Gaziantep Castle, which was destroyed by the earthquake in Turkey, 7.2.23 (Photo: Reuters)
The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria yesterday (Monday) severely damaged Gaziantep Castle, a historical site and tourist attraction in southeastern Turkey.
The castle was first built by the Hittites and was used as a guard and observation post, and was later renovated and expanded.
"Some of the bastions in the eastern, southern and southeastern parts of the historic Gaziantep Castle in Şahinbey district were destroyed by the earthquake, and the debris was scattered on the road," Turkish news agency Andulu reported.
"The iron railings around the castle were scattered on the surrounding sidewalks. The retaining wall next to the castle also collapsed. Large cracks were observed in some of the bastions," the report states.
Gaziantep Castle was destroyed, yesterday (photo: official website, Wikipedia)
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The castle took its current form in the 6th century AD
The dome and the eastern wall of the historic Şirvani Mosque, which is located near the castle and whose construction dates back to the 17th century, also partially collapsed.
In the Roman period, in the second and third centuries AD, the castle was expanded and renovated by the Romans, but it received its current form during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinianus (527-565 AD), according to Turkish Museums, the official website of museums and archaeological sites in the country.
The castle was renovated many times during the Ayyubid rule in the 12th and 13th centuries, as well as during the Ottoman Empire, and played an important role during the Turkish War of Independence of the early 20th century.
Recently, the castle served as Gaziantep's panoramic museum of defense and heroism.
The bridge of Gaziantep Castle in the 19th century (photo: official website, Wikipedia)
More than 18 aftershocks have been recorded so far
So far, more than 18 aftershocks with a magnitude of 4 or higher on the Richter scale have been recorded since the initial quake, one of the strongest to hit Turkey in a century.
More than 600 people have been killed across the affected areas of Turkey and Syria.
According to Turkey's Vice President, Fuat Oktay, about 1,700 buildings were damaged in 10 Turkish cities.
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