Topkapi Palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860), a period of nearly four centuries. The order for the construction of the Topkapi Palace on the Seraglio Point overlooking both Marmara and Bosphorus was given by Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinapolis in 1453. The place was then an ancient olive grove. The final form of the first palace covered an area 700m², and was enclosed with fortified walls 1400 meters in length. The walls were pierced by a number of gates, namely the Otluk gate, the Demir gate and the Imperial gate (Bab-i Humayun), and a number of minor angled gates between them. After the reign of Mehmed II the Conqueror, the palace grew steadily to form a city like complex of buildings and annexes, including a shore palace known as the Topkapi shore palace, as it was situated near the cannon gate -Topkapi- of the ancient walls of Istanbul. When the shore palace was burned down in 1863, it lent its name to the great complex we now know as Topkapi Palace. The main portal, the Bab-i Humayun, was suited next to the mosque of Ayasofya (Haghia Sophia Church), and this led a series of four courts surrounded by various structures. The courts, chambers, pavilions and other sections can be viewed at the floor plan of Topkapi Palace.
Acknowledgement: Bilkent University Department of History provides a history of this grandiose Ottoman palace and guide to its architectural development.
Some of the attractions you can see in the basement of the Palace
Petrified Medusa
The Medusa Story written above and this Medusa stone head in the base of one of the many columns that support the palace basement, are just one of the wonders you can encounter within.
Visitors and even Scientists today were wondering why this Medusa stone head is placed sideways while the other is head up.
Water drippings accumulate on the floorings of the basement created a shallow pool that some tourists mistaken into somekind of a wishing well. Well, this could be an added income for this spot as they can collect coins that can be converted into a subtantial amount of cash.
Count mine! I threw in some coins too! Hehe! Next time you visit this place, toss some coins in too, just for fun!
Watch this video for more infotainment!
open this YouTube hyperlink
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