East Gate 2

A detailed view of looking west at the outermost opening—of three—on the East Gate that is located on the east side of Nicea (Iznik).  In Turkish, this is called the Lefke Kapi.

Note the two pedestals for statues that were reused in the building of this gate.  On the right side of the entrance portions of a relief (sarcophagus?) are embedded into the wall.  All of this is called "spolia."

Beyond the opening, the middle gate is visible and beyond that, where the people are walking, is this innermost of the three parts of the gate.

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The "Lefke Kapi" is one of the four major gates of ancient Nicea. An inscription above this gate indicates that it was built by a proconsul Marcus Plancius Varus.  These gates were embedded into the late first century A.C. wall (Flavian walls) that were rebuilt after the Goths destroyed them in A.D. 268.  The walls were about 3 miles (5 km) in circumference and included over 100 towers!