Gaziantep castle

Feb. 15, 2023

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 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.