Ancient Gaziantep Castle damaged by earthquakes in Turkey

An ancient castle successful Turkey was 1 of nan historical monuments damaged erstwhile major earthquakes hit nan state and neighboring Syria, sidesplitting much than 2,000 group connected Monday. Images show parts of the Gaziantep Castle, which was first built successful nan 2nd and 3rd hundreds of years AD, during nan Roman Empire, crumbling aft nan earthquake.

The 2,000-year-old castle is located successful nan Gaziantep region, astir 80 miles southbound of nan epicenter of 1 of nan quakes successful Kahramanmaras Province, according to nan Reuters news agency. 

The first earthquake was a immense 7.8-magnitude temblor that caused devastation crossed a wide region spanning southeast Turkey and bluish Syria. Its quake and its aftershocks were felt arsenic acold distant arsenic Cairo, Cyprus, Lebanon, and moreover successful Greenland and Denmark. 

The 2nd earthquake, which registered 7.6 connected nan Richter standard according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), struck nan aforesaid region soon after. The epicenter of nan 2nd earthquake was nan Elbistan region of Kahramanmaras Province, Reuters said. 

A position of damaged humanities Gaziantep Castle aft an earthquake deed confederate provinces of Turkiye, successful Gaziantep, Turkiye connected February 6, 2023.  Mehmet Akif Parlak/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The castle, an archeological site, sits adjacent nan Gaziantep Archeology Museum, which includes useful of nan Late Hittite and Roman Periods during which nan castle was built.  

While location is nary definitive accusation astir erstwhile nan castle was fist built, it was founded connected apical of an earthen mound that dates backmost immoderate 6,000 years, to erstwhile an ancient metropolis called Theban occupied nan space. 

It is believed to person been constructed arsenic a watchtower during nan Roman play between, nan 2nd and 4th hundreds of years AD. However, it was built up moreover much during nan 5th period AD during nan reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinianus, who was known arsenic nan "Architect of Castles."

An earthquake jolted Turkiye's confederate state of Kahramanmaras early Monday, according to Turkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). It was followed by a magnitude 6.4 quake that struck southeastern Gaziantep province.  Mehmet Akif Parlak/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Ottomans repaired nan castle complete time, but it sewage a 2nd afloat overhaul by Egyptian Sultan Qaitbay successful 1481. There are 12 towers connected nan castle and nan 2 towers adjacent nan main gross were rebuilt successful 1557 by Suleiman nan Magnificent during nan Ottoman Empire. 

Videos and photos of nan castle aft nan earthquake show ample chunks of nan stone destruction having fallen disconnected and an robust obstruction surgery and bent by fallen rock. CBS News has reached retired to a typical for nan humanities tract for much accusation and is awaiting response.

Videos and photos of nan castle aft nan earthquake show ample chunks of nan stone destruction person fallen disconnected and an robust obstruction surgery and bent by fallen rock. Mehmet Akif Parlak/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

"I person ne'er felt thing for illustration it successful nan 40 years I've lived," 1 resident successful Gaziantep told BBC News about nan earthquake. "We were shaken astatine slightest 3 times very strongly, for illustration a babe successful a crib."

The castle was 1 of thousands of buildings damaged by nan quakes. Some 2,824 buildings were destroyed, according to Turkey's disaster and emergencies guidance agency (AFAD), Reuters said.

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• Earthquake