Page 39 - Turkey Tour 2018 27th February (compiled)_Classical

Day 8– 28th February 2018 – Istanbul

Transfer to Kayseri airport for a flight to Istanbul (09.20am-10.50 flight). Transfer to hotel for overnight in
Istanbul. Half day Bosphorus Cruise with a joined tour. Dinner at the hotel

For the sailor in you there is the Bosphorus Cruise this morning. The two shores abound in modern villas,
centuries-old palaces, ancient walls and the fantastic skyline of the city rising on each side of the straits. Feel
the warm breezes and transport yourself to a time when you may have come to the shores as a conquering
hero or returned with bounty from victory over a neighbouring empire.

Bosporus

Names (also known as)

The Bosphorus (/ˈbɒsfərəs/ or /ˈbɒspərəs/) or Bosporus (/ˈbɒspərəs/; Ancient Greek: Βόσπορος
[1]
Location/Description
Is a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant
waterway located in north western Turkey.

It forms part of the continental boundary
between Europe and Asia, and separates Asian
Turkey from European Turkey.

The world's narrowest strait used for international navigation,
the Bosphorus connects the Black Sea with the Sea of
Marmara, and, by extension via the Dardanelles,
the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas
Brief history

Most of the shores of the strait are heavily settled, straddled by the
city of Istanbul's metropolitan population of 17 million inhabitants extending inland from both coasts.
Historically, the Bosphorus was also known as the "Strait of Constantinople", or the Thracian Bosphorus, in order to distinguish
it from the Cimmerian Bosporus in Crimea. These are expressed in Herodotus' Histories, 4.83; as Bosporus Thracius, Bosporus
Thraciae , and Βόσπορος Θρᾴκιος, respectively. Other names by which the strait is referenced by Herodotus
include Chalcedonian Bosporus (Bosporus Chalcedoniae, Bosporos tes Khalkedonies, Herodotus 4.87), or Mysian Bosporus
(Bosporus Mysius).
[8]
As part of the only passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, the Bosphorus has always been of great importance
from a commercial and military point of view, and remains strategically important today. It is a major sea access route for
numerous countries, including Russia and Ukraine. Control over it has been an objective of a number of conflicts in modern
history, notably the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78), as well as of the attack of the Allied Powers on the Dardanelles during the
1915 Battle of Gallipoli in the course of World War I.
Ancient Greek, Persian, Roman and Byzantine eras (pre-1453)
The strategic importance of the Bosphorus dates back millennia. The Greek city-state
of Athens in the 5th century BC, which was dependent on grain imports from Scythia,
maintained critical alliances with cities which controlled the straits, such as
the Megarian colony Byzantium.

Persian King Darius I the Great, in an attempt to subdue the Scythian horsemen who
roamed across the north of the Black Sea, crossed through the Bosphorus, then marched
towards the River Danube. His army crossed the Bosphorus over an enormous bridge
made by connecting Achaemenid boats. This bridge essentially connected the farthest
[16]
geographic tip of Asia to Europe, encompassing at least some 1,000 metres of open water
if not more. Years later, a similar boat bridge would be constructed by Xerxes I on
[17]
the Dardanelles (Hellespont) strait, during his invasion of Greece.
The Byzantines called the Bosphorus "Stenon" and most important toponyms of it Bosporios Akra, Argyropolis, St. Mamas, St.
Phokas, Hestiai or Michaelion, Phoneus, Anaplous or Sosthenion in European side and Hieron tower, Eirenaion, Anthemiou,
Sophianai, Bithynian Chryspolis in Asian side in this era
[18]