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Sira Fortress/Castle (قلعة صيرة) is a military site in
p 491
/ref> The fort is located on Sira Island, a rocky and tall volcanic outcropping which dominates the old harbor of Aden. Although it is referred to as a castle quite often, it is less of a castle and more of a fortification. Much of the fort's history is unknown, especially since there have been few archaeological studies done of the area. One theory is that construction was initiated around the year 1173 by a Turkish ruler of Aden named Prince
adencollege.net Retrieved December 5, 2010. The fortress was proven during subsequent attacks against Aden by the Portuguese and especially the Turks in 1517. Although the ancient harbor began to silt up and the primary commercial center eventually moved to the other side of the
Sira Fortress/Castle (قلعة صيرة) is a military site in Aden
Aden ( ar, عدن ' Yemeni: ) is a city, and since 2015, the temporary capital of Yemen, near the eastern approach to the Red Sea (the Gulf of Aden), some east of the strait Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000 people. ...
, Yemen. The original fortress dates to the 11th century, and is still in use today by the Yemeni military
The Armed Forces of Yemen ( ar, الْقُوَّاتُ الْمُسَلَّحَةُ الْيَّمَّنِيَّة, Al-Quwwat Al-Musallahah Al-Yamaniyah) are the military forces of the Republic of Yemen. They include the Yemen Army#Pro-Hadi forc ...
.Walker, Jenny, Stuart Butler, Frances Linzee Gordon, Terry Carter, and Lara Dunston. ''Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula''. Lonely Planet, 2007p 491
/ref> The fort is located on Sira Island, a rocky and tall volcanic outcropping which dominates the old harbor of Aden. Although it is referred to as a castle quite often, it is less of a castle and more of a fortification. Much of the fort's history is unknown, especially since there have been few archaeological studies done of the area. One theory is that construction was initiated around the year 1173 by a Turkish ruler of Aden named Prince
Othman Al-Zangabili Al-Takriti
Uthman ibn Affan ( ar, عثمان بن عفان, ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān; – 17 June 656), also spelled by Colloquial Arabic, Turkish and Persian rendering Osman, was a second cousin, son-in-law and notable companion of the Islamic prophe ...
."Sira Island"adencollege.net Retrieved December 5, 2010. The fortress was proven during subsequent attacks against Aden by the Portuguese and especially the Turks in 1517. Although the ancient harbor began to silt up and the primary commercial center eventually moved to the other side of the
Aden Peninsula
Aden ( ar, عدن ' Yemeni: ) is a city, and since 2015, the temporary capital of Yemen, near the eastern approach to the Red Sea (the Gulf of Aden), some east of the strait Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000 people. ...
, the British continued to develop and garrison the fortress after their arrival in 1839. It is about a 15 minute walk up the stairs and can be considered a bit steep. It is one of the most common tourist attractions in the city of Aden.
See also
* Cisterns of TawilaReferences
Buildings and structures in Aden Forts in Yemen {{Yemen-geo-stub