The history of Istanbul is full not only of its magnificent buildings but also of its mysterious and protective talismanic columns. These columns were made by masters to protect against natural disasters and troubles that have been heading to the city for centuries. Behind each of them lies a story, a belief and a power of protection. From Sultanahmet to Saraçhane, all around Istanbul, these talismanic columns bear the traces of the past and present an intriguing heritage.
Evliya ÇelebiAccording to what is told in Seyahatname, written by ‘s Travelogue in the 17th century, it was built by masters, architects, engineers, scholars and masters dealing with interesting sciences who were brought from seven climates to protect Istanbul from various troubles and natural disasters. twenty-seven talismans in twenty-seven places done. Among these, transferred over centuries Some of the 17 talismans are:
First Talisman: Arcades Column
Arcades Column or Avrat Stone, It is the victory column erected by Emperor Arkadyos in the 5th century of the Roman Empire, after the Goth rebellion was suppressed by the Hun Khan and the rebel Gaines was defeated and his head was sent to Istanbul. The column was placed in the center of the Arkadyos Forum, near today’s Cerrahpaşa and Haseki districts; This is the area next to Haseki Hürrem Mosque. This column, made of a thousand pieces of white marble, resembles a hollow minaret.
It is decorated with soldier motifs on all sides and there is a statue with a fairy face on top. According to the rumor, This statue cries once a year and turns all the birds around it, then they land on the ground. According to rumor, the Greek people there used to hunt these birds. Hz. The column collapsed in the earthquake during the birth of Muhammad (pbuh), but some parts of it remained standing because it was talismanic.
Second Talisman: Çemberlitaş
by the EuropeansBurnt Mast” known as Çemberlitaşwas brought from Rome by Constantine. In Tavukpazarı, today on Divanyolu Atikali Pasha MosqueIt is a round column made of solid red marble located in front of . At first there was a statue of Apollo on it, but later Yulyanus and Theodosius placed their own statues. Over time, it suffered great damage from both lightning and fire.
Third Talisman: Markianos Column (Kizstone)
Alderstone or Column of MarkianosIt is a monumental column erected in Constantinople in 455 in memory of the Eastern Roman Emperor Markianos. The Column of Markianos, built in 455 during the Eastern Roman period, is located in a small square called Kıztaşı in the Fatih district today.
After the Conquest of Istanbul, it was among the first Turkish neighborhoods to be called “Kıztaşı Neighborhood”. This monument, which was hidden in a garden of the Janissary chambers in Saraçhanebaşı for a long time, was unearthed again during the arrangement works carried out after the Çırçır Fire (1908), which greatly affected the region.
According to legend, it is located on the grave of the daughter of Pozantin the Great. This talismanic column, protects the girl’s grave from ants and snakes. According to another belief, the column is the statue of Marsian, who ruled the city between 451 and 457. According to rumor, this stone informs those who cannot protect the virginity of the girls passing around it. In fact, the statue was broken at that time because it exposed the sister-in-law of Justin II.
Fourth Talisman: Sixmarble
Six-merged Column or Six-merged Columnr was located in Kocamustafapaşa today. On six marble columns, each built by a different scholar, Symbols such as Fly, Stork, Rooster, Wolf was found. This Each of the symbols represents different meanings and represents six talismans.. The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth talismans you will read below are the symbols and their explanations in these six marbles. Unfortunately, these columns have not survived.
Fifth Charm: Pillar of Flies
Among Istanbul’s historical columns full of secrets, one stood out in particular: Fly Column. On one of the six columns, There was a marble with a constantly buzzing fly motif. This talisman was believed to protect Istanbul from mosquitoes. The collapse of this column was shown to be the cause of the fly infestation that surrounded the city at that time.
Evliya Çelebi mentions two fly columns in his Seyahatname:
“Fourth Talisman: In the place called Altimarmer, there are six tall columns, each of which was built by old wise masters. One of these was built by Filikos Hakim, the owner of Kavala Castle. There was a bronze image of a housefly on top of that column. That fly would always make a sound like a wasp and no fly would be seen in Istanbul.”
“Fifth instructive talisman: Again, in one of the Altinmarbles, there was a picture of a Divine Lilac mosquito. Thanks to this talisman, it was impossible for mosquitoes to enter Istanbul. The effect of that talisman still continues…”
The Sixth Talisman: Picture of a Stork in Altimermer
In this column made by Bokrat, there is a stork symbol has. It makes noise under the influence of the wind and is believed to kill all the storks in Istanbul.
The Seventh Talisman: Picture of a Rooster in Altimermer
In this column is a piece belonging to Socrates. rooster picture There was. He would crow every 24 hours every day and guide all the roosters. According to belief The roosters of Istanbul would crow before the roosters of other cities and wake up the sleeping people to prayer.
The Eighth Talisman: Picture of a Wolf in Altimermer
A picture of a wolf in this column, That Istanbul protects its sheep credible. Thanks to this talisman, the sheep of Istanbul wandered without a shepherd and were safe from wolf attacks.
Ninth Talisman: Column of the Young Couple in Altımermer
On this column, lovers embracing each other are depicted. When a couple had a fight and then embraced this pillar, they would immediately make up.
Tenth Talisman: in Altımermer Old Couple Column
Unlike other talismans, this column had the picture of an old, wrinkled and aging couple. According to belief, when you hug this talismanic pillar, you will part ways with your loved one. Column, It is also a preferred method to end a bad relationship. It was known as.
Eleventh Talisman: Pillar of Plague
According to Evliya Çelebi, this column was located on the site of the Sultan Bayezid Bath. Allegedly, thanks to the pillar’s talisman Istanbul was completely protected from plague and as long as the pillar stood, the city would not be plagued. However, Sultan II. When Bayezid had this column demolished to build a bath, one of his sons died of plague and after this incident, Istanbul faced a plague epidemic.
Twelfth Talisman: Sparkling Pillar
There is a bronze statue on this column, which was built by a ruler named Mihalaki in the Tekfur Palace. demon symbol was located. According to legend, this demon spewed fire once a year, and the person who caught a spark from this fire would remain healthy and young for the rest of his life.
Thirteenth Talisman: Cave of Koncoloz
Today, in Fatih, Zeyrek. It is a cave believed to be located near St. John’s Church. On the dead nights of winter, witches called “concoloz” would appear and ride in cars. In the morning, they would all retreat to this cave and disappear.
In his Travelogue, Evliya Çelebi also mentions a cistern located right next to the church:
“Even a large church of Constantine is located in Istanbul, on a high hill called Zeyrekbaşı. It is a 360-domed monastery built in the name of Yahya. He built a cistern adjacent to this place, poured forty fountains into it, and built a madrasa and Bible house in its place. They still call it Piri Pasha Madrasa from Aba, near Zeyrekbaşı. The mentioned water cellar cistern is called Cold Water. It is built on seven hundred high poles and has fresh water like a lake. In July, Unkapanı sailors and other souls quench their thirst from there.”
The Fourteenth Talisman: Four Angel Pillars in Hagia Sophia
This mysterious talisman, It was a four-columned monument located inside Hagia Sophia. on each column Reliefs of Gabriel, Azrael, Michael and Israfil and each represented a different talisman. According to belief, with the flapping of Gabriel’s wings, there will be abundance and abundance in the East; With the flapping of Israfil’s wings, famine would begin in the West. While Michael’s flapping of his wings indicated that a hero would emerge from the north, Azrael’s flapping of his wings would cause a plague epidemic to begin all over the world.
Evliya Çelebi says the following in his Seyahatname:
“The poles that are still remembered can be seen in four marble columns near the Çukurçeşmesi of Hagia Sophia.” Çukurçeşme in Hagia Sophia was resurfaced near the entrance of Hagia Sophia during the renovation works in 2012.
Fifteenth Talisman: Knitted Column
This column, located today in Atmeydani in Sultanahmet, was built by Constantine the Seventh Porfirogenet, who reigned between 911-959. 300 precious stones used in its construction were brought from different cities and A magnet was placed on the column, which was believed to protect the city against earthquakes. It is known that the grave of the architect who built the column is the son of the architect who built Hagia Sophia.
Sixteenth Talisman: Obelisk
This monolithic and four-cornered column, built by a great master during the reign of Manyan’s son Yanko, is located in Atmeydanı in Sultanahmet. obelisk The Theodos column, known as B.C. It is half of a stone erected in Heliopolis (City of the Sun) in Egypt in 1600. Emperor Yulianus ordered this stone to be brought to Byzantium. After his death, the stone remained in Egypt on the Mediterranean coast for about thirty years and was later brought and erected by Theodos I in 390.
Seventeenth Talisman: Burmese/Serpent Column
Serpent ColumnIt is made of bronze and is approximately 50 meters long. It is designed as three snakes embracing each other. B.C. It was erected in front of the Delphic temple to celebrate the Platea victory won by the Greeks Pavzanyas and Aristidis over the Iranians in 478. Constantine brought this ornament to Byzantium as a trophy. The names of the 32 Greek cities that participated in the war are written on the first thirteen bends of the column.
“In Istanbul, the seventeenth talisman refers to a twisted pole. This pole represents the three-headed dragon figure. One of his heads was broken with a single blow by a Janissary hero. It is said that after this incident, its charm was partially broken and animals such as snakes, centipedes and scorpions entered Istanbul.”
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