KIZ KULESI

Kız Kulesi is one of Istanbul and Turkey's most iconic pieces of architecture, known as Maiden's Tower, Tower of Leandros, or Bosphorus Tower. The Tower is on a small natural islet in the Bosphorus, which creates a beautiful sight and an exciting story.

What is the history of Kız Kulesi?

Let's have a look at the history of this fantastic place before telling the story. During the 5th century, the first Tower here was designed by an Athenian commander to monitor ships passing through the Bosphorus and collect their taxes. When the Ottomans took over, it began to be used as a lighthouse. 

View of Maiden's Tower from Salacak, Üsküdar

Leander’s Tower

The Tower has several myths and legends related to it. The two most famous stories are about love. 

According to the first myth, the Leander's Tower legend tells of two star-crossed lovers, a priestess of Aphrodite called Hero, and a young man named Leander. They fell in love. Every night, Leander would swim from the mainland to the island to see Hero. Hero would light a fire at the Tower's top to help him arrive at the island safely. 

Despite the strong wind, one stormy night, Leander decided to swim again. The waves he saw crashing on the beach could end their love. It was a crazy decision, but there was no other choice, so he swam. The wind blew out Hero's light. Leander was stranded in the middle of the sea. 

A lover’s hopeful trip turns into a terrifying test of survival. After a while, Leander became completely lost. High waves raised and dropped his body, sending Leander crashing through the water. 

"Leander, Leander!" Hero yelled and cried into the dark night. "If you are not coming to get me, I am coming!" said Hero. "I am coming!" Leander shouted back. Shortly after that, sounds died, and Leander drowned. The wind continued to rage, driving Leander farther out to sea. After hours, when Leander's body reached the Tower, Hero decided she couldn't live without him and took her own life to be with Leander.

The Maiden’s Tower

Another myth speaks of a Byzantine princess, who an oracle prophesized would be bitten by a snake and die before turning 18. The Emperor (her doting father), frightened, sent her to the Tower to shield her until she turned 18. Her father visited her to celebrate this birthday, bringing a basket of fruit. But, unknown to him, a serpent lay hidden inside and bit her, causing the tragic prophecy to come true.

Credit: Getty Images

The tower became something of a star internationally, with many film and television roles in the last years. Kız Kulesi was most famously starred in the 1999 Bond film, ‘The World is Not Enough.’

How can I go to the island?

You can take a boat from either Kabataş or Salacak (on the road between Uskudar and Harem). It takes 10 minutes from Kabataş and less than a minute from Üsküdar. Make sure to check the time schedule of the boat service in advance. 

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Serif Aydin

Serif Aydin is a student at Algonquin College. He is an editor-in-chief of a Turkish literary magazine and an activist.

twitter: @serifcanada

Instagram: @serifcanada

THE BURNING MOUNTAIN – CHIMAERA

“…indeed burned with a flame that does not die by day or night. “

Pliny

FIRE, WATER AND MYTHOLOGY NEAR ANTALYA/TURKEY

The Chimaera is a bunch of small flames burning naturally on the rocky slopes of Mt Olympos, known as Yanartaş, or 'Burning Rock' in Turkish. Certainly, a flame that does not die by day or night is burned.

 What's the name?

chimera-bellerophon

Well, this depends on who you're wondering! The name comes from a village in Greece. Of course, being Greek, they used the Greek alphabet and pronounced it ελλμππις. Typically, English speakers spell it as Olympos, but the Turks spell it as Olimpos. As commonly seen in the English text, this is like the spelling discrepancy between Istanbul and İstanbul, as it's actually spelled. Or Cappadocia versus Kapadokya.

It's very easy to see why ancient people attributed these extraordinary flames to the breath of a beast that terrorized Lycia, part lion, part goat and part snake. 

By riding the winged horse Pegasus and pouring molten lead into the monster's mouth, the legendary hero Bellerophon allegedly destroyed the Chimaera.

Prometheus' Crime

According to Mark Cartwright, “Feeling sorry for man’s weak and naked state, Prometheus raided the workshop of Hephaistos and Athena on Mt. Olympus and stole fire, and by hiding it in a hollow fennel-stalk, he gave the valuable gift to man which would help him in life’s struggle. The Titan also taught man how to use their gift and so the skill of metalwork began; he also came to be associated with science and culture.

“PROMETHEUS RAIDED THE WORKSHOP OF HEPHAISTOS AND ATHENA ON MT. OLYMPUS AND STOLE FIRE; HE THEN GAVE THE VALUABLE GIFT TO MANKIND.”

In a slightly different version of the story, mankind already had a fire, and when Prometheus tried to trick Zeus into eating bones and fat instead of the best meat during a meal at Mt. Olympus, Zeus, in anger, took away fire so that man would have to eat his meat raw. Prometheus then stole the fire as in the alternative version. This also explained why, in animal sacrifices, the Greeks always dedicated the bones and fat to the gods and ate the meat themselves.” (Cartwright, 2013)

Today?

cirali-yanartas

Gas still seeps from the earth today and, upon contact with the air, explodes into flames. The exact composition of the gas is uncertain, but methane is assumed to contain it. Even by covering it, a flame may be extinguished; it will reignite into a new and different flame close by. The 20 or 30 flames in the main area are evident at sea at night.

Adventure?

If you like adventure tour, visit southeast of Turkey and visit Ancient Olympos and the Chimaera, especially after dinner is an amazing time to visit; follow the Chimaera signs for 3.5 km from Çıralı on the main road along the hillside before you enter a valley and walk up to a parking lot. It's a further 20- to 30-minute climb up a stepped path to the site from there; carry a torch (flashlight) or rent one From Olympos, most camps arrange transportation after dinner every night. (Cromwell, 2016)

At Cirali, marshmallows can be purchased and then roasted over the flames.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

You will probably need some information to minimize the wasting time in order to enjoy your trip.

• Get to Antalya by bus.

• Ask for the minibus to the Antalya Otogar (Bus station), Olympos. 

• Every 30 to 60 minutes, they depart, and it takes about 90 minutes. Allow enough time before dark to reach Olympos. 

• The minibus will drop you off at a tea-house on the roadside. Well, a tea-tent actually. 

• Get some tea or something else to drink at the tea house and wait for a shuttle van from the valley if you arrive early enough. 

• If you arrive too late and the shuttle van is no longer running, then you can hire someone at the tea-house to drive you down to the valley when enough people gather. 

• Do not attempt to walk out of the tea-house! It's a couple of miles down a steep and winding path.

Source:

Cromwell-int, Turkey, 2016, retrieved from https://cromwell-intl.com/travel/turkey/olimpos/

Cartwright, Mark, Prometheus, 2013, retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Prometheus/

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Serif Aydin

Serif Aydin is a student at Algonquin College. He is an editor-in-chief of a Turkish literary magazine and an activist.

twitter: @serifcanada

Instagram: @serifcanada