Five imposing rocks stand before you. These are the Öreke Kayalıkları also known as the Roke Rocks. They’ve witnessed centuries of history. Their strategic location at the meeting point of the Bosphorus and the Black Sea made them incredibly important.
For centuries these rocks were known by various names. The Byzantines called them Kyanaeis and Symplegades. Later they became known as Kanlıkayalar Kocataş Körttaş Mavikayalar Kızılkayalar Orakiye and Öreke. Today locals often call them Roke Kayalıkları.
During the Byzantine era a significant structure was placed on the largest rock. This was Pompeus’s Column or the Nişancı taşı a tall obelisk. Inscriptions revealed it was dedicated to Tiberius. Sailors offered sacrifices here for safe passage. The inscriptions were in three lines a detail lost to most.
The Ottoman conquest brought new names and new uses. The column however remained a symbol of the area’s long and turbulent past. Only remnants now remain but its legend lives on. Evliya Çelebi mentioned it in his Seyahatname. Ali Macar Reis’s atlas also contains a record of the column and rocks.
Today you stand on the edge of a historical site. The Öreke Kayalıkları are more than just rocks. They’re a silent testament to Istanbul’s rich and complex heritage. Their past stories continue to intrigue and fascinate. They invite reflection on the passing of time and the ever-changing tides of history. Feel the weight of centuries as you gaze out upon the sea. Imagine the countless ships that have passed through these waters. The rocks themselves are like time capsules each one holding the memory of countless voyages.