Page 5 - World Of Nurol Magazine-24

As is seen, the transportation issue of Istanbul where the two arch. In my humble opinion, since no one would show courage to
continents come together has always taken an important place walk across a bridge that high, I will cover the edges of the bridge
throughout history and various projects have been planned to cross with a guard rail made of wood and even tall ships will be able to
over the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. sail under it.
However it has never been possible to realize these projects due I can even build a drawbridge which will stretch away across
to the economic difficulties and the political turmoil of the period. the Anatolian coast. I also find a way to prevent the edges from
wearing because of the constant movement of the sea; that way,
From Leonardo to Bayezid II the current will not damage the consoles and the edges. By the
power of God, I hope you will believe my words. I will be at your
beck and call at all times.”
In the beginning of Turkish translation of the letter, they use
the wording of “The letter from infidel” for Leonardo da Vinci.

A record stating “This letter is dated 3rd of July and has arrived
Among these projects, there is such a proposal dating back to the
four months later after it was written” was kept at the end of
1500s that it is inevitable not to get excited. The project in question the document. It is estimated that the draft drawing of a bridge
is the bridge project which was planned by Leonardo da Vinci for
involving the manuscript of the artist which is preserved in Codex
the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus and presented to Bayezid II but Leicester at Institut de France, Paris, belongs to the bridge planned
the construction of which was impossible in that day’s conditions.
to be built between Galata and Istanbul. Since the date of the draft
was determined as 1502-1503 in the Codex, it is presumed that the
Leonardo da Vinci, who was born in Vinci, a town near Florance,
letter was sent to the Topkapı Palace in those days.
Italy, in 1452 and was the world’s most admired renaissance painter
for his fresco named “The Last Supper” and his painting named
It is seen that the centuries had to elapse from the time when
“Mona Lisa”, sent a letter explaining his plans to Bayezid II. in the ships were laid together for passing until today so as to link
1502-1503. In his letter, Da Vinci says that he can build a pump
Asian and European sides with a railway tunnel running under
that has never been built so far, to draw water from the ships and the Bosphorus.
a new wind-driven mill. Yet, his major proposal was the bridge that
he would build over Golden Horn, between Eminönü and Galata.

However, it is unknown what was the answer given for Leonardo
da Vinci’s proposals.

The letter from infidel
Here is the translation of the letter kept in the archives of
Topkapı Palace that Leonardo sent to Bayezid II.:
“I, your faithful servant, understand that it has been your
intention to erect a bridge from Galata to Istanbul, but this has not
been done because there were no experts available. I, your subject,
have determined how to build the bridge. It will be built on a high
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