An Ottoman Period Addition to Attaleia Castle: Antalya Clock Tower

Attaleia Kalesi’nde Bir Osmanlı Dönemi Eki: Antalya Saat Kulesi

Abstract

The defense system of the city of Attaleia, whose first construction dates back to the Hellenistic period, consists of outer walls, curtain walls, inner walls and the gates and bastions on them. Maps, engravings, and drawings have been made regarding the city, which many travelers and researchers have visited throughout history. However, Antalya castle retains an air of mystery, because definitive knowledge regarding its original character hasn’t been established. Attaleia Castle has undergone many modifications throughout its history from the 2nd century AD to the present day as a result of natural disasters, sieges, repair works, demolitions, and additions. Although the walls surrounding the city remained largely intact until the early 20th century, it is known that demolitions began in 1914, starting in the vicinity of the Government House. The castle gate, walls, and bastions located in the vicinity of the bastion, which had Antalya clock tower added to it during the Ottoman period, were destroyed in earlier times and have not survived to the present day. This situation has caused the bastion, originally part of the fortification system and later converted into a clock tower, to largely lose its physical and visual connection with the other elements of the castle. This study presents the results of the research regarding the Antalya Clock Tower built during the Ottoman period on one of the few remaining bastions of the multi-layered heritage of the Attaleia castle, this important defence system has survived to the present day