The Windows and Balconies
The north-western wall of the tower had three large round-headed windows. These windows opened to a balcony, which offered a beautiful view of the area around the head of the Golden Horn. The windows were supported by pillars below them. There was another window that opened to a small balcony on the south-western side of the tower. A fifth window faced the Golden Horn and the hills beyond. This apartment was so well-positioned that it could be called the Belvedere of the Palace of Blachernae.
The Lower Story
The lower story of the tower, which could be reached by a short flight of steps descending from the palace court to the vestibule C1, is now filled with earth, making it impossible to explore. However, based on the arched entrance and the large square window in the north-western wall, we can infer that it was a spacious room, offering more privacy than the apartment above it Customized Turkey Tours.
The Dark Rooms Below
There are also dark rooms located below these two stories at different levels of the tower. These rooms were accessible from the stairway-turret on the outside of the tower. The purpose of these rooms is still uncertain. As mentioned earlier, the stairway also led to the country outside the city, adding to the mystery of these lower rooms.
The Case for the Tower of Isaac Angelus
When we consider all of these features of Tower N, we have a strong reason to believe that it is the Tower of Isaac Angelus. The tower’s design, location, and features align with the description of the Tower of Isaac Angelus provided by historical records The Tower of Isaac Angelus.
The Inscription on the Tower L
The inscription in honour of Isaac Angelus found on Tower L presents a different question. It might be correctly placed, suggesting that Tower L was also built by Isaac Angelus, but not the same one mentioned by Nicetas. There is a certain similarity in the Byzantine masonry of both Tower L and Tower N, supporting this idea.
However, if both Tower L and Tower N were constructed by Isaac Angelus, it would be strange for the inscription to be placed on the inferior tower (Tower L) rather than the main residence tower (Tower N). This raises some questions about the placement of the inscription.
One possible explanation is that another inscription honoring Isaac Angelus was originally on Tower N but has since disappeared. Another possibility, supported by Dr. Paspates, is that the inscription was not in its proper place. It might have originally belonged to the counter-fort supporting Tower N and was later transferred to Tower L during repairs.
