The 2,000-year-old Roman-era Gaziantep Castle was severely damaged by the devastating earthquake that recently hit Turkey and parts of Syria.
About the ‘Gaziantep Castle’ –
- It is located on a hilltop in southern Turkey’s city of Gaziantep.
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- It was first built by the Hittite Empire as an observation point and later built into a main castle by the Roman Empire in the 2nd and 3rd century AD.
- The castle underwent further expansion and renovation under the Byzantine emperor Justinianus (called the “Architect of Castles”) between 527 and 565 AD.
- The Ottomans repaired the castle over time, but it got a second full overhaul by Egyptian Sultan Qaitbay in 1481.
- The castle took its final shape in 2000 and has been renovated many times.
- Features —
-
- The castle has the shape of an irregular circle.
- It has 12 towers that house living quarters for soldiers and various other chambers such as stables, prison cells, storerooms for treasure troves, or barracks for troops.
- The walls are made from stone and span 1200 meters in circumference.
.png)