Defending the gates. Ottoman practices on the safeguarding of fortification access. Cases from the Morea region, Greece

military structures undergone significant design changes to host advanced artillery devices, such as the fortified - gates of the castles. The interest in securing the gates was one of the major concerns for the Ottomans when conquering an existing castle. Much attention was given too in the design of gate complexes in new ottoman fortifications. The paper presents a comparative analysis on cases of adaptation and new design of ottoman fortified gates and gate complexes, mainly from the Peloponnese peninsula (Morea) in Greece, between mid-15th to 17th century. It also attempts to recognize similar typological, morphological and defensive elements and patterns and to investigate the common ottoman practices on safeguarding the vulnerable points of fortification access. Taking into consideration that the gates were not merely defensive structures, further issues on their functional role and symbolic character on representing the ottoman imperial power will be addressed.