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The first known structure was built by the Athenian general Alcibiades as a wooden watchtower and customs station to control naval traffic in the Bosphorus
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During the Byzantine Empire, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos rebuilt the tower using stone, transforming it into a stronger defensive structure. The tower was surrounded by walls and used for military observation and control of the Bosphorus. These early phases established the Maiden’s Tower as a strategically important point in the defense of Constantinople.
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During the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, the tower was used by the Byzantines to defend the city. After the conquest, the Ottomans took control of the tower.
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The wooden parts of the tower were destroyed by fire. Grand Vizier Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha had it rebuilt in stone and added a lead-covered dome, giving it a more durable and elegant structure. A small lighthouse was also added during this period to help guide ships at night.
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After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the tower underwent several renovations, and its use shifted more toward tourism and cultural events
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A major restoration project was undertaken by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism to strengthen and preserve the historical structure.