Kizil Kule
Encyclopedia
The Kızıl Kule is a historical tower in the Turkish
city of Alanya
. The building is considered to be the symbol of the city, and is even used on the city's flag. Construction of the building began in the early reign of the Anatolian Seljuq
Sultan Ala ad-Din Kay Qubadh I
and was completed in 1226. The sultan brought the accomplished architect Ebu Ali Reha from Aleppo
, Syria
to Alanya to complete the building. The octagonal red brick tower protects the Tersane (shipyard
) which dates from 1221.
The name derives from the more red color brick he used in its construction. The building itself is 33 m (108 ft) high and 12.5 m (41 ft) wide. It remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture, and is the best preserved Seljuk building in the city. Like many buildings in the city, the Tower flies a Turkish Flag
from its crenelations.
In 1979 the city opened the Ethnographic
Museum of Alanya inside of the tower. Besides providing visitors with a history of the tower and town, the museum gives attention to the heraldry
, in particular the Seljuq double headed eagle that is used on the city flag.
The tower was depicted on the reverse
of the Turkish 250,000 lira banknotes from 1992–2005.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
city of Alanya
Alanya
Alanya , formerly Alaiye, is a beach resort city and a component district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey, from the city of Antalya. On the southern coast of Turkey, the district has an area of 1,598.51 km2 and 248,286 inhabitants...
. The building is considered to be the symbol of the city, and is even used on the city's flag. Construction of the building began in the early reign of the Anatolian Seljuq
Seljuq dynasty
The Seljuq ; were a Turco-Persian Sunni Muslim dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries...
Sultan Ala ad-Din Kay Qubadh I
Kay Qubadh I
Kayqubad I was the Seljuq Sultan of Rûm who reigned from 1220 to 1237. He expanded the borders of the sultanate at the expense of his neighbors, particularly the Mengujek emirate and the Ayyubids, and established a Seljuq presence on the Mediterranean with his acquisition of the port of Kalon...
and was completed in 1226. The sultan brought the accomplished architect Ebu Ali Reha from Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
to Alanya to complete the building. The octagonal red brick tower protects the Tersane (shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
) which dates from 1221.
The name derives from the more red color brick he used in its construction. The building itself is 33 m (108 ft) high and 12.5 m (41 ft) wide. It remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture, and is the best preserved Seljuk building in the city. Like many buildings in the city, the Tower flies a Turkish Flag
Flag of Turkey
The flag of Turkey is a red flag with a white crescent moon and a star in its centre. The flag is called Ayyıldız or Albayrak . The Turkish flag is referred to as Alsancak in the Turkish National Anthem....
from its crenelations.
In 1979 the city opened the Ethnographic
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
Museum of Alanya inside of the tower. Besides providing visitors with a history of the tower and town, the museum gives attention to the heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
, in particular the Seljuq double headed eagle that is used on the city flag.
The tower was depicted on the reverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
of the Turkish 250,000 lira banknotes from 1992–2005.