Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi is without question one of the world’s most ancient cities alongside Athens, Rome and Constantinople. 1998 marked its 2500 anniversary! The Goths and the Romans, the Scythians and the Genoese, the Hungarians and the Moldavians, the Turks and the Poles all lived here and each gave the city their own name. The city, situated at a trade-route crossroads, has changed its name twenty times: Tira, Alba-Yulia, Levkopolis, Asprokastron, Feger-Var, Monkastro and Akkerma etc. Nearly every name used the word “white”, referring to the city’s buildings built of local light chalk-stone.
Countless raiding enemies considered the White city a tempting conquest necessitating a powerful fortress for its ancient citizens. So in the 13th c. on a rocky bank at the Dnister estuary, upon the remnants of the ancient city of Tira, the construction of high walls and unassailable towers began. For 200 years the stronghold was under construction by the Moldavians, the Genoese and the Turks. The defensive walls were approximately 2500 meters long with a thickness of 1,5-5 meters. There were 35 towers (only 20 remain), the majority of which had their own names: Ovidius’ Tower, Pushkin’s Tower, the Commandant’s Tower and the Temnytsia (Dungeon) Tower.
From all sides but the northern where the Dnister waves wash the fortress wall, the castle is surrounded by a moat. Its depth once reached 22 meters! Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi or Akkerman fortress still stands as Ukraine’s most grandiose.
Don't worry mom that is not me, it is Elder Western!!!
Elder Lewis & Larimore
