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Sunday, July 13, 2025

The Ancient Gate and Its Significance

On the summit of the hill stood a marble portico, shining bright white. In front of the entrance, there was a column that once had a statue on top. When Bondelmontius visited the city in 1422, the gate was still standing. It was shown on his map of Constantinople as the “Antiquissima Pulchra Porta” (The Most Ancient Beautiful Gate). The gate remained intact even after the Turkish Conquest and was known as Isa Kapoussi, meaning “The Gate of Jesus”. It stood proudly until 1508, when a great earthquake caused it to collapse.


The Fall of Isa Kapoussi


According to the Turkish historian Solak Zade, Isa Kapoussi, near Avret Bazaar, had been standing for about 1900 years before it fell to the ground in 1508. The historian writes, “Isa Kapoussi… fell and was levelled to the ground after existing for 1900 years.” Despite the destruction, the name of the gate still lingers in the area. A small mosque near Avret Bazaar is called Isa Kapoussi Mesdjidi (The Mosque of Isa Kapoussi), and the street next to it is named Isa Kapoussi Sokaki (Isa Kapoussi Street) Sofia Guided Tours.


The Mosque and Its Connection to the Gate


The mosque, now standing on the site, was originally a Christian church. The name of the mosque and street suggests the church may have had a name that influenced its Turkish title. This is significant because the original Isa Kapoussi gate was near the spot where this mosque stands today.


The Wall of Constantine


It is clear from these facts that the Wall of Constantine, when it crossed the Seventh Hill, passed very close to the Isa Kapoussi Mesdjidi mosque. This matches the previous conclusion about the location of the Exokionion district. The column outside the Ancient Gate was likely the same one that gave its name to the district. A column bearing a statue of the city’s founder, Constantine, would have been perfectly placed in front of this grand entrance.


In summary, the Ancient Gate of Constantine, also known as Isa Kapoussi, played an important role in the history of Constantinople. The gate stood for almost 1900 years before being destroyed by an earthquake in 1508. Today, the name Isa Kapoussi still lives on through the mosque and street nearby, marking the former location of this impressive structure.

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