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HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL AREAS / 206
the Ruler God of the Hittities and
then the Mauseloum of the Aramean
god, Haddad, and also other
remains of other mauseloums
had been found. Together with the
discovery of the Acropolis these
findings suggest that the citadel
has survived since around 2000
B.C. On the other hand it is
known that the restoration of the
old remains that reached today
has been firstly undertaken by the
Ayyubids and after them by the
Memluks.
The past of the Aleppo Citadel lies
within the depths of the history.
Although the researchers
can not give a certain date when
the Citadel had been started to
use as a fortress, or a residence
area it can be understood from
the historical records that the Citadel
existed before the conquest
of Aleppo by the Muslims, surro-
unded by the Arabs in 636 and
conquested that year.
The first person amongs the Muslims
who ordered the conquest of
Aloppo Citadel and also restoration
and the preservation of the Citadel
was Amir of Hamadan, Sayf
al-Dawla. Due to the war between
Byzantine the city walls of Aleppo
was built and the Citadel was
started to serve as fortress. Thus
the Citadel become a “permanent
fortress” fort he rulers of the city
and the attention paid to the Cita-
del continued afterwards. For instance,
Sultan Nur al-Din Zengi
ordered the construction of many
building within the Citadel. However
the complexity of the Citadel
that has been left today the work
of al-Zahir al-Ghazi, son of Saladin
Ayyubid whom left many important
military work behind him.
These are the towers that were
built for the defence of the citadel
of some were single some were
double. Some of them are also
connected to the walls surrounding
the Citadel.
There are five main halls within
the Citadel. The most important
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL AREAS / 207
amongst them is the Hall of El-
Arsh which has been built during
the time of Kay›tbay. Additionally,
a hammam with ten rooms
which the last one is a dressing
room, a small temple, the great
mosque and Ibrahim Pahsa Quarter
had been built.
Certain archeological and scientific
researches are beeing carried
on in the Citadel where the ruins
of Hittite Temple, Roman Cistern
and Ayyubi Castle can be seen.
Gates and Walls of the
Old City
The geographical and strategically
location of the Aleppo made
the city an important place since
very long time. In many eras especially
after the Arabian Islamic
conquest and particularly after
Sultan Nur al-Din Zenghi period
many city walls and towers were
built. The 128 tower of the city
was collapsed during the battles
and attacks against the city after
this period.
Aleppo is also famous with its Gates
as well as its walls and towers.
However most of them were
collapsed and today there are only
fourteen of them left which as named
as: Gate of Qinnasrin, Gate
of Antakya, Iron Gate, Gate of
Victory, Gate of Saghir, Gate of
Deliverance, Iraq Gate, Gate of
Red, Gate of Shrine, Gate of Garden,
Gate of Hadid, Gate of Nasr,
Gate of Ahmar, Gate of Maqam,
and Gate of Jnein.
Also, the common design principle
between the Gates that consists of
peep-holes, preparation room, armoury
and restrooms for soldiers
is defence likewise the towers.
Bab Al-Maqam which was ruined
in 1930 was one of the most important
Gates of the city.
Bab Qinnasrin, which is considered
as the most beautiful gate of
Aleppo and also can be regarded
as a fortress only by itself is restored
in 1415 by Shaik Melik
Müeyyed.
The Gate Bab Antakya is considered
as the Gate where the people
of Aleppo welcomed the Ubeyde