RUMELIHISAR MUSEUM-YEDIKULEHISAR MUSEUM-ANADOLUHISAR MUSEUM
The establishment purpose of Directorate of Hisarlar Museum in 1968 was to maintain and introduce Rumelihisar museum which was mainly repaired during 1952-1958 and Yedikulehisarı museum which was mainly repaired during 1962-1968 as monument-museum, and also to repair Anadoluhisarı in the same way and take it into service.
Anadoluhisarı
The castle covering seven acre area and giving its name to the location was built by Sultan Beyazid I (Yıldırım) as the front military station of Ottoman in 1395. The building was added “Hisarpençe”, storehouse and some residental buildings by Mehmed II. In 1928 some repair works were done by kandilli Municipality. Some repairs were done by Ministry of Culture in 1991-1993. Today Anadolu Hisarı is within borders of Beykoz Municipality. There are no movable cultural assets in the castle. It has not been opened for visits.
Rumelihisarı
Located within borders of Sarıyer district and gave its name to the location, covering 30.000 m² areas. There is a monument-art built in the narrowest part and flowing (600m) section of the Istanbul Bosphoreus just opposite Anadoluhisarı. Although it is known that the region was called “Hermaion” in ancient ages, historian Dukas does not mention this and indicates the location of the castle hill side of mountain known as Fonea down “Sostenion (İstinye). The names of Rumelihisar are: Kulle-i Cedide in Fatih Charities; Yenice Hisar in Neşri period history; Boğazkesen Castle in Kemalpaşazade, Aşıkpşazade and Nişancı histories. Although Dukas confused about the names and used as Kefalokoptis, no one else except him used this name.
According to two inscriptions in Büyük Zağanos Tower and Küçük Zağanos Pasha Tower, the castle was built in about four month period which is a considerably short period. In the art book called “Şerh-i Tecriiyd-i Ataik” in süleymaniye Library, it is said that the building had been completed in (139) days.
The timbers used in building were from İzmit and Black sea Ereğli; the stones were from various plces of Anatolia and spolis are from destroyed Byzantine buildings located around.
In some histories it has been stated that 1000 masters, 2000 workers and many transporters were employed in building but Architect E.H. Ayverdi states that approximately 300 masters, 700-800 workers and 200 transporters, boats, vehicles etc were employed.
Mortary volume of the building covering 60.000 m² areas is about 57.700 m². Mountain Gate, Dizdar Gate, Hisarpençe Gate and Sel Gate are four main gates and it also has a secondary gate called Mezarlık Gate.
It has Saruca Pasha, Halil Pasha and Zağanos Pasha, three old and junior Zağanas Pasha, one small and four towers in total; 13 castles in various sizes.
It has two water ducts, one is blocked, three fountains two of which are lost. Only one destroyed minarette from the mosque remained until the present time.
The building was considerably damaged from 1509 earthquake but repaired promptly. It is known that it was also repaired during Selim 3 (1789-1807). But essential repair was made by architect Mrs Cahide Tamer, Mrs. Selma Emler and Mrs. Mualla Arhegger-Eyüboğlu upon directive of President Mr. Celal Bayar in 1953.
Open exhibition is made in the museum, but there is no exhibition hall and store house. Artilleries, shot and the chains which were claimed to be used in blocking of Haliç (Golden Horn) are exhibited in the garden.
Rumelihisarı Museum
Open between 09.00-16.30 everyday except Wednesdays.
Yahya Kemal cad. No: 42 80830 Rumelihisarı-Istanbul
Tel: 0-212-2635305
Fax: 0-212-2650410
Yedikule hisarı
Yedikule hisarı or shortly Yedikule, being one of important architectural arts of Istanbul is on the south of city land water and under authority of Directorate of Hisarlar Museum in the same town.
The land part of Hisar was built during reign of Theodosios II (408-450) as the most important entrance of the city walls and also an additional construction was made behind Porta Aurea having an important place in Byzantine history. 4 years after conquer of Istanbul, an inner castle was built by Sultan Mehmet II in 1457-1458. Thus Byzantine and Ottoman Period buildings combined.
The walls of Yedikulehisar are in shape of stars.
There is one door on city side. No building was made adjacent to walls.
There one disdar (castle guard), dizdar assistant, 6 officer and 50 soldiers. There was a disdar’s house and 12 guards’ houses. Even the traces of shelters and store houses not reaching today can be seen at present. Only a minaret of the mescid remained until 1905 located in the centre of the courtyard and fountain in the front can be seen. The mescid had a quarter which was pictured in a picture of the 17th century, and the time of destruction of the quarter is not known either.
There are stone artillery shot, marble column head, column part and baked soil cubic, in total 17 pieces are now exhibited in open exhibition.
Yedikulehisarı Museum
Open between 9.00-16.30 everyday except Wednesdays.
Kule Meydanı No:4 Yedikule-ISTANBUL
Tel: 0-212-5858933
