt Column". The column was restored by Abdülhamid I, who had the present masonry base added. The base was strengthened in 1779.

The original 4th-century base is about 3 meters (10 feet) below the present surface, so the 35-meter (115-foot) column you see is actually only part of the column's original height. The original platform of the column is 2.5 meters below ground. The Column of Constantine is one of the most important examples of Roman art in Istanbul.

The cross was removed during the Ottoman period but the column was left untouched. Sultan Mustafa II re-enforced the column with iron bands and built the pedestal on which it still stands today. In 1779 a conflagration destroyed this whole neighborhood and left the column with black scorch marks, earning it the nickname "Burnt Column". Sultan Abdülhamit I had the column restored after the fire, and added the present masonry base. The base was strengthened in 1779.

Restoration work has been going on since 1955. Its iron hoops were replaced in the 1970s to keep it upright for a few more centuries (19 and counting). Cracks in the porphyry were filled and the metal brackets renewed in 1972. In 2004 it was shrouded in scaffolding as extensive repairs and restoration were begun, and continued into 2007.

The marble capital dates to the 12th century, and the stone masonry in the lower section to the 18th century. It is believed that a small chamber under the column housed sacred relics of early Christianity. The course of the avenue that passes by the column has not changed since the time of Constantine.

Since 1985, the monuments of the historic peninsula of Istanbul, including the column, have been listed as a World Heritage Site.

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Monday, December 19, 2016

WALLED COLUMN

Sultanahmet Square, Fatih - Istanbul - Turkey

GPS : 41°00'19.6"N 28°58'29.5"E / 41.005436, 28.974865

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PHOTOGRAPHS ALBUM

In the 10th century the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus built another obelisk at the other end of the Hippodrome. It was originally covered with gilded bronze plaques, but they were sacked by Latin troops in the Fourth Crusade. The stone core of this monument also survives, known as the Walled Obelisk.

Located in Sultanahmet Square, the Walled Column (Örme Sütun) was originally built in the 4th and 5th century, fell into ruin, and was repaired by Constantine VII in 944. The Column was built of dressed stone, is 20,68 meters high and rests on a 1,60 meter high pedestal.

Built of roughly cut stones, this imitation obelisk stands at the southern side of the Hippodrome. Its exact date of construction is unknown. It is named after the Emperor Constantine Porphyroenitus who had it repaired in the 10th century.

The 32 m (105 ft)-high obelisk was constructed of roughly cut stones by Constantine VII. Its exact construction date is unknown, but it is named after Constantine VII after he repaired it in the tenth century. At that time, it was reportedly decorated with gilded bronze plaques that portrayed the victories of Basil I who was the grandfather of Constantine VII.

Also there was a sphere at the top of obelisk. However, reportedly these gilded bronze plaques were stolen and melted down by Fourth Crusaders in 1204.
Since young Janissaries liked to use the obelisk to climb and show their prowess, the obelisk suffered further damage to its surface.

At that time, it was reportedly decorated with gilded bronze plaques that portrayed victories of Basil I who was grandfather of Constantine VII. Also there was a sphere at the top of obelisk. However, reportedly these gilded bronze plaques were stolen and melted by Fourth Crusaders in 1204.

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These scripts and photographs are registered under © Copyright 2016, respected writers and photographers from the internet. All Rights Reserved.