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This drawing shows the four fingers of the
Mangup Kale plateau and the location of the citadel and defensive walls. Note
that there were short sections of wall along the perimeter where the cliff
seemed inadequate. Also there were major walls across the two ravines because
they sloped more gently and provided access routes. And there was a city wall
across the waist of the plateau. Due to the porous limestone formation the
inhabitants were able to dig deep wells and tap natural underground water
sources. The fortress existed for eight or more centuries but finally fell to
Ottoman Turkish artillery and Janissary assault after a prolonged siege in
1475.
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