A 2,000-year-old ancient castle in the Turkish city of Gaziantep was severely damaged as a result of the earthquake that struck parts of Turkey and Syria, at dawn on Monday, and led to severe loss of life and property.
newspaper said The New York Times Parts of the stone walls and iron railings around the castle, parts of which date back to the second and third centuries, according to a Turkish state news agency.
Considered one of the “best examples of surviving castles in Turkey,” according to the Anadolu News Agency, the castle, with its extensive series of underground tunnels that were used to transport water, is included in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites.
The damage to the castle has raised concerns regarding damage to other important sites from antiquity in the area.
Agency said Anatolia news The destruction of some eastern, southern and southeastern parts of the castle, and added that large cracks made other bastions, and parts of the nearby Sirvani Mosque collapsed.
The region, which was badly damaged by earthquakes, was part of many empires, including Hittite, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Ottoman.
Gaziantep Castle was built as a watchtower in Roman times in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
It was expanded in the sixth century during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian.
The towers, gates, and walls around the courtyard serve as the core of the structure. In addition, it contains a bathhouse, a water tank, and a mosque where people can worship.
site says The Greek Reporter The castle became important because of its role as a forum for political, military and cultural discussions.
It also played a vital role during Turkey’s war of independence, according to the site.
