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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Yoros Kalesi |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Fortification |
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Plan Type:
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Year of Costruction:
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Second half of 13th c. |
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Phase:
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Late |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Altitude:
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110 |
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Region:
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Marmara |
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Province:
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Istanbul |
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District:
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Beykoz |
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Village:
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Anadolu Kavagi |
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Antique Name:
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| Location: It is situated on a hill overlooking the Bosphorus on the slopes of Anadolu Kavagi in the Beykoz District of Istanbul. |
| Geography and Environment: The Yoros Fortress was the most significant Byzantine fortification on the Anatolian Side of Istanbul at the Black Sea entrance of the Bosphorus Strait. The southwest and west of the fortress consist of military zones. Touristic facilities were built around the fortress. |
| Research and Excavation: It was referred and drawn by many travelers. A painter called Laurens, who accompanied Xavier Hommaire de Hell during his visit in 1847 drew an engraving of the gate with two towers [Eyice 1976, pic. 100]. The first architectural evaluation of the castle was published by S. Toy in 1930 [Toy 1930:226-228, pics. 73-76]. and, V. Mirmiroglu published a brief introduction related with the castle in 1948 [Mırmıroğlu 1948:13-14]. |
| Description: Building Phases: It should have been built around the second half of the 13th century. It was occupied by the Genoese after 1348, therefore it was named after them (the Genoese Fortress). Through the end of the same century, it was taken by the Ottomans, and used for a long period of time after repairworks [Eyice 1976:72]. Architectural Features: Built on a slope inclining towards the sea, the fortress stretches ca. 500 m in the east-west direction. The width of the fortress ranges from 60 to 130 m. The part facing the Bosphorus covers two lower hills. The eastern end pierced by an entrance gate forms a citadel as it was divided by an interior wall. The gate of the fortress faces east, built between the two high cylindrical bastions with a height of 20 m. Opening into the citadel which was fortified by sturdy bastions towards the sea to the west, the gate was, later on, walled up. It was fortified by a sturdy casemate wall from the south. In terms of masonry, three different techniques are observed. Four courses of stones alternate with six courses of bricks on the upper walls and the two bastions to the east [Eyice 1976:83-89, pics. 88-97, 100-131]. The fortress is accessed through the southeast direction. The citadel is surrounded with walls on all four directions and the main entrance was closed by laying bricks inside the gate. There are large towers on the south and north sides of this large gate which were covered with dome shaped vaults. Both are filled with garbage and debris [TAYEx 13.04.2008]. The masonry also consists of many reused dressed stones, some dating back to the 6th century. Some walls bear various logos and monograms in various sections [Eyice 1976:78-83, pics. 98-99]. During the 2010 excavations, rows of pipe drain with two parts were exposed under the floor; probably dating to Byzantine Period; on the area where the south wall ends. These pipe drains begin from the room with a thick floor, which was added (probably in the late period) to the front entrance on the west of the south tower and then continue by making elbow turn to the well on the northwest of the citadel. Therefore, it has been suggested that these pipe drains could have formed a strength line [Yalçin 2012:100]. During the 2012 studies, a stone-paved road apparently continued towards the arched gate to the east of the fortress was partially unearthed. It is estimated that the road belonging to the Byzantine Period was used in the Ottoman Period as well [Yalçin 2014:372]. Decorative Features: Some of the walls have some coat of arms and monograms as well as some brick decorations specific to the Palaiologan Period. |
| Finds: An architrave was found at the eastern entrance of the fortress, and numerous Late Byzantine-Early Ottoman pottery sherds were found [Yalçin 2013:327; Yalçin 2014:374]. |
| Interpretation: |
| Destruction: The north tower is accessible through the west side. The arch with the pointed arch and its fascia were demolished in the east of the tower. The south and southwest walls were demolished between 2004-2005 during restaurant construction and wall remains are still observed alongside the restaurants in east-west direction. The northwest walls of the fortress were demolished in 2006. Fragments were fallen on the north façade of the tower with cross during the 1999 earthquake. The flag pole built adjacent the north walls caused destruction [TAYEx 13.04.2008]. |
