Crumnus the Bulgarian

The Wall of Leo, the Armenian, to the north of the tower of Anemas, is the ancient Pentapyrgion, so called from its five towers, built in 813 by Leo the Armenian, in view of an apprehended attack by Crumnus the Bulgarian.

The Wall of Heraclius was built in 627 to protect the suburb in the vicinity of Blachernse, which had suffered in the siege of the city by the Avars.

The Fire Towers.—Galata Tower, on a hill just above Galata, and nearly opposite the Stambul Tower, is of Genoese origin, and when first built, under Anastasius Dicorus, was only about half its present height, to which it was raised in 1446 A.D. Under Justinian it was once used as a receptacle for the bodies of those dying of the plague, who were cast into it to save time and trouble in burying the large numbers daily carried off by the pestilence; a proceeding which only increased the ravages committed by the dread scourge. Up to the time of the taking of Con-stantinople by the Turks it was called the Tower of the Cross, from the cross which surmounted it. Massively built, and rising to a height about 150 feet above the hill on which it stands, and commanding, as it does, an extensive bird’s-eye view of the city, the Bosporus, and the Marmora, it is admirably situated to meet the requirements of a look-out and signal station; for which it was originally designed and is still used. The tower was restored, after the destruction of its wooden roof by fire, by Sultan Selim in 1794, and again by Sultan Mahmud II. in 1824; and so solid is its masonry that neither the severe earthquakes in 1894, nor those which preceded them over a century ago, have affected it in the least. The last remaining portion of the old Genoese walls, which in older times surrounded the tower and Galata, have within the last ten years been pulled down to make way for the houses which have been erected on their site.

Admission 5 piastres per head, but a reduction is usually made for a large party. The quartermaster on duty in the signal – room also expects a couple of piastres.

The Stambul Fire Tower, properly called the Seraskerat Tower, is situated on the Seraskerat (War Office) parade-ground, and is one of the two high round towers which are the first objects to attract the attention of strangers approaching Constantinople, and especially those arriving by steamer. This tower was built by the Turks after the style of the more ancient one at Galata, but is less massive and more slender. Like Galata Tower it serves as a look-out and fire-station, and commands a splendid view of Stambul, the Marmora, Bosporus, and Golden Horn. Admission 2 J piastres per head (5d.).