Golden Gate of Constantinople

Golden Gate as seen from inside the Yedikule Fortress
Inside Wall

The Golden Gate of the land walls of Constantinople (Istanbul). Built by Theodosius some time between 388 and 391, initially as a Triumphal Arch, it stood all alone out on the Via Egnatia. It was eventually incorporated into the Theodosian land walls by Theodosius II. It had been walled off long before the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453.

After the fall Mehmet II had a fort built behind it in 1458, the Yedikule Fortress. It was used over the years as a archive, treasury and prison.

During my trip and tour of the land walls I experienced several snowstorms in one day capping off some of the worst winter weather for Istanbul in 33 years. Notice that I arrived at the fortress and took some pictures in the sun. By the time I got to the top of the gate it was close to being a whiteout. I couldn't get to the outside of the gates. They were closed off. I had to hop a fence just to see the outside wall gate.

I included an older picture so you could see what the gate looked like at the beginning of the 20th century.

Outside wall entrance to the Golden Gate

Golden Gate inside the Yedikule Fortress, Inside wall

On top of the Golden Gate during a snowstorm, overlooking what was once the Thracian Plains

At the beginning of the 20th century, outside the wall