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| 95 The fortress with a two-millennia long history that’s evidenced by numerous archaeological ndings is becoming an increasingly popular destination for curious tourists from around the world Niš, thewondrouscityontheriver that bears its name, never ceases to intrigue and attract visitors from various parts of the world. We can seek one of the reasons for this in the fact that the hometown of Emperor Constantine theGreat doesn’t reveal too many of its secrets. Its cobblestone streets, historical monuments, dilapidated facades and old taverns hide untold stories with a spirit that can be felt in the sizzling southern air. However, the inability touncover and understand mysteries dating back to Roman times is intoxicating in its appeal. It is precisely for this reason that the fortress on the right bank of the River Nišava is a magnet for all lovers of history, architecture, festivals and unusual legends. And there are plenty of those here. Speci cally, Niš Fortress has maintained the continuity of constant existence for around two millennia. Isn’t that in itself fascinating?You can but imagine howmany wars have been fought here, howmany loving relationships forged and broken, friendships made and hostilities ended... We’re certain that’s all impossible to calculate or uncover, but therein lies all of themagic. When you surround yourself with the old ramparts of Niš Fortress, the imagination awakens, images of bygone times pass before the eyes and stories bubble up on their own. Niš Fortress was mentioned in ancient times as a powerful castrum, which 6th centuryRomanhistorianAmianMarcelin claimedwas“repeatedly besieged, but never surrenderedor conquered”. The Roman fortress of stone is assumed to have beenbuilt in themid2nd centuryAD, when Niš rst appeared inwritten sources. Back in the 4th century, this city that today represents the capital of southern Serbiawas a meeting point of Roman emperors and the birthplace of Constantine the Great – the rst ruler of Rome to convert toChristianity. Its turbulent history continuedwhen it was razed to the ground by the Huns (441-442). Niš Fortress was reconstructed a few years later by Emperor Justinian I. However, a similar fate continued to follow him, with the fortress finding itself under attack again shortly afterwards, this time at the hands of the Slavs. Ancient records show that Niš was better fortified than Belgrade, and that it had acquired all the characteristics of a medieval fortress – with strong walls and towers – by the 10th century. According to sources, this fascinating edifice also belonged to Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja, Prince Lazar andDespot Stefan Lazarević, who was the last to renovate the fortification before it fell into Ottoman Turkish hands. The fortress gained its contemporary look during the period when it was under Turkish occupation. Hisar’s earthen fort was erected in 1718, with a fortress similar to the one we know today built on its foundations. Beneath the new ramparts lie the remains of the old Roman and medieval forti cations. A settlement arose on the newly formed foundations, complete with shops, barracks, mosques and other buildings required for military purposes. Time has spared several gunpowdermagazines, the 16th-century Bali Bey Mosque and one vaulted structure that can still be seen today. It nally passed into Serbian hands in 1877. Niš Fortress was proclaimed a cultural monument of exceptional importance of Yugoslavia in May 1948, and a cultural goodof great importance in1979. The fortress today hosts numerous cultural and artistic events, where people gather and exchange impressions, enjoy views of the river and re ect on the magni cent history of this fortress that has adorned Niš for two millennia. Utvrđenje o čijoj dva milenijuma dugoj istoriji svedoče mnogobrojni arheološki nalazi postaje sve popularnija destinacija za radoznale turiste iz celog sveta a ni saznati, ali u tome leži cela magija. Kada se okružite starim zidinamaniške tvrđave,mašta sebudi, slike starihvremenaprolazepredočima, a priče same naviru. Uantičkomperioduniškoutvrđenje se pominje kao snažan kastrum, za koji Amijan Marcelin, rimski istoričar iz 6. veka, tvrdi da je „više puta opsedan, ali se nikada nije predao niti bio osvojen“. Pretpostavlja se da je rimska tvrđava od kamena sagrađena polovinom2. veka, kada seNiš prvi put pojavljuje u pisanim izvorima. Ovaj grad na jugu Srbije je u 4. veku bio stecište rimskih careva i rodnomestoKonstantinaVelikog, prvog vladara koji se preobratio u hrišćanstvo. Burna istorija nastavlja se njegovim rušenjem do temelja od strane Huna (441–442). Nekoliko godina kasnije niško utvrđenje obnovio je car Justinijan Prvi. Ipak, slična sudbina nastavila je da ga prati, pa se nedugo nakon toga tvrđava našla na udaru Slovena. Stari zapisi svedoče da je Niš bio bolje utvrđen od Beograda i da svojim jakim zidinama i kulama u 10. veku poprima sve karakteristike srednjovekovnetvrđave.Fascinantnagrađevina jeprema izvorimapripadala i caru ManojluKomninu, StefanuNemanji, knezu Lazaru i despotu Stefanu Lazareviću, koji ju je pre nego što je pala u ruke turske vlasti poslednji put obnovio. U periodu kada je pripadala Turcima, tvrđava je dobila današnji izgled. Zemljano utvrđenje Hisar podignuto je 1718, a na njegovim temeljima izgrađena je tvrđava slična onoj koju danas poznajemo. Ispod novih bedema ostali su zatrpani ostaci starog rimskog i srednjovekovnog utvrđenja. Na novonastalim temeljima niklo je naselje sa dućanima, kasarnama, džamijama i ostalimgrađevinama za vojne potrebe. Vremenijepregazilonekolikobarutana, džamijuBali-bega iz 16. veka i jednu zasvođenugrađevinu, koja se i danasmože videti. U srpske ruke konačno prelazi 1877. godine. Niška tvrđava je umaju 1948. godine proglašena spomenikomkulture od izuzetnog značaja, a 1979. godine i kulturnimdobromod velikog značaja. Tvrđava je danas mesto na kojem se održavaju brojni kulturni i umetnički događaji, gde se ljudi okupljaju i razmenjuju utiske, uživaju u pogledu na reku i razmišljaju o veličanstvenoj istoriji utvrđenja koje Niš krasi čitava dva milenijuma.

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