Earthquake damages Aleppo Citadel, One of World’s Oldest, Largest
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums said on Thursday that Aleppo Citadel had sustained various damages by the Feb. 6 earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria.
The front entrance of the tower, which is the main gate of the citadel, was damaged by the earthquake. There was a drop in the ceiling of the arch holding the entrance, cracks in the entrance’s tiles, and several fallen stones from the entrance archway.
The earthquake caused parts of the Citadel’s north, east, south, and west defense walls to fall, and led to long cracks in the facades of the Ayoubi mosque minaret in the citadel, and the collapse of its spire, according to the Directorate.
Aleppo Citadel, which is in the center of the ancient city, dates back to the Middle Ages and is one of the world’s oldest and largest. It was listed by UNESCO on the World Heritage Sites List in 1986.
In a detailed report that the directorate has posted on its Facebook account, it pointed out that several pillars of the inner upper part of the castle and a part of the southern wall of the Ottoman barrack were collapsed.
In addition, a part of the barrack roof was also damaged by the earthquake.
The entrance of the outer eastern part of Mamluk Tower and the silo of the Ottoman mill were also collapsed.
The eastern grinding room, the roof and the facade of the Mamluk Tower cracked, according to the report.
Regarding to the Throne Hall, the earthquake left cracks in its entrance and caused the collapse of several pillars of the arch next to the entrance of the exhibition hall.