Trigoniou Tower
Trigoniou Tower is White Tower's "brother".
Modern and Contemporary era (1912 - )
From the integration of Thessaloniki into Greece until World War II, the Tower was used as a storehouse of weapons and ammunition by the Greek army. During the bombings of World War II it was also used as a shelter.
Ottoman era (1453- 1912)
Built in the late 15th century, reinforced in the mid-16th century and converted into a powder magazine and arsenal after the 18th century.
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
Trigoniou Tower is the White Tower’s architectural “brother”. Their architectural and morphological similarities are evident, except in the foundations of the Trigoniou Tower which is on a slope. Although at first glance the internal layout looks complicated due to the stairwells, it seems to be a well-organized work of a good architect. It has two levels, which include the vestibule, the gun emplacement, the observatories and the auxiliary spaces. The height and volume of the building can be seen in its entirety from the east side (east 22m., west 11m.) and its diameter is almost 23m. This characteristic gradient increases the seismic protection and also strengthens the effectiveness of its defense. As for its morphological elements, it has a stone cornice, a built-in relief plate and internally the traces of painted decoration can still be seen. The tower also offers a unique view of the city, the Thermaic Gulf and Mount Olympus.
What I can't see
It was called “Cincirli Kulesi” (=tower of the chain) and “Kusakli Kulesi” (=belted Tower) by the Ottomans. Τhe name Trigoniou Tower, which means “Tower of the Triangle” came up arbitrarily, based on precarious theories. It was through this area, that the Turks managed to enter and occupy the city (1430). The Turks recognized the defensive weaknesses of the Byzantines and enhanced the weak points of their fortification with the Trigoniou Tower, the White Tower and the Vardar Tower. This type of tower emerged from the technological evolution and warfare techniques that followed the introduction of firearms. It was probably made by Venetian craftsmen, which is suggested by some of its features.
Bibliography
Kourkoutidou- Nikolaidou E., Tourta A., (1997), Περίπατοι στη Βυζαντινή Θεσσαλονίκη, [Walks in the Byzantine Thessaloniki], Athens: Kapon publications
Perdikopoulou, Μ., (2015). Οθωμανική αρχιτεκτονική του 15ου και 16ου αιώνα στην Κεντρική Μακεδονία (Διοικητικά όρια Νομού Θεσσαλονίκης): Τοπογραφία, μορφολογία, χρήσεις, [Ottoman architecture of 15th and 16th century in Central Macedonia (administrative borders of Thessaloniki Prefecture], Dissertation, A.U.Th.
Braun, J.-P., Faucherre, N. and Spieser, J.-M., (1983) Deux Tours Turques de Thessalonique, in Μakedonika 23’, 1-23.
