Zilkale
| Zilkale | |
|---|---|
 Ramparts of Zilkale | |
  Location of Zilkale | |
| General information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Location | Fırtına Valley |
| Town or city | Çamlıhemşin, Rize Province |
| Country | Turkey |
| Coordinates | 40°55′42″N 40°57′17″E / 40.92830°N 40.95463°E |
| Elevation | 1,130 m (3,710 ft) |
| Completed | 14th-15th century |
Zilkale is a medieval castle located in the Fırtına Valley (literally: "Stormy Valley"), and is one of the most important historical structures in Çamlıhemşin district of Rize Province in the Black Sea Region of Turkey.[1]
The castle is built at an altitude of 1,130 m (3,710 ft), and sits at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Fırtına Creek (Turkish: Fırtına Deresi approximately 380 m (1,250 ft) below running at an elevation of 750 m (2,460 ft) southeast of it.
It is believed that the castle was built in the 14th-15th century. The castle consists of outer walls, middle walls and inner castle.[2] There are garrison quarters, and a possible chapel and head tower. According to Anthony Bryer, it is an Armenian chapel and built for Empire of Trebizond for local Lord of Hamshenis.[3]
Etymology
Zilkale: Turkish zil for "bell" and (Turkish) kale for "castle".[4]
Alternatively:
Zilkale: Persian zir "lower" and (Turkish) kale for "castle".[5]
Notes
- ^ Özhan Öztürk. Karadeniz. Istanbul. 2005 pp. 1209-10
- ^ It was built on the western skirts of Fırtına Creek, 15 km (9.3 mi) south of the torn center
- ^ Bryer, Anthony; Winfield, David (1985). Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos. Dumbarton Oaks Centre Studies. Vol. 2. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. p. 348. ISBN 978-1597403177.
- ^ BRYER A. & WINFIELD D. (1985), Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos. Dumbarton Oaks Center Studies. 2 vol. Washington.
- ^ Öztürk, Ö. Karadeniz. p. 1210
External links
- All about the region
- Zilkale pics
- HQ Zilkale image
- About Region (in Turkish)
