Istanbul's Jebe Ali Gate marks 1,800 years of history

Located on the shores of the Golden Horn in Istanbul, the Jebe Ali Gate serves as a historical landmark spanning approximately 1,800 years, from the Roman era through the Ottoman period to the modern Turkish Republic.

Art historian and academic Yasin Sayigli notes that the gate's origins date back to the 2nd century AD, constructed during the reign of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. Unlike defensive land walls, this gate was designed to provide residents of inner neighborhoods access to the nearby port. The structure has undergone various restorations across the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Republican eras.

The gate's name appeared in the first Ottoman census conducted by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1455. Following the conquest of Istanbul, the name ‘Jebe Ali’ became prominent, though its origins are subject to different folk traditions. One account attributes the name to an Ottoman commander responsible for security in Bursa, while another, recorded by 17th-century traveler Evliya Çelebi, links it to an Egyptian saint who arrived with 300 dervishes during the city's conquest.

Historically, the area was deeply connected to maritime trade and the activities of the Imperial Arsenal. The surrounding neighborhood housed various ship-related workshops, including those using tar and fire for vessel maintenance. Due to the prevalence of wooden houses and these industrial processes, the district was frequently subject to fires.