The tower , often named '' Leander 's Tower '' in reference to the legend of Hero and Leander ( which took place in the Dardanelles strait , also known as the Hellespont in antiquity ) , was destroyed during the earthquake of 1509 , and burned in 1721 . Since then it was used as a lighthouse , and the surrounding walls were repaired in 1731 and 1734 , until in 1763 it was erected using stone . From 1829 the tower was used as a quarantine station , and in 1832 was restored by Sultan Mahmud II . Restored again by the harbour authority in 1945 , the most recent restoration began in 1998 for the James Bond movie '' The World Is Not Enough '' , and steel supports were added around the ancient tower as a precaution after the 17 August 1999 earthquake
earthquake
1999 İzmit earthquake
Maiden's Tower