The Porta Platea and Its Identification
The next gate mentioned by Pusculus and Dolfin is the Porta Platea, also called the Porta alla Piazza. This name clearly corresponds to the Porta of the Platea mentioned by Ducas. The meaning of “Platea” or “Piazza” is “broad space” or “open square.” Therefore, the name of this gate indicates that it was situated beside a wide stretch of level ground.
Given this description, the Porta Platea is most likely represented by the modern gate of Oun Kapan Kapoussi, which still stands on the flat ground near the Inner Bridge (today’s Atatürk Bridge). This location is especially significant because it lies at the head of an important street that crosses the city from sea to sea, running through the valley between the Fourth and Fifth Hills of Constantinople. This street connected the shores of the Golden Horn with those of the Sea of Marmara, making the gate a key point in the city’s urban geography Walking Tours Istanbul.
The District of the Plateia
The area beside the gate was known in Byzantine times as the Plateia (ἡ Πλατεῖα), meaning “the broad place” or “market area.” This district was home to several important churches, including those dedicated to St. Laurentius and the Prophet Isaiah. These churches indicate that the neighbourhood was not merely commercial or residential but also religiously active, reflecting the blend of civic and sacred life that characterized the Byzantine capital.
The name Plateia also suggests that this area served as an open market or gathering space, likely used for trade and public meetings. Its proximity to the Inner Bridge made it a natural site for commerce, as goods arriving from the Golden Horn could be easily transported into the heart of the city through this gate.
The Gate in the Siege of 1453
During the Ottoman siege of Constantinople in 1453, the Porta Platea played an important strategic role. According to historical accounts, the blockade of the Harbour Walls by the Turkish fleet in the Golden Horn stretched from the Xylo Porta in the west to the Gate of the Platea in the east. This means that the Porta Platea marked the eastern boundary of the defensive line facing the Ottoman ships.
The position of the gate, near the middle of the Golden Horn’s wall, gave it both tactical importance and symbolic value. It guarded a vital entrance into the city’s central quarters and stood close to one of the most accessible points for any naval assault Three Successive Gates.
The Possible Name “Mese”
If we can trust the legend on Bondelmontius’ map of Constantinople, the Porta Platea was also called the Mese, meaning the Central Gate. This alternative name makes perfect sense, since the gate occupied the middle point of the harbour fortifications along the Golden Horn.
In Byzantine topography, the word “Mese” was often used to refer to central avenues or main routes, such as the famous Mese Street that ran through the heart of Constantinople. Therefore, calling the Porta Platea the “Central Gate” may have emphasized its location along the main east–west axis of the city, or its role as a central passage between the waterfront and the inner districts.
Historical and Urban Importance
The Porta Platea, or Oun Kapan Kapoussi, thus represents one of the most significant points in the northern fortifications of Constantinople. Its placement at the intersection of major trade routes, its association with religious and commercial life, and its role in the final siege of the city, all underline its lasting importance.
It served not only as a military gateway but also as a social and economic hub, linking the harbours of the Golden Horn with the markets and avenues of the city’s interior. The memory of this gate reminds us how each entrance along the walls of Constantinople held a unique blend of defensive strength and civic vitality, contributing to the character and resilience of the Byzantine capital.