|
Snake Column
This column which was transferred from Delphy city to Istanbul by Great
Constantin, is the most ancient of monuments of Hellenistic period… The
bodies of the snakes, which are tied to each other on a monument with a
snake head of 8 meters high and having 29 wrenches, were separated after
a height of 6.5 meters. It is said that on the top of the snakes’ heads
there is a golden vase with three legs. Though various resources tell
different things about this, there is sure to be something here! It used
to be a belief that this column with a shape of three-headed dragon kept
animals like scorpions, bugs and snakes away from the city… Evliya
Çelebi explains how the object on the top lost its power: One of the
heads was broken by a janissary sword. At that moment, the magic of the
column was gone and Istanbul was besieged by animals like snakes, bugs,
and scorpions. According to the rumour, half of its height was buried
underground while Sultanahmet Mosque was being constructed. |
FETHIYE
BODRUM
MARMARIS
ANTALYA