Galata Tower (old)
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The old Tower of Galata was a tower which stood on the north side of the Golden Horn in Constantinople, in the town called Galata. The tower marked the north end of the great chain, which was stretched across the mouth of the Golden Horn to prevent enemy ships from entering the harbor. The tower contained the machinery for raising and lowering the chain.
The tower was taken by the Crusaders during the First Siege of Constantinople, part of Fourth Crusade, enabling them to enter the harbor and attack the city from the sea, where the walls were easier scaled.
This tower should not be confused with the present-day Galata Tower which is still standing. That tower was built a few centuries later on a different site.
