Othello's Tower (The Citadel)
Famagusta, North Cyprus
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The Citadel Entrance |
Othello's tower was originally built as a moated citadel in order to
protect Famagusta's harbour, and was originally the main entrance to the
town. When the Venetians arrived, they greatly strengthened the town's
defences, incorporating the citadel into the main town walls.
The tower was remodelled by the Venetian Captain Nicolo Foscareno in
1492. Above the main entrance, there is a sculpture of the winged lion
of St Mark, the patron saint of Venice, along with an inscription
crediting Nicoli Foscareno with the renovation.
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Sculpture Above the Entrance |
Take a moment to look at the lion sculpture before you go through the
gate. The front paws are on the land, representing Venice's land power,
while the rear paws are in the sea, representing her maritime empire.
Below the lion, the entrance door is one of the earliest surviving
wooden doors in Cyprus.
The citadel itself, consists of towers with corridors leading to
artillery chambers. In times of war they would have allowed soldiers to
move quickly from one part of the castle to another. In more peaceful
times they would have been used to store things that needed to be kept
cool, safe and secure.
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The Courtyard |
In 1566, however, a visitor noted that the castle was no longer being
used as a residence, but was being used by the Venetians as a
prison. When you are down in the subterranean tunnels, mentally picture
a door closing behind you and consider how you would have coped.
It is rumoured that the Venetian merchants, during the Ottoman siege,
hid their fortunes down here and sealed the tunnels up. As they were not
allowed to take anything with them when they were allowed to leave the
city, these treasures are still supposed to be there.
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Vaulted Hall |
In the courtyard, there are old cannons lying on the ground. One of
them is made of bronze and is over 400 years old. There are some iron
cannon balls lying about, as well as some stone balls that would have
been used in a trebuchet.
To one side of the central courtyard is a large vaulted hall with
magnificent ribs, which are, sadly, gradually being eroded by the sea
air. It dates to around 1300, and was used as a dining room by the
Lusignans. Use your imagination again, and picture the room filled with
long wooden tables filled with food. Look at the tapestries and banners
hanging from the wall. Listen to the musicians playing music for the
French knights and nobles to dance to.
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An Ottoman Cannon |
Steps from the courtyard lead up to the battlements, where you can
get views of the harbour. Across the harbour you can see a clump of
rocks where there was a chain tower. The chain could be lowered across
the harbour entrance in order to protect it.
The courtyard and vaulted hall are still sometimes used for folklore
performances.
The citadel's more common name, "Othello's Tower", originates from
Shakespeare's "Othello". The play refers to "a port in Cyprus", and
"Cyprus, the Citadel". It has also been suggested that the Moor in the
service of Venice could have been named after a Governor of Cyprus,
Cristoforo Moro. Shakespeare's play, however, is not contemporary with
Venetian rule, having been written more than 30 years after the Ottomans
arrived.
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