Stairs or Ladders for Access
Communication between the three stories of the tower was likely maintained by wooden stairs or ladders. In the north-eastern wall of chamber C’, which connected the court of the Palace of Blachernae to the second story of tower N, there was originally an archway. This archway has since been filled in, but it once allowed direct access to the highest series of chambers C. When this archway was blocked, people could still pass between the levels through a breach at point h.
Entry Points and Access
It is possible that the same series of chambers was also accessible from the upper gallery in AA, located at the north-eastern end. However, contrary to what one might think, there was no direct access to the upper stories of the chambers from the stairway-turret. The lowest series of chambers might have been accessed from a door at the foot of the stairway, but we cannot confirm this because the lower part of the stairway is buried in earth. However, it seems unlikely that this was the case, given that the stairway-turret was constructed at a later time than the chambers in the adjoining wall The Stairway-Turret and Its Purpose.
Identifying the Towers
Historical Context of the Towers
Now, let’s look at how we can identify Towers N and S, which are thought to correspond with the historical Tower of Isaac Angelus and the Tower of Anemas.
The Tower of Isaac Angelus
According to the historian Nicetas Choniates, the Tower of Isaac Angelus was located at the Palace of Blachernae. It was built by Emperor Isaac Angelus as both a defensive structure and a residence. The tower was designed to buttress and protect the palace. Additionally, it provided a place for the emperor to live Customized Private Turkey Tours.
The tower was built using materials taken from ruined churches and public buildings nearby, which were demolished for this purpose. This gives us an important clue: the Tower of Isaac Angelus must have been one of the three towers that flank the north-western side of the city wall, which also forms part of the enclosure around the Palace of Blachernae. These three towers, as noted, were the structures that defended and supported the palace.
From this information, we can conclude that Tower N is indeed the Tower of Isaac Angelus, as it aligns with the historical description of being built for both defensive and residential purposes for the emperor. However, further exploration and more evidence would be needed to fully verify the identification of Tower S as the Tower of Anemas. The differences in construction styles and the later additions to the towers suggest complex changes over time. Still, the historical records and architectural evidence provide a strong foundation for understanding these key structures in the Palace of Blachernae.
