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Aug 27, 2004 At present, I am in Istanbul waiting for a flight to the Middle East. I have been here many times before--at least thirty times--but it is a city that never loses its sense of mystery and Eastern promise. First and foremost there are the mosques. They say that there are more than 2100 mosques in Istanbul and I can well believe it. None of them look like they were built in the last hundred years and the two most grandiose of all can be found right in the center of the old city. The magnificent but derivative 'Blue' or 'Sultan Ahmet' Mosque, presents an amazing facade to the weary travel junkie in search of ever more stimulating historical sites. It is situated in a large garden with many enchanting fountains--and opposite is the equally breathtaking 'Aga Sophia' church, built by the Emperor Constantine near the beginning of the Christian era and later turned into a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror, after the fall of Constantinople to the Turks. 'Aya Sofia', as the Turks call it, is a more severe structure than the famous mosque opposite. However, its dome remains the largest in Christendom and it is said that the Turkish architects and engineers learnt much from its construction--particularly in terms of the building of domed structures. For many years now, Aga Sophia has been neither church nor mosque, but one of the most interesting museums in the world. Just a short walk from Aga Sophia, one can find Topkapi where the Turkish Sultan lived with all his entourage of family, concubines, eunuchs and guards. It is a fascinating place-- and most people are curious to view the famous 'Harem' where the Sultan was entertained by his hordes of concubines and protected by the black eunuchs. Interestingly, 'Harem' comes from the Arabic, 'Haram' and means 'forbidden.' In the Sultan's palace you can also see a museum of Holy Relics, including such things as 'the staff of Abraham', the prophet Mohammed's 'beard and tooth' and gates from the Holy Ka'baa in Makkah. Another relic, 'The Hand of John the Baptist', reminds one of Istanbul's rich Christian past. Next to Topkapi is a huge Archaeological Museum filled with all of Turkey's Hellenistic and Roman riches. Alexander the Great cut a great swathe through Turkey before marching into the Persian capital, Persepolis, itself. As he went, he founded lots of Greek cities along the way--and these are in evidence throughout the length and breadth of this most historical of countries. Also not to be missed while in Istanbul are the 'Turkish and Islamic Museum of Art', the underground 'Roman Cistern' famous Byzantine churches and the two most modern marvels of Istanbul--twin suspension bridges over the Bosphorus, linking together the two great continents of Europe and Asia. If finally you get overwhelmed by all the culture, take a trip to Ulus for some high class but expensive shopping. If you allow your mind to drift away for a moment, you might easily make the mistake of thinking yourself back in the heart of Manhattan or Oxford Street! ------------ About the author Jon Aristides: Read, 'The Black Scarab of Amun-Ra'. Visit www.jon-aristides.com Email: aristidesjon2001@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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