Arcadia, Greece
717 AD
Mount Athos, Greece
11th century
Kefalonia, Greece
17th century
Rodos, Greece
19th century
Mount Athos, Greece
c. 1357
Mount Athos, Greece
11th century
Achaea, Greece
532 AD
Agios Isidoros, Greece
9th century AD
Messinia, Greece
c. 1200
Mount Athos, Greece
10th century
Heraklion, Greece
7th century AD
Arcadia, Greece
16th century
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.