The Maiden´s Tower in Istanbul and its legends

The Maiden's Tower is a tower located on a small islet at the southern entrance to the Bosphorus Strait, 200 m off the coast of Üsküdar, in Istanbul, Turkey.

It is one of the most important landmarks in Istanbul.

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There are many legends about the construction of the tower and its location. The most popular one is a Turkish legend. An emperor had a beloved daughter, and one day an oracle prophesied that she would be killed by a poisonous snake on her 18th birthday.

In an effort to prevent the early death of her daughter, the Emperor sent her away from the coast to keep her away from snakes. He ordered to build this tower in the middle of the Bosphorus to protect her daughter until her 18th birthday. The princess settled in the tower, where she was frequently visited only by her father.

On the princess's 18th birthday, the emperor brought her a basket of exotic fruits as a gift from her, glad that she had been able to prevent the prophecy. 

However, when taking the basket, an asp that was hiding between the fruit bit the young princess and she died in the arms of her father, just as the oracle had predicted. Hence the name Maiden Tower.

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Another Legend gave the tower a different name the Leandro´s Tower. This legend comes from another story about a maiden, the ancient Greek myth of Hero and Leandro. 

Hero was a priestess of Aphrodite who lived in a tower in Sestos, on the shore of the Hellespont (Dardanelles). Leandro, a young man from Abydos, located on the other side of the strait, fell in love with her and crossed the Hellespont every night to be with her.

Hero lit a lamp each night at the top of the tower to guide him.

Succumbing to Leander's sweet words and the argument that Aphrodite, as the goddess of love, would despise the worship of a virgin, Hero allowed him to make love to her.

This routine lasted throughout the summer, but one stormy winter night the waves tossed Leandro into the sea and the wind blew out Hero's light so that Leandro was lost and drowned. 

Hero jumped from the tower in pain and also died. The name Maiden´s Tower could also have its origin in this ancient story.

Due to the closeness and similarities between the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, Leandro's story was wrongly attributed to the tower.

The interior of the tower has been transformed into a popular cafe and restaurant, with excellent views of the ancient Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman capitals. Private boats make trips to the tower several times a day.