Surrounding Old Istanbul, in bits and pieces, stands the Walls of Theodosius and Constantinople. Constructed during the 4th and 5th centuries, these fortresses protected the city, then known as Constantinople from many invaders over the centuries.
Istanbul has been the seat of several impressive empires. The Byzantines, the Eastern Roman Empire, and then the Ottoman Empire each ruled much of the Mediterranean from this place. Each of these great civilizations contributed to the building of walls in Istanbul. And those contributions have been duly repurposed over the centuries.
Here, a public drinking fountain was built into the wall, presumably by the Ottomans at some point during their rule. I found it poignant that today, blankets and pillows lay here on the marble fountain, unattended. Perhaps left here at their nightly resting place by someone down on their luck. Or, perhaps left as a convenience for anyone wishing to have a rest...
Looking up over the fountain, the Wall of Constantinople stands guard over this spot as it has for centuries.
How many souls have had a cool drink here throughout the millennium, I wonder? And how long has it been since water flowed?
At this place - there is more than just pieces of an ancient wall. Here, there are remnants of human history, and reminders of what is important to us regardless of our place in time: Safety. Comfort. And perhaps, a desire to build something for which we will be remembered when we, and all we knew, has perished from this Earth.
Photos taken with iPhone7 Oct. 5, 2021 - Istanbul, Turkey
Cheers!
