1348: A New Tower With the Same Function

An aerial photograph of Galata Tower

A photograph of Galata Tower in 1854

In 1348, the Genoese, who were in control of Galata at the time, rebuilt Galata Tower to replace the one destroyed in the Sack of Constantinople. The new stone tower was about 66 meters tall, becoming the tallest structure in the city at the time it was built (1). More than a hundred years after the last tower’s destruction, the new tower retained its function as a watchtower and became a part of the city’s communication system (2). Although those who created the tower (the Genoese) were different than those who built the original one, the tower served a similar role as its predecessor. The context of the towers changed, but the two towers were similar regardless. The replacement of the old tower with a new one is commemorative, yet it also creates a memory that blurs the two together. Since the towers were both used as defense mechanisms for the city, distinguishing them as separate towers becomes difficult and unclear. Some may consider the Genoese to be the creators, whereas others may see the Byzantians as the true creators. This generates ambiguity around the tower’s origins, suggesting that even if the tower is an icon of the city, its creation may be remembered differently.