Fort Jesus · Three Years Under Siege, No Terms Agreed

Fort Jesus in Mombasa was built by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century and was their most important stronghold in East Africa. The island passed to the Omanis and then to the British, the walls were thickened layer by layer, and in the end it became a museum.

Inside the fort there is a “well” said to have been used, during a siege, to deal with those who would not convert. Carvings from that time and marks left by prisoners remain on the walls. Light comes down through the courtyard and falls at an angle on the stone floor.

The sea can still be heard here. Outside the fort is the harbour, with ships coming and going.

Historical Mysteries / Mombasa · Kenya / 1593