BOOK IV.

CHAP. I.

_Of the Eleventh Ward, and of the Fourth and Fifth Hills._

I had been at a Loss to discover the eleventh _Ward_, (which, tho’ the _ancient Description_ of the _Wards_ mentions to have been wider in Compass than the Tenth, and in no Part of it bounded by the Sea; as also that it partly consisted of a Level, and partly of a rising Ground) unless the Author had subjoin’d, that it contain’d also the Church of the _Apostles_, And tho’ at present there’s nothing remaining of that Church, yet I was inform’d by some ancient People of _Constantinople_, who told me, that they remembred it stood upon the Back of the fourth Hill; which fell upon a Hill of the third Valley, near the _Sadlers Shops_, and the Sepulchre of _Mahomet_ the Emperor. I observe from hence, that the eleventh _Ward_ was Part on the Top of the same Hill, and Part on the North Side of it. I shall shew by what follows, that this _Ward_ reach’d to the _Land-Wall_ of the City, which divided the Eleventh, from the fourteenth _Ward_, and which was also itself divided from the City by an intermediate Space of Land. I shall convince the Reader presently, that this _Ward_ was situate on the sixth Hill, without the Walls of the City, and was afterwards wall’d round by _Theodosius_ the _Less_. The Walls built by _Constantine_ are said to have reach’d as far as the Churches of St. _Anthony_, and St. _Mary_, who was call’d _Rabdos_, and from thence to have risen to a _Land-Wall_ call’d _Exacionion_, which took its Name from hence, _viz._ That without the _Land-Wall_ there stood a Pillar, on which was erected the Statue of _Constantine_ the _Great_. Some modern Writers will have it, that he built a Church which he dedicated to the _Holy Trinity_ in a Place call’d the _Exacionion_, now call’d the Church of the _Apostles_; for, if I am not mistaken, the Walls of _Constantine_ were built upon the Borders of the fourth and fifth Hill, near the _Exacionion_, _Cedrinus_ writes, that the Walls of the City, the beautiful Churches, the fine Houses seated in the _Exacionion_ were thrown down by a dreadful Earthquake. They tell us in other Places, tho’ not consistently with themselves, that there were _Portico’s_ which reach’d from the _Miliarium_ to the Street call’d _Taurus_, and to the Gates of St. _John_ the _Baptist’s_ Church near the _Hippodrom_, which are more than a thousand _Roman_ Paces distant from the Church of the _Apostles_, and as far from the Walls of the City which were built by _Constantine_, as may be gather’d from the following Passage of _Sozomen_. _Theodosius_, says this Author, _leading his Army against_ Eugenius, _went a Mile out of the City to the Church of St._ John, _which he had built in the_ Hepdomum. This _Hepdomum_ was a Part of the Suburbs of the City, but is now enclos’d within the Walls, as will appear when I come to speak of it. If the Pillar from whence the _Exacionion_ took its Name, was the same with that high Pillar which stood on the Top of the fifth Hill, and was seen not long since at a great Distance from the City, above all the Houses, we might easily discover, that the Walls built by _Constantine_ did not reach beyond this Pillar, which stood about half a Mile’s distance from the _Church_ of the _Apostles_. I saw this Pillar took to Pieces, and remov’d for building a Mosque, by Order of _Solyman_ the Emperor. The _Base_, the _Pedestal_ and the Foundation of it were of white Marble. The Foundation-Stone alone was so high, that I could not climb it without a Ladder. The _Pedestal_ was four Foot and nine Digits high, and the _Plinth_ one Foot, and six Digits. The _Greeks_ and the _Turks_, each in their Dialect, call’d it the _Pillar_ of the _Virgin_, which I take to be that celebrated by our modern Writers, which they say was erected upon a Hill, and supported the Statue of _Venus_, carv’d in Stone. When the _Ancient Description of the Wards_ tells us, that the eleventh _Ward_ is no Ways bounded by the Sea, it must be so understood as to mean, that the Plain situated between the Bay of _Ceras_, and the Foot of the fourth Hill, was not within the Walls, since the same _Treatise_ mentions, that the City was six thousand one hundred and fifty Foot broad; that is, a Mile and two hundred and thirty Paces; for the Latitude of the _Isthmus_, which stretches itself over the fourth and seventh Hill, thro’ which the old Wall extended itself, exceeds the Breadth abovemention’d. But _Zosimus_, an ancient Historian, says, that _Constantine_ the _Great_ so wholly surrounded the City with a Wall, that it cut off the _Isthmus_ from Sea to Sea. So that upon the whole, there is a Necessity to place the Plain, situate between the Bay, and the Bottom of the fourth Hill, in the tenth _Ward_.

CHAP. II.

_Of the Church of the Apostles, the Sepulchre of_ Constantine _the Great, the Cistern of_ Arcadius _and_ Modestus, _of the Palace of_ Placilla, _and the_ Brazen Bull.

’Tis attested by _Eusebius_, That _Constantine_ the _Great_ built the Church of the _Apostles_ to a great Heighth, that he incrusted it with all Sorts of variegated Marble, which cast a beautiful Lustre from Top to Bottom; that he adorn’d it with small gilded Roofs, and cover’d it with Plates of Brass deeply gilt, which cast a blazing Reflexion to a great Distance. The upper Part of this venerable Structure, was curiously wrought all round it with Brass and Gold, and was enlightned with Abundance of Lattices and Windows. Round the Church there was a fine Court lying open to the Air. The _Portico’s_ which enclos’d it, stood in a Quadrangular Manner. Near the _Portico’s_ stood the Palace, the _Bagnio’s_, the Cloysters, and many other Houses and Buildings belonging to the Ecclesiasticks, and other Ministers of the Church. These bountiful Benefactions has the pious Emperor handed down to Posterity in Memory of the _Apostles_ of the blessed Saviour of Mankind, to whom also he consecrated twelve Purses of Gold. The Coffin in which he intended to be buried after he was dead, was plac’d by his Order in the Body of the Church, and guarded with the twelve _Apostles_ in Effigy. ’Tis added by _Socrates_, that the Body of _Constantine_ lying in a golden Coffin, was brought into the City by his intimate Friends, and buried in the Church of the _Apostles_. I am inclin’d to believe, that _Zonaras_ never read _Eusebius_, when he tells us, that ’twas buried in the Cloyster of the Church of the _Apostles_, which, he says, was built by _Constantius_ for the Interrment of his Father. Near the broad Way which stretches itself along the Top of the _Promontory_, from the Church of St. _Sophia_, to the Gate of _Adrianople_, (hard by the Place where stood the Church of the _Apostles_,) there is shewn to this Day, a Coffin made of _Porphyry_ Marble, empty; and without a Cover, ten Foot long, and five Foot and a half broad, which the _Greeks_ and _Turks_ say, was the Coffin of _Constantine_ the _Great_; but I cannot vouch for the Truth of it: Yet the Authorities of _Socrates_ and _Eusebius_ seem to be somewhat doubtful, who tell us, that he was buried in a golden Coffin, unless perhaps the golden Coffin was inclos’d in that of the _Porphyry_ Marble. _Zonaras_ is of Opinion, that _Theodora_, the Wife of _Justinian_, built the Church of the _Apostles_; and adds, that there was anciently in the same Place a _Church_ of the _Apostles_, but much Inferior in Beauty and Magnificence to that which stands at present, on the same Ground. _Procopius_ says, that there had been for some Ages, a Church at _Constantinople_ which was much impair’d by Time, and likely to fall, which _Justinian_ order’d to be taken down, rebuilt, and enlarg’d, and made in the Figure of a Cross, the Body of the Church pointing East, and West, and the Part crossing it, North, and South. This Church is well wall’d, and adorn’d within with Ranges of Pillars standing one above another: _Evagrius_ therefore seems to be mistaken, in attributing the Building of this Church to _Justinian_, when it is evident it was built by _Constantine_ the _Great_; and _Procopius_ too grosly flatters _Justinian_ in ascribing to him the Building of many fine Structures, whereas, in reality, he only repair’d them when they were old, or rebuilt them when fall’n too much to decay, or destroy’d by Fire. There’s nothing remaining of this Church at present, no, not even of its Foundation. You see only the Ruines of an old _Cistern_, which supply’d the Church, and the Clergy with Water. There are now standing upon the same Spot of Ground about two hundred _Sadlers Shops_, and _Work-houses_, where they make and sell not only all kinds of Horse-Geer, but also Leathern Bucketts, Quivers, and Trunks. A little above this _Cistern_, stands a Mosque, with a _Caravansera_ adjoining to it, situate on a Plain, which was built with square Stone, after the Form of the Church of St. _Sophia_, out of the Ruins and Sacrilege of the Church of the _Apostles_, and other Christian Churches by _Mahomet_, who took the City. The Roof is of a Semicircular Figure, made of Brick-Work, and cover’d with Lead, as are all the publick Buildings of the _Turks_. ’Tis beautify’d with a very elegant square Porch as broad as the Church itself, pav’d with the finest Marble, and adorn’d with square _Portico’s_. The Arches of them, which bear up the Roof, are supported with very large Pillars of Marble, curiously variegated. In the Middle of it is a Fountain with nine Pipes, whose Waters fall into a great Bason. Round the Mosque is a spacious Court, Part of which is enclos’d with Walls, and Part with long kind of Houses, some of which are inhabited by their Priests, and School-Masters. In the Eastern Part of this Court there’s a Garden, in the Middle of which stands the Sepulchre of _Mahomet_, built in a Cylindric Form of the whitest Marble. ’Tis covered with Lead, lighted with Windows, and has a Door of Entrance into it. In the Middle of this Structure is the Coffin of _Mahomet_, cover’d with Velvet, placed on the Ground on a rich Carpet. The Ground is wholly covered with the most costly Carpets, where the Priests continually sit, and guard the Body Night and Day. A little without the Court are several large _Caravansera’s_, built also with square Stone, which have Court-yards in the Middle of them, and _Portico’s_ surrounded with Marble Pillars. These _Caravansera’s_ have large Gardens adjoyning to them. In short, this Mosque, with the adjacent Buildings round the Court, with the _Caravansera’s_ and Gardens, take up a Space of Ground six Furlongs in Compass. _Mahomet_, the same Emperor, built in this Place, where had formerly been the Old _Cistern_ of _Arcadius_, or _Modestus_, the largest _Bagnio’s_ in all the City. These Baths were of two Kinds, some for Men, and some for Women. They adjoin to each other, but have different Entries without any Passage out of one into the other. I shall only describe the Mens Baths; because the Womens are like them. The first Place you enter is the Room where they undress. From hence you pass into the hot, and from thence into the cold Bath. They all stand in one Range, and are only separated by Walls from each other. The Room where they undress is a square Structure, built of square Stone up to the Roof, which is arch’d and built with Brick; the Inside of which, measuring two hundred and fifty eight Foot in compass, is surrounded with an Ascent of Stone, above six Foot broad, and three Foot high. The Wall of this Room, from the Pavement to the Bottom of the arch’d Roof is thirty seven Foot high. In the Middle of the Floor, which is pav’d with Marble, there’s a large Marble Bason, which is thirty seven Foot in compass, and three Foot deep, which is always supply’d from a Fountain of Spring Water. There are two Doors out of the stripping Room into the hot Bath. This Apartment is a hundred Foot in compass in the Inside of it, and is supported with four Arches, which bear up a _Dome_ at the Top. It contains eight _Cells_ or bathing Rooms; one of which, not above half so large as the rest, has some Privies behind it, which are cleans’d by an Efflux of all the Waters which are turn’d out of the Bath. Six of these _Cells_ have, each of them, a bathing Cistern, and are built in such a Manner, that two of these Arches hang each of them over one bathing Room; from whence you may pass, on the Right and on the Left, into another. The _Cells_ under the other two Arches are so form’d, that that Arch which is nearest the Doors which lead out of the stripping Room into the hot Bath, hangs over a very large bathing Room. ’Tis pav’d with Marble, and the _Turks_ wash their Linen in this Place. A plain Wall arch’d at top parts the hot from the cold Bath. In the Middle of the hot Bath there is a Bason with a Fountain playing. There is but one Door which leads out of the hot into the cold Bath. This Apartment has eight Arches which support its _Dome_, and contains eight bathing Places, which project beyond the Sphere of its _Dome_, and encircle the whole _Bagnio_, which is about ninety Foot in compass. The whole Pavement of it is lay’d with Marble, and in the Middle of it is built an Ascent in the Form of an _Octagon_, which is fifty seven Foot, and nine Inches in Circumference, and two Foot and four Digits high. Round the _Octagon_ there runs a Channel of Water, which is of the same Depth with the Height of the _Octagon_. The four inward bathing Rooms are situate in four Angles, and are each of them every Way eleven Foot and three Digits broad, and these are call’d the _Hot-Houses_ or _Sweating-Bagnio’s_. The Dimension of the two Bathing Rooms, which are situate without the two Arches, is the same. The other six Bathing Rooms are of a Semicircular Figure, and stand under six Arches within the Circle of the _Dome_ of the hot Bath. At the Bottom of the Pillars which support the Arches, they are eleven Foot in length, and five Foot nine Inches in breadth. Every one of these Bathing Rooms has a Marble _Cistern_ wherein they bath; and in one of them above the rest, there is erected a stately Marble Throne. There are no Lights in the Walls either of the hot or cold Baths, tho’ the _Domes_ of them are wholly illuminated with Glass-Windows. The _Stoke-Hole_, which is two Foot and a half in compass, and of the same height, is built without the Baths. They keep a constant Fire in it, which heats a Brazen Vessel, whence it emits its warm Steams thro’ Pipes laid in a strait, and an oblique Manner, by that means heating the Bottom of the _Cisterns_ in which they bath. There is a Rivulet in a Field of the Suburbs, about six Foot in breadth, which runs near the _Stoke-Hole_. There are Pipes laid in this Brook, which convey the Water thro’ the Walls of these Baths into all Parts of them. One of these Pipes which passes thro’ a heated Earthen Vessel, upon turning a Cock, supplies the _Cisterns_ with hot Water; the other Pipe which rises higher, upon the turning of an other Cock, tempers the hot Water according to the Pleasure of the Person who baths in it. But I shall treat of the Use of Bathing, and the Way of building _Bagnio’s_ among the _Turks_ in another Place. I return now to the eleventh _Ward_, which _Procopius_ takes Notice of, when he tells us, that _Theodora_ the Consort of _Justinian_ address’d herself to him in the following Manner: _We have, may it please your Imperial Majesty, other Palaces still remaining, which are call’d the Palaces of_ Helena, _as we have also those of_ Placilla, _the Wife of_ Theodosius _the Great. For as_ Justinus _honour’d his Empress with several noble Palaces, which, after her own Name, were call’d the Palaces of_ Sophia, _so it is highly probable that_ Theodosius _did_ Placilla _the same Honour in building a Palace for her, which was call’d the Palace of_ Placilla. _I am induc’d to believe this, because he passionately lov’d her, and by Reason of that strong Resentment he bore to the People of_ Antioch, _whom he subjected to the Dominion of the_ Laodenses, _for demolishing the Statues of_ Placilla, _plac’d in his own_ Forum, _because he lay’d an additional Tribute upon them_. This Palace may not improperly be call’d also the Palace of _Flacilla_, of whom _Claudian_ speaks in the following Lines:

_’Tis_ Spain _alone, subject to potent_ Rome, _Which pays her Tribute in her Emperours. Provision, Taxes, and Confederate Bands_ Rome _by her Arms in ev’ry Nation raises, Which bows its Head to her superiour Greatness_. Spain _only furnishes a Race of Princes, Wise, Bold, and Warlike, form’d for Empire, And fit to rule the Mistress of the World. Nor pleas’d alone to send her valiant Sons, Unless a second Offering she made, Of princely Mothers, noble Empresses_, Flacilla, Maria, _pious, humble, good; And fair_ Serena, _full of blooming Charms_.

The _Brazen Bull_ was plac’d in the eleventh _Ward_. In what Part of that _Ward_ it was plac’d might easily be conjectur’d from a large _Cistern_, which, the modern Historians write, was built near it by _Nicetas_ an Eunuch, in the Reign of the Emperor _Theophilus_, if that _Cistern_ was now in being. If the _Bull_ itself was remaining, or the _Forum_ where it stood, I had heard something of it. _Tzetzes_ in his History writes, that the _Forum Bovis_ was so call’d from the _Brazen Bull_. This _Bull_ is more particularly describ’d by _Zonaras_, who says, _that the Body of the unhappy Tyrant_ Phocas _was burnt at a Place call’d_ Bos, _where there was a Stove, or Fire-Place set up in the Form of a Bull, which was brought from_ Troy. _Cedrinus_ relates, that _Antypas_ the _Martyr_ was burnt to Death in this _Bull_. It is a plain Instance of the Cruelty and Tyranny of some of the Emperors of _Constantinople_, that they us’d to punish Malefactors with a Death so tormenting. The like Example of Barbarity we have in _Perillus_, or rather _Perilaus_, a Brazier of _Attica_, who made a _Brazen Bull_ for the Execution of _Phalaris_, but first suffer’d in it himself. This Piece of Workmanship, says _Pliny_, was preserv’d a long Time, that those, who saw it, might curse the Hand that made it. I am more inclin’d to believe, that this _Bull_ was brought from _Sicily_, or _Italy_. I enquir’d after it, but could hear nothing of it, altho’ the Inhabitants are not ignorant, that there was formerly such a _Bull_ at _Constantinople_, and are us’d to boast of a Prophecy, which has been handed down to them from their Ancestors, concerning such a _Bull_, and lastly, altho’ they believe their own Interpretation of it to be more agreeable to Truth than that of _Tzetzes_, who explain’d it above three hundred and seventy Years ago in the following Manner. There was a mighty Talk of a Prophecy at _Constantinople_ some Time ago, which run in these Words: Βοῦς βοήσει τε, καὶ Ταῦρος δὲ θρηνήσει, _Bos mugiet, Taurus lugebit_. The People conjectur’d from hence, says he, that great Calamities should befall the City, that they should be perplex’d with amazing Fears, that an innumerable Army of _Germans_, and other Nations, should come against the Town; and that they should be all terrify’d and affrighted with strange Dreams, by Reason of the Plundering and Destruction of their City. Upon which, the Wife of the _Grand Hetæriarch_ being in great Consternation, and her Fears and Fancies being encreas’d by some fabulous Verses made upon the Occasion, she imagin’d she dream’d of all that had been the Town-Talk for some Time before. She dream’d that _Constantinople_ was wall’d round with Brick, that near the _Forum Bovis_, or the Place call’d _Bos_, she saw infinite Numbers of arm’d Forces drawn up in Battle array, and that hard by the Street call’d _Taurus_, she saw a Man in a melancholly Posture expressing his Grief in a mournful Tone, and beating his Breast. The credulous Woman believing the Destruction of the City was at hand, told her Dream to _Tzetzes_, who thus interpreted it: _The Brick Walls_, says he, _which you saw denote great Plenty of Provision to_ Constantinople. _You are sensible, Gentlemen_, says he, (speaking to those who stood by him) _how wonderfully that Part of the Prophecy was accomplish’d at that Time. As to that Clause of it, which mentions that abundance of armed Forces shall stand round the_ Bull, _and that a Man in a disconsolate and forlorn Condition shall sit down by the_ Bull, _which is principally intended by the Prophecy, tho’ not yet fulfill’d; this may prove beneficial, and advantageous to every Citizen of us. Therefore hear, O_ Constantinople, _and tell it to others, that this is the Interpretation of_ Tzetzes. _The same Word, which among us_ Greeks _signifies a Bull, signifies also a Cow, and sometimes a Heifer, and by the Word_ Taurus _or_ Bull, _the_ Latins _call the_ Italian _Bull. Our Cow therefore, which is the famous City of_ Constantine, _and which was built by the_ Roman _Bulls of_ Italy, _full of Arms, abounding with Forces, and Plenty of Provision, shall sound an Alarm against our Enemies; and the_ Italian _Bull, which is the Army of the_ Latins, _shall look Pale with Fear, and mourn_. _Tzetzes_, without Question, was a very learned Man, and this Interpretation of the Prophecy was cunning enough; besides that it was a fine Compliment to the Empress, and at the same Time the Historian pleas’d his own Humour in it, in interpreting the Prophecy according to his own Wishes. See how ingenious is the Weakness of Man to impose upon himself! But at that Time there was another Interpretation of this Prophecy, which, in the Event, was much more agreeable to Truth, tho’ _Tzetzes_ took a great deal of Pains to confute, and expose it; and it was the general Opinion of the People of _Constantinople_, that the Army of the _Latins_ would besiege their City, as it happen’d a little Time after, ravaging, burning, destroying every where; throwing some of the Ring-leaders of an arbitrary Party from the Top of _Theodosius_’s Pillar into the Street call’d _Taurus_, and burning others to Death in the _Brazen Bull_. The same Author is no less mistaken in the Interpretation of another Prophecy, which is as follows: _Wo be to thee, O_ Constantinople, _seated on seven Hills, thou shalt not continue a thousand Years_. His Explanation of it is this: _Altho’ it be not thy Fate, O_ Constantinople, _to endure a thousand Years, but to be totally demolish’d, yet this ought to be no Occasion of Grief to thee, but the Cause of Joy; for thou shalt rise again from thy Ruines more beautiful, and more enlarg’d. For thou shalt be destroyed, ev’n to the Advantage of those who shall destroy thee._ This Interpretation is a downright Flattery of the principal Leaders of the several _Factions_ (or Companies of Charioteers) when they were struggling for the Government. But take this Interpretation which Way you will, it seems to be a very wild one. For whether the City was demolish’d by its own Inhabitants, or any foreign Power, it could neither Way be any reasonable Cause of Joy to them. This Prediction of the Oracle was seconded by another Prediction of the _Astronomers_ to the same Purpose. Some Historians have attested, as ’tis confirm’d by _Suidas_, that _Constantine_ the _Great_, after he had finish’d the City, sent for one _Valens_ an _Astronomer_ of great Skill, and commanded him to enquire what Star had the _Ascendant_ at the Birth of the City, and by that means inform him of the Duration of it. _Valens_ predicted that the City would continue six hundred and ninety Years; but that Time is past and gone. Therefore, says _Zonaras_, I must conclude, that this Prophecy of _Valens_ was erroneous, and that there’s little Dependance to be had upon the Rules of _Astronomy_, or otherwise that _Valens_ only meant the Time of her Prosperity, when the Laws of Polity were strictly obey’d, when the publick Peace was preserv’d, when their _Senate_ was in high Estimation among the People, when the Empire flourish’d and was under a regular Administration, and there was no such Thing as Tyranny, and Arbitrary Power among them. But to finish the Oracular Predictions concerning this City, I come now to _Zosimus_, a very ancient Historian, if compar’d with _Tzetzes_, and _Zonaras_. This Author writes, that _Constantinople_ was arriv’d to such a State of Grandeur, and Magnificence, that no City in the World was to be compar’d with it, in point of Greatness, or Prosperity. _And yet_, as he proceeds, _when after a long Search I could find no divine Oracle, or Prophecy presignifying any Increase of Happiness to_ Constantinople, _I at last accidentally, having read many Historians, and other Authors for that Purpose, met with an Oracular Prediction of a Sibyl, nam’d_ Erythræa Phaelles, _or_ Phaenno _of_ Epirus. _This Woman, they tell you, being inspir’d, utter’d Oracles, to which_ Nicomedes, _the Son of_ Prussias, _conforming himself, especially in such Predictions as might be some Advantage to himself, enter’d into a War with his Father_. The Oracle runs thus:

_Attend, great King of_ Thrace, _and learn thy Doom; Thy stately City soon thou must depart, And thy defenceless Sheep shall follow thee; The Savage Lion’s irresistless Power Shall plunder thee, and ravage all thy Stores. Thou from thy princely Grandeur soon shalt fall; The Dogs which now in State stand round thy Throne Shall rouze the sleepy Wolf, bold to assert His Liberty, nor drag thy servile Chain._ Bithynia’s _Realm shall then become a Prey To fierce devouring Wolves, and_ Jove’s _Decree Transfer thy Empire hence to fair_ Byzantium. _Happy, thrice happy Monarch would’st thou be, Could’st thou repel with Force the rav’nous Wolf, Thus timely warn’d by me: For I am forc’d To speak, and tell the Will of Heav’n to Man. Wide Desolation now attends thee_, Thrace; _A heavy Vengeance waits; long hast thou try’d, And daringly provok’d the Neighbouring States; And now a Cloud of Woe hangs o’re thy Head, Which daily swelling to a larger Size, Shall burst in Blood, and ruine all about thee_.

This Oracle or Prophecy, says _Zosimus_, truly fore-tells, tho’ in an Ænigmatical Manner, all the Calamities which would befall the _Bythinians_, by Reason of an excessive Tribute which had been demanded of them, and presignifies also their speedy Subjection to the Empire of _Constantinople_. And tho’ this did not happen till a long Time after, yet let no Man from thence infer, that the Time of the Accomplishment of the Prediction was expired before it came to pass. For all Time is but for a Moment with God, who is eternal. _This Interpretation of the Oracle_, says the Historian, _I observed to be true, by comparing the Event of Things with the Words of the Prophecy_; and adds, _that if any other Interpretation seems more agreeable, any one is at his own Liberty to follow it_. And to confirm the more this Explication of it, he tells us, how _Constantine_ the _Great_ and his Sons, oppress’d not only _Bithynia_, but the whole World with severe Exactions, so that whole Cities, unable to pay the Levies, remained desolate. The learned _Tzetzes_ before-mentioned, explains this Oracle in another Manner, and says, that it was delivered by _Phaenno_. _This Sybil_, says he, _was long ago famous for her Oracles, and foretold same Things many Ages since, which were accomplished but a little before the Times we live in; as the Conquest of_ Persia _over the Empire, the Slavery and Subjection of the Emperor to them, his Dethronement by his People and Nobles, the Wars of the_ Scythians _with the Eastern Empire, by whom she seems to mean the_ Turks. Thus far _Zosimus_. This Oracle, tho’ it be very antient, yet, amidst the present Ruins of _Constantinople_, it never appeared so manifest as now.

But to proceed in my Narration of other Monuments of Antiquity; On the Brow of the fourth Hill, which lies Eastward, you see a Church built to the Honour of Almighty God, which has been much celebrated in the Writings of modern Historians. The Walls of it within side are incrusted with several Kinds of Marble: It has two Porches or _Vestibules_, many lesser _Cupola’s_ covered with Lead, the largest of which is supported with four Pillars of red Marble variegated, each of which Pillars measures seven Foot in Circumference. There’s another _Cupola_ which bears upon four Arches, which are supported with four Pillars of _Thebaic_ Marble. On the South Side of the fourth Hill there is erected a Pillar, which nearly resembles that, which was lately, as I observed, standing in the _Exacionion_, but is now removed into the Precinct of the _Seraglio_. Round the _Basis_ of it there runs a Wreath of Laurel-work, and the Standard of the Cross, curiously cut in _Basso Relievo_. At the Foot of the fifth Hill is a double Wall, which encloses a Street now called _Phanarium_, because as the Inhabitants tell you, when the City was formerly besieged, it was built in the Space of one Night by Candle-light. I am induced from the Authority of _Dionysius_ to believe, that _Mellacopsas_ stood near this Street; the Reason why it was so called I have shewn in my _Treatise of the Bosporus_. On the Top of the fifth Hill stands the Palace of _Selimus_ the _Grand Signor_, with a _Caravansera_, and his Tomb. Near it is a very large _Cistern_, in a pleasant Meadow, which is despoiled of its Roof and Pillars.

CHAP. III.

_Of the Sixth Hill, and the Fourteenth_ Ward.

The Author _of the Description of the Wards_ relates, that the fourteenth _Ward_, though it is looked upon as a Part of the City, yet because it is divided from the other _Wards_ by an intermediate Space of Land, and enclosed with its own Walls, makes the Figure of a small City by it self; and adds, among other Particularities, that the Entrance of it, at the Gate, is somewhat upon the Level; but the right Side of it, rising into an Ascent, almost to the Middle of the broad Way, falls into a deep Ascent, and contains a Church, the Palace, _&c._ It is very probable, one would think, or at least it looks to be so, that any one who had never seen _Constantinople_, could learn from this Description in what Part of the City stood the fourteenth _Ward_. But since, nothing of the antient Buildings are remaining there at present, no not so much as the Bridge, or the very Channel of the River; there is some Room for Enquiry, where was the Place of its Situation. For I am entirely ignorant of the Gate whence its Entrance begins, which is somewhat upon the Level. It is possible that I might also discover the Situation of it, if I knew where the right Side of the _Ward_ was, which rose into an Ascent. ’Tis plain that this _Ward_ did not stand on the fifth Hill from hence, that the Author tells us, that it was divided from other _Wards_ by some intermediate Space. Had this _Ward_ been divided from other _Wards_ by a small Tract of Land only, it had been very injudicious in the Inhabitants to have enclosed it with a Wall by it self, when it stood so near the Walls of the City. I would observe farther, that ’tis inconceivable that there could be any Bridge on the fifth, sixth, or seventh Hills of the City, or without the Walls of the City; nor is there any Valley running between the fifth or the third Hill, where there’s any Bridge, or any Water, unless it can be imagined that it had any small Creek, which is now filled up, with a Bridge over it. If it could be supposed that there formerly stood any Bridge beyond the sixth Hill, in the Street called _Avasarius_, we could conclude it to be no other than what was built over the Bay of _Ceras_, near which are still seen the Piles of a Bridge. And in all Probability the sixth Hill was wholly inhabited, by Reason of the Nearness and Goodness of its Roads from _Thrace_. This is the more probable, if it be considered, that the Suburbs called the _Hepdomum_, were seated on the sixth Hill, which excited _Theodosius_ the _Less_, by Reason of its Nearness to _Constantinople_ to enlarge the Walls of the City.

CHAP. IV.

_Of the_ Hepdomum, _a Part of the Suburbs; of the_ Triclinium _of_ Magnaura; _of the_ Cyclobion; _of the Statue of_ Mauritius, _and his Armory; and of the Place called the_ Cynegium.

The Suburbs, call’d the _Hepdomum_, stood upon the third Hill, which is now enclosed within the Walls of the City. This is plain from the Situation of the Church of St. _John Baptist_, whom, even at this Time, the _Greeks_ call the Πρόδρομος, or _Fore-runner_ of our Saviour. This Church is seated on the Eastern Side of the City. ’Tis almost entirely demolished by the _Mahometans_, and nothing of it remains but a few Marble Pillars, expecting the last Effort of their Sacrilege. This was a costly and magnificent Building, as appears, among other Tokens, from the _Cistern_ of _Bonus_, which was built by a Nobleman of that Name, and seated a little above it. It was three hundred Paces long; its Roof and Columns are entirely ruined, and its Situation at present is turned into a Garden. _Sozomen_ says, that _Theodosius_ the _Great_ brought over the Head of St. _John Baptist_, from a Village call’d _Coslaus_, near _Pantichium_, in _Chalcedon_, and placed it before _Constantinople_ in the _Hepdomum_, and there built a large and handsome Church to the Honour of God. The same Author attests, that _Theodosius_, when he marched his Army against _Eugenius_, as soon as he came out of the City, offered his Prayers to God, in St. _John Baptist_’s Church, which he had built in the _Hepdomum_. _Procopius_ pays too great a Compliment to _Justinian_, when he reports him to have built this Church in the forementioned Suburbs. _Zonaras_ tells us, that in the Reign of _Constantine_ surnamed _Pogonatus_, the _Hagarens_ besieged the City with a numerous Fleet, which extended itself from the _Promontory_ situated in the _Hepdomum_ Westward, as far as the _Cyclobion_. Other _Historians_ mention the same Thing; namely, that they had their Station from the said _Promontory_, or the _Triclinium_ of _Magnaura_, as far Easterly as the Palace call’d _Cyclobion_. From which Passage I would observe by the By, that _Magnaura_ was a Place in the _Hepdomum_. _Cedrinus_ asserts, that _Philip_ of _Macedon_, built there a round Solar, and placed in the Court of it his own Statue, and built an Armory there. Others write, that _Mauritius_ the Emperor built the _Triclinium_ of _Magnaura_, and that he erected his Statue, and built the Armory there. Over the _Triclinium_ are inscribed these Verses;

Upon the _Triclinium_ of _Magnaura_.

Heraclius _and his Son_ Constantine, _With Conquest crown’d, and loaden with Success, Under th’ auspicious Influence of the_ Cross, _Built, with surprizing Speed, this beauteous Structure._

The _Cistern_ of _Magnaura_, which stood near the Palace, was demolished by _Heraclius_; and, as _Cedrinus_ relates, was afterwards cleansed, and rebuilt by Order of _Philip_, King of _Macedon_. Some attest, if not consistently with Truth, yet more appositely, that the Emperor _Anastasius_, when he was expiring at that Place, by a terrible Storm of Wind, Lightning and Thunder, cried out with a loud Voice; _Magnâ perimus aurâ_. _Pulcheria_ the Sister of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, being removed from the Administration of the Government, retired into the _Hepdomum_, and lived privately. _Zonaras_ relates, that _Nicephorus_ the Emperor, surnamed _Phocas_, as he came near to the City, was received by the _Prasine_ Faction, with great Acclamations, and that he was crowned Emperor in the _Hepdomum_ by the _Patriarch_ of _Constantinople_. The Reason why those Suburbs are called the _Hepdomum_, is taken from the Number _Seven_, which was formerly the Number of them. They retained their antient Names, even after they were inclosed within the City. _Procopius_ has it, that _Justinian_, in that _Ward_, which ought to be called the Second, built a Church to St. _Anne_. An unknown Writer of the Empire of _Constantinople_ gives a Reason why it may be called the Second. _In the Place_, says he, _called the_ Second, _there stood the Statue of_ Justinian Rhinometus. Bardus Cæsar Michael, _the Grandfather of_ Theophilus, _demolished and broke it to Pieces_. This Place is called the Second, because when _Justinian_ was banished by _Leo_ the _Patrician_ to _Cherso_, after he had continued there ten Years, he applied himself to _Terbelus_, King of the _Bulgarians_, whose Daughter _Theodora_ he married. The King gave him an Army, which he marched against _Constantinople_ to recover his Empire. But the Inhabitants denying him Entrance, he privately stole into the City through the Passage of an _Aqueduct_ to a Place where was still remaining the Foundation of a Pillar he had set up, and which his Adversary had destroyed. Having recovered his Dominions a second Time, he erected there a second Pillar, and built in the same Place a Church, which was dedicated to St. _Anne_. But, as I observed a little before, _Procopius_ relates, that _Justinian_ built this Church in the second _Ward_, where, I am of Opinion, before the Reign of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, who built the Walls of the City, stood the Suburbs of the seventh Hill, that is, according to _Cedrinus_ and others, in the twelfth _Ward_. There were, say these Writers, most dreadful Earthquakes, which overturned the Wall of the City in the _Exacionion_, and levell’d many beautiful Houses and magnificent Churches in the _Porta Aurea_ of the City; and add that in the second _Ward_, the Shock was felt as far as St. _Anne_’s Church. I mentioned this Observation to many of mine Acquaintance, lest any one should imagine that the δεύτερον χώριον was one of the fourteen _Wards_ mentioned in the _Treatise_, entitled, an _Antient Description of_ Constantinople. I am surprized that _Procopius_, who was so exact in describing so many Buildings of the City, never mentions them, since they are taken Notice of by _Justinian_ in his _Constitutions_. There’s a Church situate on the seventh Hill, between the Palace of _Constantine_, and the _Adrianopolitan Gate_, which though for many Ages it stood within the Walls, yet on three Sides of it, it formerly stood without the Walls of the City, as it was customary to build the _Greek_ Churches. There’s a _Portico_ runs round it. The Walls of it within are incrusted with square Pieces of several Kinds of Marble, the _Fissures_ of which are covered from Top to Bottom with _Modules_ of _Astragals_, some of which are adorned with Berries, and others are work’d round without them. Above these _Incrustations_ rise three _Fasciæ_, and three Ornaments resembling an _Astragal_, two of which are round, and the uppermost of them is of a square Figure. Higher yet are three _Fasciæ_, above these are the _Dentils_, and over the _Dentils_, a _Corinthian Foliage_. It will evidently appear from what I shall mention hereafter, that the Suburbs called the _Hepdomum_, were in the fourteenth _Ward_ of the City, where also stood a Palace. There remains at present, out of many antient Palaces, not so much as the Name of one of them, except that seated on the seventh Hill, which is called the Palace of _Constantine_, besides a few Pillars, and a _Cistern_ in which the Grand _Signor_’s Elephants are stabled. In the Plain upon the Shore, situate at the Foot of the sixth Hill Eastward, is the _Palatine_ Gate called _Cynegion_. Without the Gate is a fine Growth of Plane-Trees. Near the Gate, within the Wall, were formerly three large Arches, now fill’d up, through which the Inhabitants used to sail their Three-oar’d Galleys, into a Creek built within the City for the Conveniency of the neighbouring Palace. This Creek is now entirely ruin’d, and turn’d into a Garden. The _Cynegion_, according to modern Writers, is a Place of some Note, so that even _Suidas_ himself thought it not impertinent to insert in his _Lexicon_ the following Story. _Criminals_, says he, _condemned to dye were thrown into the_ Cynegion, _which was adorned with some Statues_. Theodorus, _the Town-Clerk, going thither with_ Imerius _Keeper of the Records, saw a short, but a very thick Statue. Look upon the Man, says_ Imerius, _meaning himself, who built the_ Cynegion. _I returned in Answer, that_ Maximinus _built it, and that_ Aristides _measured out the Ground; when immediately one of its Pillars fell, which crushed_ Imerius _to Pieces, so that he died on the Spot. Being terrified at the Sight, I hastened to the Church, where I told what had happened. I attested the Fact with an Oath to those who questioned the Relation. Some of the Emperor’s Domesticks and Servants, when their Attendance was over, walked with me to the Place. Being surprized at the Death of_ Imerius, _and the Fall of the Pillar, a certain Philosopher named_ Johannes, _told ’em, that he had discovered from a small Animal, that a Man of some Note should dye_. Philip _of_ Macedon _believing him, ordered the little Creature to be bury’d in the Place, where this Accident happened_. _Justinus_ the _Third_ commanded _Tiberius_ and _Leontius_, after they had reign’d three Years, to have their Chains taken off, ty’d Body to Body, dragged thro’ the _Forum_ and the _Theatre_ by Horses; and after he had trampled upon the Necks of them, he ordered them to be slain in the _Cynegion_, in the Sight of the People. I look upon this _Theatre_ to be that which was called _Theatrum Venatorium_. For as there was such a _Theatre_ at _Rome_, so there was at _Constantinople_. For _Procopius_ reports, that the _Theatres_, _Hippodroms_, and the _Cynegia_, were greatly neglected, and fell to Ruine, thro’ the Avarice of _Justinian_.

CHAP. V.

_Of the_ Blachernæ, _the_ Triclinium _of the_ Blachernæ, _the_ Palace, _the_ Aqueduct _and many other Places of Antiquity_.

The Author of the Book entitled, _The antient Description of the_ Wards attests, that there stood in the fourteenth _Ward_, a Church, but does not name it; nor does he take Notice of the _Blachernæ_, although it was called so before the taking of _Constantinople_ by _Severus_, as I shall immediately make appear. The _Blachernæ_ stood without the Walls, not only in the Time when that Book was wrote, but even in the Reign of _Justinian_, who, as _Procopius_ writes, built a Church, which he dedicated to the _Virgin Mary_, before the Walls of the City, in a Place called the _Blachernæ_. _The Spectator_, says he, _when he enters this Church, will admire its large and bulky Building, yet secure from the Danger of falling by the Strength of its Foundation. You may behold in it_, adds he, _a stately Magnificence, without any Mixture of Gaiety, and too much Embellishment_. ’Tis my Opinion, that _Justinian_ only repaired this Church: For _Zonaras_ reports, that _Pulcheria_, the Wife of _Marcian_, built a Church in the _Blachernæ_, and dedicated it to the _Virgin Mary_. _Pomponius Lætus_ tells us, that this Church was built by _Theodosius_. _Cedrinus_ writes, that _Justin_ the Nephew of _Justinian_, added two Arches to the Church in the _Blachernæ_. So that ’tis plain from what _Procopius_ has wrote upon this Occasion, that the _Blachernæ_ stood without the Walls of the City, as it is no less evident from the Testimony of _Agathius_. _When the barbarous Nations_, says he, _approached_ Constantinople, _by the Permission of_ Justinian, _all the Churches situate without the Walls, from the_ Blachernæ _to the Black-Sea, were stripp’d of their Armaments, which were kept within the City_. There is at present to be seen, near the Gate called _Xylon_, and the Western Angle of the City, between the Foot of the sixth Hill, and the turning of a Mosque, situate within the City, (which the People say was dedicated to the _Virgin Mary_) a Spring now running, which the _Greeks_ tell us was consecrated to her. The Place, where the Spring is, is call’d the _Blachernæ_. Upon my first coming to _Constantinople_, some Remains of it were to be seen, but now there nothing appears even of its Ruines. From the Bottom of the sixth Hill, which rises above the Church in the _Blachernæ_, there shoots an _Aqueduct_ with two Pipes; one of which is stopp’d with a Cock, and the other flows in a constant Stream. I took Notice before, that _Andronicus_ the Emperor brought this _Aqueduct_ from the River _Hydrales_, into the _Ward_ of the _Blachernæ_, where there was no River Water till his Time. The Emperor _Anastasius_ built the great _Triclinium_ in the _Blachernæ_, which went under his Name, even in the Time of _Suidas_. _Zonaras_, and others assure us, that the Emperor _Tiberius_ built the publick Bath in the _Blachernæ_. ’Tis certain from some modern Histories, that there was in the Time of _Zonaras_, even down to the Reign of _Manuel_ the Emperor, an Imperial Palace in that Place. The Reason why ’tis called the _Blachernæ_, is mentioned by _Dionysius_ a _Byzantian_, in his _Navigation of the Bosporus_, from whom I shall just touch upon some Places described by him, which reach from the Foot of the fifth Hill, to the furthermost Angle of the City, and the sixth Hill. _Beyond Mellacopsas_, says he, (this, I took Notice of before, was at the Foot of the fifth Hill) _there are two Places which afford good Sport in Fishing, all the Year. One upon the Shallows under the Promontories, the other under the deep hollow Shores which are never ruffled by the Wind. The first of these is called_ Indigenas, _from some great Man who was a Native there; the other_ Pyracius, _from_ Pyræus, _a Port of_ Athens; _or as some believe, from some antient Inhabitant. There’s a Place between them called_ Cittos, _from the great Plenty of Ivy it produces._ There is also a steep Place called _Camara_, which adjoins that of _Pyracius_. ’Tis much exposed to the Wind, and therefore often feels the Roughness of the Sea. Thence, up higher, stands _Thalassa_, which is the Boundary of the _Ceratine Bay_, where the Rivers begin to flow into it. ’Tis thus called, either by Reason of their Nearness to the Sea, whose Salt Waters they mingle with their Freshness, or because it stands steddy, and more out of the Wind; or rather, because the constant Influx of the Rivers into it, brings down daily a muddy Substance into the Sea, which very much thickens it; though it serves for Nourishment to the Multitudes of Fish with which it abounds. The first Place that stands upon this calm Sea is called _Polyrrhetius_, from a Man named _Polyrrhetus_: The next is _Vateiascopia_, so called from the deep Sea that is about it; a third is the _Blachernæ_, which is a barbarous Word; and the last Place is the Marshes.

CHAP. VI.

_Of the Bridge near the Church of St._ Mamas; _of his_ Hippodrom; _of the Brazen Lyon, and the Sepulchre of the Emperor_ Mauritius.

Not only some Historians, but also _Suidas_ the Grammarian, have handed it down to us, that near the Church of St. _Mamas_, there stood a Bridge, which had twelve Arches; for there was a great Floud of Waters at that Place. There was also set up at the same Place a brazen Dragon; because ’twas reported that a Serpent had some Time liv’d there, which had deflour’d many Virgins. This Story was occasion’d by the Name of a Man, who was call’d _Basiliscus_, one of _Numerianus Cæsar_’s Life-Guard, who liv’d there, and built a Church, which _Zeno_ afterwards pull’d down. _Constantine_, call’d _Iconomachus_, because he was a profess’d Enemy to Images, order’d one _Andreas_ a Statuary, a Man of some Note in the _Blachernæ_, to be whipt to Death in the _Hippodrom_ of St. _Mamas_. _Zonaras_ tells us, that _Mauritius_ the Emperor was buried in the Church of St. _Mamas_, which was built by _Pharasmenes_, an Eunuch, and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to _Justinian_. _Cedrinus_ writes, that the Church of St. _Mamas_ stood near the Gate call’d _Xylocercon_. Others report, That _Crunna_, King of the _Bulgarians_, surrounded _Constantinople_ with an Army from the _Blachernæ_ to the _Porta Aurea_, and distrusting the Strength of his Forces to take the Town, he hasten’d to this Church, set Fire to a Palace that was near it, and that upon his Retreat, he carry’d off a Brazen Lyon plac’d in the _Hippodrom_, a Bear, a Dragon, and some curious Pieces of Marble. _Sozomen_ speaking of those Persons who were banish’d on St. _Chrysostom_’s Account, says, that when they were got without the Walls they met in a Place situate before the City, which _Constantine_ order’d to be cleans’d, to be pal’d round, and made it into a _Hippodrom_. This, I take it, was the Place which was afterwards call’d the _Hippodrom_ of St. _Mamas_. _Zonaras_ adds upon this Occasion, that _Leo_ the Emperor, scar’d by a Fire, which then rag’d in the City, flew to the Church of St. _Mamas_, and continu’d there for some Time. _Cedrinus_ mentions, that the Emperor diverted himself with Horse-racing, near the Church of St. _Mamas_ the Martyr, situate in the _Stenon_. ’Tis plain from the Authorities abovemention’d, that this Church was seated in the _Blachernæ_, and that there was a Bridge there, as is farther confirm’d by _Johannes Tzetzes_ in his _Variâ Historiâ_, where he says, that the Sea extending itself from the Streights of _Abydus_, to the Bridge of the _Blachernæ_, is call’d the _Hellespont_. ’Tis also evident, that this Bridge stood, where the Stone Piles of the old Bridge (when the Water is low, as ’tis in Summer) are seen at present, and stand between the Suburbs call’d the _Blachernæ_, and the Suburbs, which the _Turks_ call the _Aibasarium_. This, I am confident, is the same Bridge which the ancient Treatise _of the Wards of the City_, calls the Wooden Bridge, and places it in the fourteenth _Ward_, in which, as I observ’d, was the Suburbs call’d the _Hepdomum_. I desire the Reader to remark one Thing from _Suidas_, that St. _Mamas_ Bridge had either twelve Stone Arches, or else, that he was writing of another Church of St. _Mamas_, situate in another Place.

CHAP. VII.

_Of the seventh Hill, the twelfth Ward, and of the Pillar of_ Arcadius.

I take it for granted, from the Situation of the Pillar of _Arcadius_, now standing on the seventh Hill, call’d the _Xerolophon_, (which is divided from the other six Hills by a broad Valley,) that That is the twelfth _Ward_, which lies a great Way upon the Level, from the Entrance of the City at the _Porta Aurea_, and is lengthen’d, on the Left Side of it, by a gentle Descent, and bounded by the Sea. It contain’d the _Porta Aurea_, the _Trojan Portico’s_, the _Forum_, and Haven of _Theodosius_, and a Pillar with winding Steps in the Inside, built in the _Xerolophon_ by _Arcadius_. The Hill still preserves the same Name. Upon this Pillar the Emperor plac’d his Statue, which was thrown down, in the Reign of _Leo Conon_ by an Earthquake, which shook the whole City, overturn’d many Churches and Houses, and buried Multitudes of People under it. _Cedrinus_ assures us, that this Pillar was in all respects like that of _Theodosius_ erected in the _Taurus_. It has a _Base_, a _Pedestal_, and a _Capital_. The _Shaft_ of the Pillar, with its _Pedestal_ and _Capital_, consists of twenty one Stones. Above the _Capital_ are two Stones. The _Pedestal_ alone is built with five Stones, so closely cemented together, that if the Pillar had never felt the Shocks of an Earth-quake, or the Decays of Time, it had appear’d to have been one entire Stone. These Stones are plac’d one above another, and are hollow in the Inside. Each of them is the whole Compass of the Pillar, out of which are cut the Steps and Windows which beautify and enlighten it. I took upon me to measure the Compass of the _Shaft_ from the Stone which covers it at Top, down to the lowest Step of the _Pedestal_. This Stone therefore, thro’ which there is cut a Door, by which you ascend above the _Abacus_ of the _Capital_, is about thirteen Foot nine Inches high, and is itself the Roof and Arch of the whole Pillar. The Door is six Foot two Digits high, and three Foot nine Inches broad. The second Stone is six Foot high, in which is cut the uppermost Step above the _Abacus_ of the _Capital_. The third is five Foot and four Digits high, and contains the _Abacus_ and the whole _Capital_. The fifth is five Foot in height, wanting two Digits. The Sixth is four Foot nine Inches high. The Seventh five Foot and two Digits. The Eighth four Foot and four Digits. The Ninth is six Foot high. The Tenth five Foot. The Eleventh four Foot and fourteen Digits. The Twelfth four Foot nine Inches. The Thirteenth five Foot. The Fourteenth five Foot two Digits. The fifteenth five Foot and a half. The Sixteenth the same. The Seventeenth five Foot and ten Digits. The eighteenth six Foot and a half. The Nineteenth five Foot and four Digits. The Twentieth six Foot and a half. The Twenty first, where the _Shaft_ of the Pillar begins, six Foot and four Digits high. The _Pedestal_ consists of six Stones. The uppermost of which is four Foot nine Inches high. The Second is the same height. The Third four Foot. The Fourth four Foot six Inches. The Fifth the same. The Sixth and last is four Foot high. It has in all fifty six Windows, and two hundred thirty three Steps of two kinds. For some rise in square, others in circular Windings, after the Manner of some Shell-Fish. You ascend the _Pedestal_ by five square Winding Steps. Every Winding has at the Top of it a small Floor, which leads you from one Winding to another. The first and second Windings have six Steps each; the third eight; the fourth and fifth, nine each; the lowest of them all, which lies level with the Threshold of the Door, is ten Digits high, twelve Inches broad, and two Foot nine Inches long. The other square Windings are like this, and the Floor at the Top of each of them is two Foot nine Inches square. Upon the fifth Winding stands the _Shaft_ of the Pillar, the first Steps of which are ten Digits high; near the Wall they are a Foot broad, in the Middle a Foot and nine Inches, and in Length they are two Foot nine Inches. The Steps above them, are all of them, nine Digits high. The Inside of the _Shaft_ of the Pillar measures twenty eight Foot in Circumference. The Wall which encloses the Steps, in the lowest Part of it, is two Foot and three Digits, in the highest, ’tis one Foot nine Inches thick. If I should be thought too curious, in taking the Dimensions of every Stone, this Character with more Justice belongs to that Man, (and yet _Thucydides_ highly commends him for it) who by counting the Rows of Bricks of which they were built, took the height of the Enemies Walls. I was under some Apprehensions from the Savageness of the Inhabitants, lest they should catch me dropping my Line, had I measur’d it without, so that I lay under a Necessity of taking the Dimensions within; and by joining the height of one Stone to the height of another, I discover’d its Altitude. There are two Steps consisting of many Stones, which first shew themselves from the Surface of the Earth. Above them is the third Step, which is cut out of a Stone three Foot and four Digits high, and thirty three Foot and a half in Circumference. Upon the Stone which makes the third Step, stands the _Pedestal_. The first of the five Stones of which it consists, from the Threshold of the Door, is five Foot and a half high. Its Ornaments are a plain _Plinth_ three Foot five Digits high, a small _Tore_ five Digits high, an _Apophyge_ with a _Reglet_ nine Inches, another _Reglet_ above it two Digits, and a _Cornice_ engrav’d, which is nine Inches high. The _Frieze_, on three Sides, is curiously engrav’d with Trophies; the Northern Side of it, where the Door is, is not engrav’d at all. The _Cornice_ of the Pedestal bends downwards. At the bottom of it is a _Reglet_, above that an _Astragal_, adorn’d with Berries; then an _Ovolo_, and above that an _Astragal_ wreath’d like a Rope. Higher yet is a _Folial_ Bandage. There projects beyond the _Pedestal_ a kind of _Abacus_; on each side of which there are two _Fasces_ of Laurel-work, the largest of which is incurvated even to the bottom of the _Abacus_. On the Sides of this _Abacus_ there is a Sculpture of seven naked Boys, holding each of them in his Hand a Laureated _Fascis_. At every Angle of this _Abacus_ there stands an Eagle, and above it is the _Plinth_ of the Pillar, adorn’d with a _Foliage_, which projects very little. Above the _Plinth_ is a _Tore_, adorn’d with Laurel-work, which is filletted with a spiral Bandage. Above the _Tore_ there rises an _Apophyge_, upon which Stands the Shaft of the Pillar, which is carv’d with the Scenes of War, and of Battles. The Sculpture is much like that which adorns the Pillar of _Trajan_ in Old _Rome_. The _Trachelium_, or Top of the _Shaft_, is fluted perpendicularly. The lower part of its _Capital_ is adorn’d with _Apophyges_, an _Ovolo_, and an _Abacus_, which projects beyond the _Shaft_ two Foot and fourteen Digits. The _Abacus_, on all sides of it, is seventeen Foot, and nine Inches round. Above the _Abacus_ there is a Door, above which the Pillar rises in the Form of a _Cone_, where there is another Door above ten Foot high. We may look upon this Pillar to be of the _Tuscan_ Order, because both the _Base_, and the _Capital_ of it, are finished after the _Tuscan_ manner.

CHAP. VIII.

_Of the Statues, and the antient_ Tripos _of_ Apollo, _standing in the_ Xerolophon.

_Suidas_ writes, that the _Xerolophon_ was formerly call’d _Thema_, because it was a kind of Repository, and contained in it fifteen winding Apartments, the Statue of _Diana_, and _Severus_, who built it; besides a _Thermation_, a _Tripos_ from whence many Oracles were deliver’d. In this Place, the Founder of it us’d to offer Sacrifices; and among others he sacrificed a Virgin. _Priscian_, whom I find mention’d by _Benedictus Ægius_, indefatigably curious in his Search of Antiquity, observes, That the _Azoles_ sometimes inserted in a Word the Letter Ϝ, as I have taken Notice of in some Inscriptions of a very antient _Tripos_ of _Apollo_, still remaining in the _Xerolophon_; the Words of which are written after this Manner; Δημοφάϝων, Λαϝονάϝων. He tells us, that ’tis customary in another Place, meaning among the _Æolians_, to place an Ϝ between two Vowels of the same Word; as in ὄϝις, _ovis_, Δάϝος, _Davus_, ὦϝον, _ovum_. I have seen, says he, the same in some old Inscriptions, in very antient Characters, on some _Tripos’s_, especially on the _Tripos_ of _Apollo_, which is at _Constantinople_; as Δημοφόϝων for Δημοφόων, Λαϝοκόϝων for Λαοκόων. Others add, that there were the like Insertions in the _Xerolophon_, a little above the _Basis_ of the Pillars of _Marcian_, _Valentinian_, and _Theodosius_ the _Less_. _Zonaras_ tells us, that _Simeon_, a Prince of the _Bulgarians_, a Man of a cruel and turbulent Spirit, march’d an Army against the _Chrobatians_; when he was conquer’d, and lost his Army, partly by the Badness of the Roads, some Body inform’d the Emperor that the Statue plac’d above the Arch in the _Xerolophon_, looking Westward, was carv’d for the Statue of _Simeon_ of _Bulgaria_, and that if any one cut off the Head of the Statue, _Simeon_ should immediately die. The Emperor commands the Head of the Statue to be chopt off, and soon received the News that _Simeon_ was dead of a violent Pain of the Stomach. For he watch’d to a Minute the Time of his Death. As to the Port of _Theodosius_, that was in the same Place where the Gardens, which are now call’d the _Blancha_, stand at present. These Gardens are enclos’d with a Wall, and are seated in a Plain, adjoyning to the Shore of the _Propontis_, at the Foot of the sixth Hill. The Mouth of the Port stood Eastward, from whence the Pier extended it self Westward, in a direct Line, where at present stand the Walls of the City. The Pier was twelve Foot in Thickness; and, as I found by walking it, ’twas six Hundred of my Paces in length. ’Tis now entirely ruin’d. The Gardens, which are very spacious, abound with Sallets and Potherbs, but have very few Fruit-Trees. These Gardens are water’d with Pools, which they have within them, and which are the Remains of the old Port. I discover’d by the Pier, and Situation of the Place, that ’twas above a Mile in compass. In the Mouth of the Port, not altogether unfit for Ships at present, without the City Wall, you still see a Fortress in its Ruins, surrounded by the Sea. The unknown Writer of _the Empire_ of _Constantinople_ asserts, That it was first called _Thema_, afterwards the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_; tho’ it seems to me rather to be the _Forum_ of _Arcadius_, by Reason the Pillar of _Arcadius_ joyns to it. For the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_, in all Probability, stood near the Port of _Theodosius_. This is no more than what is conformable to the Rules of Architecture, which prescribe, that a Market should be built near a Port. I am of Opinion, that it was formerly call’d the Port of _Eleutherius_, if we may credit those Writers who affirm, That _Constantine_ the _Great_ built a Wall from the Ridge of the first Hill to the Port of _Sophia_, and the Port of _Eleutherius_, built by _Constantine_ the _Great_, to prevent the Inundations of the Sea. ’Tis called the Port of _Eleutherius_, because, when ’twas built, he was Surveyor of the Works. It was for this Reason, that there was a Marble Statue erected to him in that Port, bearing on his Shoulders a Basket of Marble, and holding in his Hand a Marble Spade. They add further, that _Irena_, and her Son _Constantine_, built him a noble Seat; and that from that Seat, as far as the _Amastrianum_, reach’d the _Hippodrom_, which was built by _Theodosius_ the _Great_, and was demolish’d by _Irena_. _Zonaras_ writes, that _Irena_, after she was remov’d from the Government by _Constantine_ her Son, liv’d in a House which she built in the Port of _Eleutherius_. The _Portico’s_, which the _ancient Description of the Wards of the City_ names with the Epithet _Troadeæ_, others mention with that of _Troadesiæ_, and tell us, that _Constantine_ the _Great_ built the Walls of the City as far as the _Portico’s_ call’d _Porticus Troadesiæ_ (that is, the _Trojan Portico’s_) and the _Porta Aurea_, which stood in the twelfth _Ward_. I am of Opinion, that they were call’d the _Trojan Portico’s_, because they contain’d some Things of the like Kind with that which was called the _Porticus Varia_. ’Tis reported, says he, that in the _Portico_, formerly call’d _Plesiactia_, and now _Pæcilla_, or _Porticus Varia_, a celebrated Painter drew the Face of _Laodice_, on the Picture of _Elpinica_. I had not known it by the Name it goes at present, had it not been for a Spring near it which they call Χρυσοπηγὴ, as deriving its Name from the _Porta Aurea_. This Spring, to this Day, constantly flows, and is drank with great Devotion by the _Greeks_, who hold all Springs, near their Churches, to be sacred. There’s nothing of the Church remaining at present, tho’ _Procopius_ takes Notice of it. _Justinian_, says he, _built two Churches to the_ Virgin Mary, _before the Walls of the City one in the_ Blachernæ, _the other in a Place call’d_ Πηγὴ, _where there is a large Wood of Cypresses, a verdant Meadow, and a delightful Garden, which produces a great Store of fine Fruit, and where there is also a gentle Spring, which affords very good drinking Water. One of the Churches stood near the Sea-shore, the other near the_ Porta Aurea. _Both of them_, he adds, _were near the end of the City Walls, and were upon Occasion impregnable Fortresses to it_. From hence I would remark, that in the Time of _Justinian_, the Angle of the City, which they call the Angle of the seven Towers, was not within the City; but that the Land-wall from the _Porta Aurea_, straitned the Angle of the City into a more narrow Compass, as appears from the Situation of the Monastery of _Studius_, which stood upon a piece of Ground, which was formerly look’d upon to be in the Suburbs, but now stands further within the Walls, than the Angle of the seven Towers. He proceeds, and tells us, that _Justinian_, at a vast Expence, upon the Entrance of the _Porta Aurea_ on the right Hand, rebuilt the Temple of _Ja_, (which Time had wholly defac’d) for the Service of the True GOD. The Observation I would make from hence is, that the _Porta Aurea_ stood near the seventh Hill, call’d the _Xerolophon_, which is also confirm’d by _Zonaras_, who writes, That in the Time of _Leo_, many Churches and Houses, the Statue of _Arcadius_, plac’d upon a Pillar in the _Xerolophon_, and the Statue of _Theodosius_ the _Great_, placed upon the _Porta Aurea_, as also the City Walls, reaching to the Continent on the Field side, were overthrown by an Earthquake. _Cedrinus_ asserts, that the Statue of _Victory_, near the _Porta Aurea_, was overturn’d by the same Earthquake. Other Historians mention, that by the same Earthquake, which happen’d the Vᵗʰ of the _Calends_ of _November_, many sacred Buildings, and many others of common Use, with Multitudes of People, were destroy’d; and that the Statue of _Constantine_ the _Great_, which stood upon the Gate of _Attalus_, with the Gate it self, was demolish’d by it. It is therefore a great Mistake in those, who take the _Porta Aurea_ to be the same Gate which is now call’d _Oria_, and is seated in the Northern Part of the City, which, as I observ’d before, was called the Port of _Neorius_, since ’tis plain from what I have mentioned, that the _Porta Aurea_ was in the Western Part of the City. This is also evident from the _antient Description_ of the _Wards_ of _Constantinople_, which tells us, that the Length of the City, from the _Porta Aurea_ to the Sea-shore, in a direct Line, is fourteen Thousand and seventy five Feet. _Cedrinus_ takes Notice, that the Elephants stabled in the _Porta Aurea_, were much of that Kind, with which _Theodosius_ made his publick Entry into the City. ’Tis said that _Theodosius_ the _Less_ who built the Walls of the City as far as the _Blachernæ_, brought the Statues of those Elephants, which are plac’d upon the _Porta Aurea_, from the Temple of _Mars_ at _Athens_. _Cedrinus_ asserts, that _Philip_ King of _Macedon_ built the great Church of _Mocius_ the Martyr, and a Church to St. _Anne_ in a Place call’d _Secundus_. _Procopius_ says, that both these Churches were built by _Justinian_. I have seen some Remains of the Church of _Mocius_, near a large _Cistern_, built by _Justinian_, on the Top of the seventh Hill. All its Pillars are standing, and it goes still under the Name of _Mocius_. Some Historians, and _Suidas_ the _Grammarian_ say, that this _Cistern_ was built by _Anastasius Dicorus_. It may be worth Enquiry, whether the _Moneta_, which the _antient Description of the Wards_ places in this Ward, was the Temple of _Juno Moneta_, or the Treasury. For the _Grand Seignor_, to this Day, makes use of the Castle with seven Towers for a Treasury. _Suidas_ writes, that the Statue of _Juno_ was supported by a Brazen Arch, made somewhat in Form of a Pair of Barbers Scissars, but takes no Notice where it stood; so that I desire the Reader would lay no great Stress upon what I have said of the _Moneta_.

CHAP. IX.

_Of the Columns now remaining on the Seventh Hill._

The Church standing here is called _Studios_, because it was built by one _Studius_ an eminent Citizen of _Constantinople_. It was he, says _Suidas_, who built this Church with a handsome Monastery. _Justinian_, in his _Constitutions_, takes Notice of him, when he says, That there were two Biers plac’d in the sacred Treasury; one to the Memory of the Famous _Studius_, and the other to the Memory of the Magnificent _Stephanus_. The Monastery built by _Studius_ was call’d _Studium_, which is entirely demolish’d. The Church remains, tho’ converted into a Mosque. In its Porch are four Pillars with a _Trabeation_ curiously finish’d. In the Inside of the Mosque, there are on each side seven green Pillars, streak’d with black Veins, and look as if they were inlay’d with Pieces of Stone of another kind. Each of them measures in Circumference six Foot and six Digits. Their _Capitals_, and _Architraves_, are finish’d after the _Corinthian_ Manner, as are those which stand in the _Vestibule_. In the upper Part of it stands another Order of six Pillars. In the Courts of the Mosque is a _Cistern_; the Roof of it, which is Brick-work, is supported by twenty three lofty _Corinthian_ Pillars. The Monastery of _Studius_ is now within the Walls of the City, tho’ it formerly stood without it, near the way you go from the Pillar of _Arcadius_ to the Gate of the seven Towers. The Passage of this Gate is at present fill’d up; the Jambs of it are two _Corinthian_ Pillars of spotted Marble, streak’d with green Veins, which sustain eight smaller Pillars, which support three Arches above. On the left Side of the Gate are six Marble Tables, all of which are enclos’d, some with round, some with square Pilasters, upon which are carv’d many fine Statues. They are all of them Naked, of exquisite Workmanship, in a fighting Posture, with Clubs in their Hands, the tallest of which have engrav’d over them winged _Cupids_. On the right Side of the Gate are six more Tables, enclos’d as the former. Upon the lowest of these there lies a young Man, with his Face upwards, and his Legs folded, holding a musical Instrument in his Hand. There hangs over him a little Figure, in the Likeness of a _Cupid_, and above the _Cupid_ there rises a Woman. Upon the highest Table there’s carved a naked Statue, with a Club in his Hand; his right Arm is cover’d with a Lyon’s Skin, and with his left Hand he is leading Dogs. Above him is the Statue of a Lyoness with full Dugs. Upon another Table are carv’d two Husbandmen carrying Baskets full of Grapes; and upon another is the Statue of a flying Horse. The Bridle is held by a Woman, behind whom stand two Women more: At the Top of the Table there’s another Woman in a recumbent Posture, and opposite to her a young Man lying on the Ground. I took particular Notice of these Figures, by Reason of the Antiquity, and the admirable Sculpture of them. I saw also upon the seventh Hill, among others, four Mosques of curious Workmanship. Their _Vestibules_ and Pillars were all of Marble. Three of them stood on the Eastern Side of the Hill, two of whose _Vestibules_ were adorn’d with six lofty and large Pillars; two of which were of _Thebean_ Marble, and the other four of different kinds of Marble, vein’d with a dark green. The other stands near the Pillar of _Arcadius_, lately built by the Consort of _Solyman_ the _Grand Seignor_, (with a handsome _Caravansera_, and a College, where the _Turkish_ and _Arabian_ Learning is profess’d) in which I counted more than sixty Pillars of different kinds. On the Top of the Hill there are two other Mosques, one of which has _Bagnio’s_, and Colleges joyning to it. The _Vestibule_ of it is beautify’d with six Pillars of _Thebean_ Marble, which measure each six Foot in Circumference. Their _Bases_ and _Capitals_ are finish’d after the _Turkish_ Manner. The _Shafts_ of the Pillars are very ancient, especially of those two which face the Door of the Mosque, whose _Hypotrachelions_ at Top are more slender than the _Shafts_, tho’ in the lower Parts of them, they are equal to them, as a Man’s Neck is less in Circumference near the Head, than the Shoulders. ’Tis adorn’d with one _Annulet_, which rises in the manner of a Ring. Above it there’s another _Annulet_, which is broad and flat. I saw no _Hypotrachelion_, all the Time I was at _Constantinople_, which came so near the Model of _Vitruvius_, as this; who delivers it as his Judgment, that the _Hypotrachelion_ ought to be contracted in the upper Part of it, as you may see in his third Book _de Ionicis_. There’s another Mosque on the same Hill, the _Vestibule_ of which is beautify’d with six very lofty Pillars; in the College Court there are fourteen, and as many in a _Portico_ adjoyning to it.

CHAP. X.

_Of the Thirteenth_ Ward _of the City, call’d the_ Sycene Ward, _of the Town of_ Galata, _sometimes nam’d_ Pera.

The _Antient Description of the Wards of the City_ takes Notice, that _Galata_ was formerly a Part of the City. The Thirteenth _Ward_ of _New Rome_, says the Author, is the _Sycene Ward_, which is divided from it by a narrow Bay, and preserves an Intercourse with it, by Boats and Shipping. It is seated on the Side of a Hill, except a broad Tract of Land at the Foot of it, which lies upon the Level. _Stephanus_ says, that the Town of _Sycæ_ was situated against _New Rome_, and that it was call’d in his Time _Sycæ Justinianæ_, but does not give the Reason why it was call’d so. Probably it was, because _Justinian_ either repair’d or rebuilt it; for which Reasons principally Cities frequently change their Names. I wonder that _Procopius_ never took Notice of this Place, since he has given us an exact Description of all the Edifices of the Bay, call’d the _Chrysoceras_, which were either built or repair’d by him; unless perhaps the Mistake be in _Procopius_, by inserting the Word _Jucundianæ_ instead of _Justinianæ_, when he tells us, that _Justinian_ rebuilt the Palaces of the Suburbs in the _Chalcopratia_, as also in the Place call’d _Sycæ Jucundianæ_. If the Fault be not in _Procopius_, ’tis an Errour of _Stephanus_, who writes _Justinianæ_ for _Jucundianæ_. But ’tis plain, that _Stephanus_ wrote long before the Time of _Justinian_; so that if there be any Blunder, ’tis none of _Stephanus_, but _Hermolaus_, a Grammarian of _Constantinople_, who abridg’d the Commentaries of _Stephanus_, and dedicated them to _Justinian_. If I might give my Opinion, I should rather call it _Sycæ Justinianæ_, than _Jucundianæ_, because it appears to me it should be so, not only by comparing some Books of _Procopius_ and _Justinian_ which have been publish’d, but also by the Authorities of several MSS. _Justinian_ asserts in his _Constitutions_, _That ’tis agreeable to Equity, if a Corpse be carried to the Grave to a great Distance, that the Deacons attending it, should have some Acknowledgment_. He subjoyns a little after, _That he is of the same Opinion, if the Corpse be bury’d within the new Walls of the City or this Side of the_ Sycæ Justinianæ. This is but a small Procession, and it requires not much Time or Pains to walk thither; _but_, says he, _if the Body be carried beyond the Walls of this flourishing City, or beyond any other Stairs, than those which lead to_ Sycæ——There’s no Occasion to add what follows. I would only have the Reader observe, that the Word πέρασμα which the _Latins_ interpret _Terminus_, or a Boundary, signifies properly _Trajectus_, a Ferry, or the _Stairs_ from whence you sail from one Place to another. ’Tis evident, from what I have quoted, that the Town call’d _Sycæ_ is on the other side of the Bay facing _Constantinople_, altho’ _Stephanus_ has not declar’d against what Part of the City it lies. I observe notwithstanding from the _Treatise_ above mention’d, that the sixth _Ward_ reach’d from the _Forum_ of _Constantine_ to the Ferry against _Sycæ_, which is now call’d the Ferry of _Pera_, or _Galata_. As I would pay a just Regard to the Authorities of some more modern Historians, I hall produce several Testimonies from them. They assert, that _Absimarus_, the Commander in Chief of the Forces which besieg’d _Constantinople_, harbour’d in the Port of _Sycæ_ against the City. _Evagrius_ writes, that the Heads of _Longinus_, and _Theodorus_, stuck upon Poles, were sent to _Constantinople_ by _Johannes_ a _Scythian_, and by the Emperor’s Command were fix’d upon the Shore of _Sycæ_, opposite to _Constantinople_; a pleasant Spectacle to the Inhabitants of the City! He adds further, That _Vitalianus_ made an Incursion as far as _Sycæ_, and that when he came to an Anchor there, the Emperor _Anastasius_ sent _Marinus_ an _Assyrian_ Admiral to fight him. Both Fleets prepare for the Engagement; the one facing _Constantinople_, the other _Sycæ_. For some Time they kept their Stations; after some small Skirmishes, and Attacks on both Sides, the Fight began near the Places call’d the _Vitharia_. _Vitalianus_ having lost most of his Men, was forced to bear off, so that there was not the least Appearance of an Enemy in all the _Bosporus_. Nor am I induc’d to change my Opinion by the Authority of _Strabo_, who seems to place _Sycæ_ at some Distance from the Bay. _The_ Bosporus, says he, _straitning it self from the Promontory into the Measure of five_ Stadia, _or Furlongs, widens at the Harbour plac’d below_ Sycæ _into thirty Furlongs, and from_ Sycæ _to the_ Chrysoceras _it contracts it self again into five Furlongs_. Nor would this Opinion any ways contradict what I have said before, if my Author had meant by the _Ceras_ of the _Byzantians_, what _Pliny_ ’tis plain did, _viz._ the _Bosporian Promontory_ where _Byzantium_ stood. But _Strabo_ immediately subjoins, that the _Ceras_ was a Bay which was sixty Furlongs in length; and therefore it appears to me, that the Mistake lies either in _Cod. Strabon._ or in the Historian himself, as is fully evident from the Authority of _Dionysius_, a very ancient Writer of the History of _Constantinople_, which was his Native Place. This Author has recorded it, that _Sycodes_, or _Sycæ_, is the same Place near the Bay call’d _Ceras_, where _Galata_ stands at present, as I have more evidently shewn in my _Treatise of the Bosporus_. The People of _Pera_ therefore are grosly in the wrong, when they tell us, that _Pera_ was first built by the _Genoese_; when it is plain that _Pera_ was built long before they were suppos’d either to have purchas’d the Town, or to have receiv’d it as a Reward of their Sea-Services, from some Emperor of _Constantinople_; since _Justinian_ places _Sycæ_ within the Walls of the City, and _Agathius_ assures us, it was enclosed with Walls, when he writes, that the People of _Constantinople_ were in such a Consternation upon the Approach of the Enemy, that the Forces of _Justinian_ were obliged to climb the Walls of _Sycæ_, to make a more vigorous Defence. _Sycæ_, by _Stephanus_, is call’d a City, as it is also by some modern Writers; but more antient Authors, who liv’d before _Galata_ was taken by the _Genoese_, call it the Cittadel of _Galata_. They tell us farther, that a Fleet of the _Saracens_ was station’d from the _Magnaura_ to the _Cyclobion_; and that after it had continu’d two Days in that Station, Part of it was driven by a Storm to the Cittadel of _Galata_, as far as the _Clydion_, where the Emperor of _Constantinople_ destroy’d it, from _Acropolis_, with liquid Fire. _Zonaras_ writes, that when _Michael_ the Emperor was besieged both by Sea and Land, he was so terribly distrest, that he was forc’d to lay a Boom across the Sea from _Acropolis_, to a small Town on the opposite Shore. There is at this Day a Gate at _Galata_, which is call’d the _Boom-Gate_. ’Tis however beyond Dispute, that _Galata_ was more than once enlarg’d by the _Genoese_: This appears from the Walls, which at several Times they have built about it, being fortified on the East by Double, and on the West by Treble Walls, denoting the gradual Increase of the Town. You may see at present the antient _Sycæ_, enclos’d in the middle of _Galata_, situate against the sixth _Ward_, and the _Sycene_ Ferry, all built on the Side of a Hill, just as ’tis represented in the _Antient Description_ of the _Wards_, except one broad Piece of Ground, which lies upon a Level on the Shore at the Foot of the Hill. This Tract of Land was at least a hundred _Roman_ Paces broad. For at present, between the Hill and the Bay, there is a Plain to be seen of an equal, if not of a larger Breadth; because, in such a Length of Time, it is widen’d, as may be observ’d daily, by the Abundance of Filth and Nastiness, which is cast about it. To make it subside at the Bottom, the Inhabitants have fix’d wooden Troughs upon Piles, which they drive into the Earth by an Engine, much like a Rammer. By this Means the Plain upon the Shore is enlarg’d, and made more commodious for Havens. But that the Reader may understand more perfectly where the _Sycene Ward_ stood formerly, I will describe the Situation of _Galata_, as it stands at present.

CHAP. XI.

_A Description of_ Galata; _of the Temples of_ Amphiaraus, Diana, _and_ Venus; _of the Theatre of_ Sycæ, _and the_ Forum _of_ Honorius.

The _Sycene Ward_, which is commonly called _Galata_, or _Pera_, ought more properly to be called the _Peræan Ward_. Thus it is that _Josephus_ calls _Judæa_, because it lay on the _other Side_ of the River _Jordan_: And thus it is, that _Strabo_ calls that Part of the Countrey which lies on the _other Side_ of _Euphrates_. The Reason alledg’d by the Inhabitants, why ’tis call’d _Galata_, is, as they tell you, (being impos’d upon by the Allusion of the Name) that _Milk_ was formerly sold there: And I make no Question of it, did they but know, that _Galata_ was formerly call’d _Sycæ_, they would derive its Name from the Word _Fig_; and pretend to justify their Mistake from the Authority of _Dionysius_ their Countryman, who says, that it was originally call’d _Sycæ_, from the Fairness and Abundance of that Fruit which grew there. But their Conjectures had been grounded upon a better Foundation, if they had deriv’d the Name of _Galata_ from the _Galatæ_, back’d by the Authority of _Johannes Tzetzes_ (a Citizen of _Constantinople_, and a very industrious Grammarian) in his _Var. Hist._ written above four hundred Years ago. This Author tells us, that _Brenus_ a _Gaul_, and Commander in Chief of the _Gauls_, whom the _Greeks_ call Γαλάται, _pass’d over the Sea_ from thence to a Place of _Byzantium_, and that this Place for this Reason was call’d _Pera_, which was after their Arrival call’d _Galata_. This Place is seated partly on a Hill, and partly on a Plain at the Foot of it. This Hill is enclosed on the East and West by two Valleys, each of which is about a Mile in length. The Ridge of the Hill shoots from North to South, and is in no Part of it less than two hundred Paces broad, and of equal Length with the Valleys that enclose it, and joins to the Plain upon the Continent. The South Side of this Hill, and the Plain below it, is bounded by the Bay of _Ceras_, which makes it almost a _Peninsula_ of a semicircular Figure, in the Form of a drawn Bow, with this Difference only, that the Western Point of it is larger by half; and not quite so long as the Eastern. _Galata_, as ’tis enclos’d with a Wall, is four Thousand and four Hundred Paces in Compass. It varies, in many Places, as to its Breadth. In the middle of the Town ’tis six hundred Paces broad. The Bay and the Walls stand at twenty Paces Distance. The Plain that runs between the Bay and the Hill, is a hundred and eighty, and the Hill it self four hundred Paces broad. The Eastern Side of _Galata_, at the first Entrance of it, is four hundred Paces in breadth; after which it contracts it self into the Breadth of two hundred and sixty Paces only. The Western Side of it, which stands without Old _Galata_, rises upon a moderate Ascent, which winds Southward, and adjoyns to a small Descent, which terminates Westward near the Walls of Old _Galata_. The Town therefore of _Galata_ stands upon a Treble Descent; one of which winds from North to South, another falls Easterly, and another at West. The Declivity which crosses the Breadth of it, stretches from North to South; and is so steep, that in many Places you are forced to climb it by Steps; so that you ascend the first Floor of the Houses, which stands upon a Level, by Ladders. The Eastern and Western Side of _Galata_ have a double Declivity; one from North to South, the other to East and West; so that not only those Parts of it which lie in a strait Line, but those Ways also which are winding, or lie Cross-ways, have their Descents; but the Eastern Side of the Town is more upon the Declivity than the Western Side of it. To be short, _Galata_ is of such a Steepness, that if all the Houses were of an equal Height, the upper Rooms would have a full View of the Sea, and of all the Ships sailing up and down in it. And not only _Galata_, but almost the whole City of _Constantinople_ would have the same Privilege, if that Law, which was first made by _Zeno_, and afterwards ratify’d by _Justinian_, was in full Force. This Law expressly forbids any Man to hinder or obstruct an open and entire View of the Sea, or indeed a Side Prospect of it, and enjoyns the Inhabitants to build at least at a hundred Paces Distance from it. The Level Part of the Town, which runs between the Bottom of the Hill and Bay, is, in no Place of it, less than two hundred Paces broad. Towards the Ends of it ’tis much broader; and, in some Places, it widens to the Length of five hundred Paces. The Town is thrice as long as it is broad. It extends it self in Breadth from North to South, in Length from East to West. The Western Side of it is broader than the Eastern, and almost of an equal Breadth with the middle of the City. For in a Length of five hundred Paces, ’tis no less than five hundred Paces broad. The Eastern Side of _Galata_ is more narrow, where it is no more than two hundred and sixty Paces broad. The Shore round the Town is full of Havens. Between the Walls and the Bay is a Piece of Ground, where are Abundance of _Taverns_, _Shops_, _Victualing-houses_, besides several _Wharfs_, where they unlade their Shipping. It has six Gates, at three of which there are _Stairs_, from whence you sail over to _Constantinople_. _Galata_ is so situate to the North of _Constantinople_, that it faces the first, second, and third Hills, and the first and second Valley of that City; having in Front the Bay of _Ceras_, and _Constantinople_, and behind it some Buildings of the Suburbs. For many of these Buildings stand partly on the Top of the Hill, and partly on the Sides of it. The Town, it self does not rise to the Ridge of the Hill. Where _Galata_ rises highest, there is yet standing a very lofty Tower, where there is an Ascent of about three hundred Paces, full of Buildings, and beyond that is the Ridge of the Hill upon a Level, about two hundred Paces broad, and two thousand Paces long. Thro’ the middle of it runs a broad Way full of Houses, Gardens, and Vineyards. This is the most pleasant Part of the Town; from hence, and from the Sides of the Hill, you have a full View of the Bay of _Ceras_, the _Bosporus_, the _Propontis_, the seven Hills of _Constantinople_, the Countrey of _Bithynia_, and the Mountain _Olympus_, always cover’d with Snow. And besides these, there are many other additional Buildings, which adorn the Hills, and Vales adjoining to this Town. It has the same Number of Hills and Vales as _Constantinople_ it self; so that the Inhabitants, whenever they please, can make the Town one third larger than it is at present; and if the Grandeur of the _Byzantian Empire_ continues a hundred Years longer, _Galata_, it is not improbable, may seem to rival _Constantinople_ it self. They who write that _Byzas_, the Founder of _Byzantium_, built the Temple of _Amphiaraus_ in _Sycæ_, are somewhat in the wrong, tho’ not grosly mistaken. For _Dionysius_ a _Byzantian_ tells us, that behind _Sycæ_ stood the Temple of _Amphiaraus_, which was built by those who transplanted a Colony to _Constantinople_, under the Command of _Byzas_. Both the _Grecians_, and the _Megarians_, honour’d _Amphiaraus_ as a God. But altho’ the Temple of _Amphiaraus_ did not stand in the Place which _Dionysius_ calls _Sycæ_; yet the Word _Sycæ_ signified a larger Tract of Ground, after it was made a City; so that the Temples of _Amphiaraus_, of _Diana Lucifera_, and of _Venus Placida_, all stood within the Limits of it, as I have fully made it appear in my _Treatise_ of the _Bosporus_. But there are no Remains of these Buildings at present, nor of those Edifices, which, the _Antient Description of the City_ tells you, were in the _Sycene Ward_. The oldest Man now living cannot so much as tell where those Temples antiently stood, nor ever read or heard, whether there was ever such a Place as the _Sycene Ward_. Thus far only we can guess from the Rules and Usuage of _Architecture_, that the _Theatre_, and _Forum_ of _Honorius_, stood at the Bottom of the Hill upon a Plain, where _Theatres_ are generally built, as I frequently observ’d in my Travels thro’ _Greece_. There was standing a _Forum_, in a Level Ground, (near to the Haven, where is now built a _Caravansera_, in the Ruines of a Church dedicated to St. _Michael_) when first I came to _Constantinople_. This _Forum_ was well supply’d with Water by an ancient subterraneous _Aqueduct_. In short, there is nothing to be seen at present of old _Sycæ_. Those antient Pillars we see in some Mosques at _Galata_, are said to have been imported by the _Genoese_: Some of them are of very antient Workmanship, and well finish’d. The _Cistern_ of St. _Benedict_, now despoil’d of its Roof, and three hundred Pillars, which supported it, (now turn’d into a _Cistern_ for watering the Priest’s Gardens) shews it to be a very antique and expensive Work.

From what has been wrote upon this Subject, the Reader may learn how renown’d _Constantinople_ has been for its Monuments of Antiquity. It would take up another Volume, to enlarge upon the Publick Buildings of the _Mahometans_ at present, and to explain for what Uses they were intended. I shall just touch upon a few Things, which are the most remarkable. The City, as it now stands, contains more than three hundred Mosques, the most magnificent of which were built by their Emperors and _Basha’s_, and are all cover’d at Top with Lead and Marble, adorn’d with Marble Columns, the Plunder and Sacrilege of Christian Churches, as these were before beautify’d with the Spoils of the Heathen Temples. It has above a hundred publick and private _Bagnio’s_, fifty of which are very spatious, and of two Lengths, much like those I have describ’d, built by their Emperour _Mahomet_. Their _Caravansera’s_, and publick Inns, are much above a Hundred; the most famous of which, in the Middle of their Court-yard, are furnish’d with Fountains of Water, brought from the Fields adjoyning to the City. Their Emperors have peculiarly distinguish’d themselves in this Respect. Thus does _Eusebius_ enlarge in the Praise of _Constantine_: In the middle of their _Fora_, says he, you may see their Fountains adorn’d with the Emblems of a good _Pastor_, well known to those who understand the Sacred Writings; namely, the History of _Daniel_ and the _Lyons_ figur’d in Brass, and shining with Plates of Gold. _Valens_, and _Andronicus_, at a vast Expence made Rivers, at a remote Distance, tributary to the Town; partly by directing their Courses under Arches, at this Time appearing above Ground, and partly by Channels dug under it. Several other Emperors, with no less Cost, made themselves Fish-ponds, and subterraneous Lakes, by after Ages call’d _Cisterns_, in every Ward of the City, and that principally to supply them with Water in Case of a Siege. But the Enemies of _Constantinople_ lie at present at such a Distance from them, that they have either entirely ruin’d their _Cisterns_, or converted them to another Use. I shall take no Notice of the stately Houses of their Noblemen and _Basha’s_, nor of the Grand _Signor_’s Palace, which spreading it self all over old _Byzantium_, is constantly supply’d with Rivers, which flow in upon it, from distant Parts of the Neighbouring Countrey. I pass by their Lakes and Conduits, seated in every Part of the City, which serve them not only with Water to drink, but likewise carry off the Filth of it into the Sea, and wash away those Impurities of the Town, which clog and encumber the Air, and for which great Cities are generally look’d upon as unwholsome. I shall not mention at present, that almost all the Buildings of _Constantinople_ are low, and made out of the Ruines, which the Fire and Earthquakes had spar’d; that many of them are not two Story high, rebuilt with rough Stones, or with burnt, and sometimes unburnt Bricks. I omit also the Houses of _Galata_, built by the _Genoese_. The _Greeks_ who profess Christianity, have lost their six hundred Churches, and have not one left, of any Note, except the Church belonging to the Monastery, where their _Patriarch_ dwells. The rest are either entirely ruin’d, or prostituted to the _Mahometan_ Worship. The _Francks_ have about Ten, the _Armenians_ only Seven. The _Jews_ have upwards of Thirty Synagogues, which are scarce sufficient to hold the numerous Congregations of that populous Nation. The Reader will view in a better Light the antient _Monuments_ of _Constantinople_, when he shall peruse the _Antient Description of the Wards of the City_, finished before the Time of _Justinian_, and annex’d at the End of this Book. When this _Treatise_ was first wrote, _Constantinople_ was so fully peopled, that those who inhabited the _Fora_, and the broad Ways were very straitly pent up; nay, their Buildings were so closely joyn’d to one another, that the Sky, at the Tops of them, was scarce discernible. And as to the Buildings in the Suburbs, they were very thickly crowded together, as far as _Selymbria_, and the _Black Sea_; and indeed some Part even of the neighbouring Sea, was cover’d with Houses supported by Props under them. For these, and many other _Monuments_, was _Constantinople_ antiently renown’d; none of which are remaining at present, except the _Porphyry_ Pillar of _Constantine_, the Pillar of _Arcadius_, the Church of St. _Sophia_, the _Hippodrom_ now in Ruines, and a few _Cisterns_. No Historian has recorded the _Antiquities_ of Old _Byzantium_, before it was destroy’d by _Severus_; altho’ it is reasonable to believe, there were very many of them, especially if it be consider’d, that it long flourish’d in those Times of _Heroism_, when Art and Ingenuity were in high Estimation, and when _Rhodes_, no ways preferable to _Byzantium_, was beautify’d with no less than three thousand _Monuments_. ’Tis easy to form a Judgment, from the Strength and Proportion of its outside Walls, what beauteous Scenes of Cost, and Workmanship were contain’d within. This we know however for a Certainty, that _Darius_, _Philip_ of _Macedon_, and _Severus_, demolish’d many of their _Antiquities_, and when they had ravag’d the whole City, that the _Byzantians_ made a noble Stand against the Forces of _Severus_, with Statues, and other Materials, which were Part of the Ruines of the City. I have already in Part accounted for the Ruines of these _Curiosities_; I shall at present briefly mention some other Causes which contributed thereto; the Principal of which was the Division of their Emperors amongst themselves; frequent Fires, sometimes accidentally, sometimes designedly occasion’d, not only by their Enemies from abroad, but by their own Factions, and civil Dissensions among themselves; some of which burnt with a constant Flame three or four Days together. These Fires were so raging and terrible, that they did not only consume what was purely combustible, but they wasted the Marble Statues and Images, and Buildings made of the most tough and solid Materials whatsoever; nay, so fierce were they, that they devour’d their own Ruines, and laid the most mountainous Heaps of Rubbish even with the Ground. Nor were the antient _Monuments_ of Old _Byzantium_ demolish’d only by their Enemies, but even by those Emperors who had the greatest Regard and Affection for the City; the Chief of whom was _Constantine_ the _Great_, who, as _Eusebius_ reports, spoil’d the Temples of the Heathen Gods, laid waste their fine Porches, entirely unroofed them, and took away their Statues of Brass, of Gold and Silver, in which they glory’d for many Ages. And to add to the Infamy, that he expos’d them by way of Mockery and Ridicule, in all the most publick Places of the City. To disgrace them the more, he tells us, that he fill’d it with his own Statues of Brass, exquisitely finish’d; and then concludes, that he was so far incensed against the _Heathen Monuments_, that he made a Law for the utter Abolishment of them, and the entire Destruction of their Temples. How far _Eusebius_ himself, and other _Christian_ Authors were provoked against them, is plainly discernible in their Writings; namely, that they inveigh’d with the same Severity against the Images of their Gods, as they do at present against our Statues. The Emperors _Basilius_ and _Gregorius_, were bitterly enrag’d not only against the Images themselves, but against those who wrote too freely in Justification of them. I shall not mention many other Emperors, Successors of _Constantine_, who were so much exasperated even with the Images of the _Christians_, that they not only destroy’d them, but proceeded with such Rigour against those who devis’d, or painted, or engrav’d them, that they were entitled the _Iconomachi_, or Champions that fought against them. I shall say nothing of the Earthquakes, mention’d in History, which happen’d in the Reigns of _Zeno_, _Justinian_, _Leo Conon_, _Alexius Comnenus_, whereby not only the most considerable Buildings of _Constantinople_, but almost the whole City with its Walls were demolish’d, so that they could scarce discover its antient Foundation, had it not been for the _Bosporus_, and _Propontis_, the eternal Boundaries of _Constantinople_, which enclose it. I pass by the large _Wards_ of the City, which through the Poverty of the Inhabitants, after frequent Fires, and the Ravage of War, lay a long Time in Ruins, but were at last rebuilt; tho’ the Streets are promiscuously huddled up without Regularity, or Order. These were the Causes, as _Livy_ relates of Old _Rome_, after it was burnt down, that not only the antient common Shores, but the _Aquæducts_ and _Cisterns_, formerly running in the open Streets, now have their Courses under private Houses, and the City looks rather like one solid Lump of Building, than divided into Streets and Lanes. I shall not mention how the large Palaces of their Emperors, seated in the middle of the City, nor the Seats of the Nobility enclosing great Tracts of Land, nor how the old Foundations still appearing above Ground, nor the Remains of Buildings, discover’d by the nicest Discernment under it, are almost entirely defac’d. Had I not seen, the Time I liv’d at _Constantinople_, so many ruinated Churches and Palaces, and their Foundations, since fill’d with _Mahometan_ Buildings, so that I could hardly discover their former Situation, I had not so easily conjectured, what Destruction the _Turks_ had made, since they took the City. And tho’ they are always contriving to beautify it with publick Buildings, yet at present it looks more obscurely in the Day, than it did formerly in the Night; when, as _Marcellinus_ tells us, the Brightness of their Lights, resembling a Meridian Sun-shine, reflected a Lustre from their Houses. The Clearness of the Day now only serves to shew the Meanness and Poverty of their Buildings; so that was _Constantine_ himself alive, who rebuilt and beautify’d it, or others who enlarg’d it, they could not discover the Situation of their antient Structures. The Difficulties I labour’d under in the Search of Antiquity here were very great. I was a Stranger in the Countrey, had very little Assistance from any Inscriptions, none from Coins, none from the People of the Place. They, as having a natural Aversion to any thing that’s valuable in Antiquity, did rather prevent me in my Enquiries, so that I scarce dar’d to take the Dimensions of any Thing, being menac’d, and curs’d if I did, by the _Greeks_ themselves. A Foreigner has no way to allay the Heat and Fury of these People, but by a large Dose of Wine. If you don’t often invite them, and tell them _you’ll be as drunk_ as a _Greek_, they’ll use you in a very coarse manner. Their whole Conversation is frothy and insipid, as retaining no Custom of the old _Byzantians_, but a Habit of fuddling. It is not the least, among these Inconveniencies, that I could not have Recourse to so many Authors in describing _Constantinople_, as a Writer may have in describing Old _Rome_. They are so fond of Change and Novelty, that any Thing may be called _Antique_ among them, which is beyond the Memory of them, or was transacted in the first Stages of Humane Life. And not only the magnificent Structures of antient Times have been demolish’d by them, but the very Names of them are quite lost, and a more than _Scythian_ Barbarity prevails among them. The _Turks_ are so tenacious of their own Language, that they give a new Name to all Places, which are forc’d to submit to their Power, tho’ it be never so impertinent and improper. They have such an Abhorrence of _Greek_ and _Latin_, that they look upon both these Tongues to be Sorcery and Witchcraft. All the Assistance I had was my own Observation, the Memory, and Recollection of others, and some Insight into antient History. By these Assistances principally I discovered the Situation of the fourteen _Wards_ of the City. The Inhabitants are daily demolishing, effacing, and utterly destroying the small Remains of Antiquity; so that whosoever shall engage himself in the same Enquiries after me, though they may far exceed me in Industry and Application, yet they will not be able to make any farther Discoveries of the _Monuments_ of the fourteen Wards. But it is not my Intention to prefer my self above other Writers; if I can any way be assistant to future Times, my End is answered. I hope I need make no Apology for recording in History such _Monuments_ as are falling into Ruines; and if my Stay at _Constantinople_ was somewhat longer than I intended, I hope it will not be any Imputation upon me, as it was occasioned by the Death of my Royal Master. It was by his Command that I travelled into _Greece_, not with any Design of staying long at _Constantinople_, but to make a Collection of the antient _Greek_ MSS. Not with any Intention of describing only that City; but as a farther Improvement of Human Knowledge, that I might delineate the Situation of several other Places and Cities. Upon the Death of my King, (not having Remittances sufficient) I was forc’d, with a small Competency, to travel thro’ _Asia_, and _Greece_, to this Purpose; and I can assure the Reader, that I did not undertake this Voyage upon any Prospect of sensual Pleasure, any View of worldly Interest, or any Affectation of popular Applause; no, I could have liv’d in Ease, more to my own Advantage; and in a much better State of Health, as to all Appearance, in my own Countrey. Not all the Dangers and Inconveniencies of a long and a laborious Voyage could ever move me to a speedy Return. How I came to engage my self in such unfortunate Travels I know not. I was very apprehensive of the Troubles and Dangers, which I must necessarily undergo, and which indeed have befallen me, before I ventur’d upon such an Undertaking; yet I would willingly persuade my self, that my Resolutions herein were Good, and my Design Honourable; being confirm’d in the Opinion of the _Platonists_, That _we ought to be indefatigable in the Search of Truth_; and, _That ’tis beneath a Man to give over, when his Enquiries are Useful, and Becoming_.

_APPENDIX._

_The following Piece was communicated to me by a Gentleman of the University of_ Oxford, _who had copy’d it from the latter End of the Second Book of_ Nicetas Choniat, Concerning the Destruction of Constantinople. _I had no sooner perus’d it, but I found it so curious in it self, and so well suited to the Subject of my Author, that I perceiv’d the Obligations I was under for that Favour; and judg’d it worthy of a Translation. I would only farther advertise the Reader, that the following Passage is not to be met with in any of the Printed Copies of_ Choniat, _but is a Transcript from him in that Part of his Book, where he writes, concerning the Statues of_ Constantinople, _which the_ Romans, _when they took that City, caused to be melted down, and coyn’d. The Passage may be found in a_ MS. Cod. Bodl. fol. 447. _l._ 25. _and runs thus_:

* * * * *

The _Roman_ Conquerours, who were of an with avaritious Temper, even to a Proverb, practis’d a new Method of Rapine and Plunder, entirely unknown to those who had taken the City before them. For breaking open by Night the Royal Sepulchres in the great Grove of the _Heroum_, they sacrilegiously rifled the Corps of those Blessed Disciples of _Jesus Christ_, and carry’d off whatsoever was valuable in Gold, Rings, and Jewels, which they could find in these Repositories of the Dead. But coming to the Body of the Emperor _Justinian_, and finding his Coffin untouch’d, tho’ it was publickly known for some Years that it was nobly enrich’d, aw’d with in Fear and Admiration, they forbore to disturb the Imperial Ashes. And as they express’d no Reverence and Regard to the Dead, so were they equally Savage and Inhuman in their Treatment of the Living; even to those who were their own Countreymen. They spar’d neither the House of GOD, nor his Ministers, but stripped the great Church (_Sancta Sophia_) of all its fine Ornaments and Hangings, made of the richest Brocades, of inestimable Value: But still continuing unsatiable in their Avarice, they no sooner cast their Eyes upon the brazen Statues, than they order’d them to be melted down. The fine _Statue of Juno in Brass_, which stood in the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, they chopt in Pieces, and threw it into the Forge. The Head of this Statue was so large, that four Yoke of Oxen could scarce drag it into the Palace. Upon the _Base_ of it was cut, in _Basso Relievo_, the Figure of _Paris_, _Venus_ standing by him, presenting her with the Apple of Discord. The noble _Quadrilateral Pillar_, supported with several Ranges of Pillars, and which by its Height overlook’d the whole City, and was both the Wonder and the Delight of the curious Spectator, shared the same Fate. This lofty Column was adorn’d with rural Representations of all kinds of singing Birds, Folds of Cattle, milking Pails, of Sheep bleating, and of Lambs frisking and playing, _&c._ There was also engrav’d upon it a View of the Sea and Sea-Gods; some of whom were catching Fish with their Hands; others ordering their Nets, then diving to the Bottom; whilst some in a wanton Manner, were throwing Balls at one another. This Pillar supported a _Pyramid_ at the Top of it, upon which was plac’d the _Statue of a Woman_, which turn’d about with the Wind, and was therefore called _Anemodes_. This excellent Piece was also melted down for Coinage, as was also an _Equestrian_ Statue, fixed upon a Quadrilateral _Pedestal_ in the _Taurus_. This was a bold Figure, of an heroic Countenance, and surprizing Stature. It was reported by some, that he was one of the Spies, who was sent by _Joshua_ the Son of _Nun_. With one Hand he pointed Eastward, with the other to the West, and the Coast of _Gabeon_. But this Statue was generally believed to represent _Bellerophon_, (born and brought up at _Peloponnesus_) sitting upon _Pegasus_; for the Horse was without a Bridle, as _Pegasus_ is mostly figur’d, scouring the Plain, despising a Rider, flying and driving about in a headstrong manner. There is an old Report, which at this Day is in every Body’s Mouth, that there was stampt in the Breast-Plate of this Horse, with great Skill, the Figure of a Man, which appear’d outwardly; this Image was either one of the _Venetici_, the _Epizophurii_, or the _Bulgari_, who were not, at that Time, conquer’d by the _Romans_. This Horse and his Rider were also melted down. In the Accoutrements of this Horse was likewise found a small brazen Image, wrapp’d up as it were in Wool, which the _Romans_ look’d upon to be of little or no Value, and therefore threw that also into the Fire. Neither did the Resentment of the barbarous and unpolite Soldiers stop here, but they expressed the utmost Fury against the finest Statues, and most curious Pieces of Workmanship in the _Hippocum_, cutting the largest of them, which cost immense Sums, into small Coins of little Value. The great Statue of _Hesperian Hercules_, fix’d upon a magnificent _Pedestal_, clothed in a Lyon’s Skin, which seem’d to live, and affright the Spectators with his tremendous Voice, felt the Marks of military Power. He was not here arm’d with his Quiver, his Bow, or his Club, but stretching out his right Leg and Arm, he kneeled upon his left Knee, and leaning upon his left Elbow, with his Hand open, he supported his Head in a thoughtful Manner, and seem’d to lament his Misfortunes; uneasy above all at those which _Eurystheus_ out of mere Envy had impos’d upon him. This Figure was broad-chested, the Shoulders were large, his Hair long, curl’d, and reaching to his Waste; his Arms were brawny, and as long as those of the Original made by _Lysimachus_, which was the first and last Master-piece of his Skill. In short, of such a stupendous Size was this Statue, that his Wrist was as thick as a Man’s Body, and the Length of his Leg equal in height to that of any ordinary Person. This noble Statue, I say, did not escape the Rage of these mighty Pretenders to native Virtue and Honour: Beside this, they also carry’d away the _Image of the Loaded Ass_ and his _Driver_. These Figures were set up originally by _Augustus Cæsar_ at _Actium_, of whom the Fable goes, that when he went out privately in the Night Time to take a View of _Anthony_’s Army, he met a Man driving an Ass; and asking him “_Who he was_, and _whither he was going_? He answered, _my Name is_ Nichon, _and my Ass’s_ Nichander, _and I am going to Cæsar’s Army_”. The _Statues_ also of the _Hyæna_, and the _Wolf_ which suckled _Romulus_ and _Remus_, underwent the same Fate, and were coyn’d into little brazen _Staters_. The _several Statues_ also of a _Man_ fighting with a _Lyon_, of the Horse _Neilôus_, cover’d with Scales behind, of an _Elephant_ with a moving _Proboscis_, of the _Sphinx’s_, beautiful as Women, and terrible as Beasts; which can occasionally walk, or fly in the Air, to fight with Birds of Prey. There was also the _Statue_ of a _wild Horse_, pricking up his Ears, snorting, curvetting, and prancing; this, and _old Scylla_ were served in the same injurious Manner. She was figur’d like a Woman to the Waste, with a grim frightful Look, just as she appear’d, when she sent her Dogs to destroy _Ulysses_. There was also plac’d in the _Hippocum_ a _brazen Eagle_, which was the Invention of _Apollonius Tyanæus_, and a celebrated _Monument_ of his Sorcery. This Impostor, when he was once requested by the _Byzantians_, to heal them of the Bitings of Serpents, which was then a common Malady among them, immediately using some diabolical Charms, and heathenish Ceremonies, he plac’d this Eagle upon a Pillar; it was a pleasant Sight enough, and deserv’d the Curiosity of being more narrowly inspected; for it made an agreeable Harmony, and less dangerous than that of the _Syrens_. Its Wings were stretch’d out, as ready for Flight, and it was trampling upon a _Serpent_, wreathing it self about him. The Serpent seem’d to make the utmost Effort to bite the Eagle, but its Venom had no Power to hurt him. The Eagle seem’d to gripe him so hard in his Talons, that he was forced to hang down his Head quietly, and seem’d either to be unwilling, or unable to spit his Venom at him. The _Eagle_, on the other Hand, look’d brisk and sprightly, and having obtain’d the Victory, seem’d to be in Haste, to bear him through the Air in Triumph, denoting by the Sprightliness of his Look, and the Feebleness of the Serpent, that the Serpents, that tormented the _Byzantians_, would hurt them no more, but suffer themselves even to be handled and strok’d by them. But these were not the only Curiosities observable in this _Aquiline_ Statue. It was also very remarkable, that the _twelve Hours_ were engraven under its Wings, under each Wing six, which shew’d the Hour of the Day, by the Rays of the Sun darting thro’ a Hole in each Wing, artificially made for that Purpose. But what shall I now say of the fine Proportions of _Helen_, who engag’d all _Greece_ in her Quarrel, and for whose Sake _Troy_ itself was laid in Ruines? No Wonder that when living she could charm the most stubborn, and soften the most impenetrable Heart, when in breathing Brass she captivated all that saw her. Her Habit sat loose upon her, which discover’d too great an Inclination for Gallantry. Her Hair, which seem’d to wave in the Wind, was long and delicate, braided with Gold and Jewels. Her Robe was girt about her, falling down to the Knee. Her Lips seem’d like the opening Roses, you would fancy they mov’d, and such an agreeable Smile brightned her Countenance, as entertain’d the Eye of the Spectator with Pleasure. It is impossible for me to describe the Sweetness and Chearfulness of her Looks, the Arches of her Eyes, and the perfect Symmetry of the whole Statue. Take it therefore as it is given us by Poets and Historians. _Helen_ the Daughter of _Tyndarus_ was the Perfection of Beauty, the Child of Love, the Pride, and the Care of _Venus_; the Master-piece of Nature, the great Prize of the _Grecians_ and _Trojans_. Where is now your _Nepenthe_, the secret Charm to guard you from all Evils? Where are your irresistible _Philtrums_? Why did you not use them against these barbarous Invaders, with the same Success as you did formerly? But I suppose it was determined by the Fates, that you should fall by the Force of Fire, who have rais’d such Flames in the Breasts of those who came to behold you; or perhaps these our new Conquerours, who pretend to be descended from the _Trojans_, threw your Statue into the Fire, to revenge the burning of that City, of which you was only the innocent Cause. But I can neither think nor speak with Patience of these avaritious Monsters, who have demolish’d the most valuable, the most curious, the most costly Statues in the whole World; Fellows, who would have sold their Wives for Money; who behav’d themselves rather like Birds of Prey, than a regular well-disciplin’d Army; only with this Difference, that they spent their Prey as loosely, as they got it ingloriously, and would willingly venture their Lives to support their Extravagance. Hear these Verses of _Homer_, who is well known to the _Greeks_ and the _Barbarians_; to the Learned, and Unlearned, concerning _Helen_.

—_No Wonder such Celestial Charms, For ten long Years should hold the World in Arms._

Pope.

Pardon this Digression:—There was also plac’d upon a Pillar a more _modern Statue_ of a _Woman_, which was very curious and agreeable. Her Hair hung down behind, combed close down from the Forehead backwards, not breaded up, but bending to the Hand of the Spectator. Upon the right Hand of this Statue stood the _Equestrian Statue_ of a _Man_. The Horse stood upon one Leg, the other bore a Cup with a mix’d Potion. The Rider was of a large Size, his Body compleatly arm’d, his Legs and his Feet were cover’d with Greaves, his Air was manly, rough, and warlike. The Horse was mettlesome, and high courag’d, pricking up his Ears, as tho’ he heard the Trumpet. His Neck was high, his Look fierce, his Eyes sparkling, as eager for the Battle; he rear’d up his Fore-feet, and pranced like a War-Horse. Near this Statue, hard by the Eastern Goal, call’d _Rusius_, were a Range of _Statues_ of _Charioteers_, dextrous in driving the Chariot, and turning the Goal. They were very busy in managing their Bridles, and smacking their Whips, and directing their Horses, with their Eyes fix’d steddily upon the Goal. In short, there seem’d to be describ’d in these _Figures_ all the Tumult and Fury of a Chariot Race, with the most vigorous Struggle for Victory and Success. This Description of these Statues may seem imperfect; for it never was my Intention to describe them all. But what gave me the most agreeable Pleasure, and seem’d to me the most admirable Piece of Workmanship, was a large _Pedestal_, upon which was plac’d _an Animal cast in Brass_, as large as an Ox, having a short Tail, and a moderate Dewlap, something like the _Ægyptian_ Cattle. It had no Hoofs; but held in its Teeth, ready to strangle it, another _Animal_, cloth’d all over with Scales, almost impenetrable. It seem’d to be a _Basilisk_, and had a Mouth somewhat like a Serpent’s. It was taken by many to be an Ox of the _Nile_, and by some to be a _Crocodile_. But I forbear to give the several Conjectures upon it. These Figures however seem’d to represent an odd Sort of Fight, each of them furiously striving for Victory. The Creature which seem’d to be the _Basilisk_ was in Colour like a Frog, and was all over bloated from Head to Foot. He was casting out his Venom upon his Antagonist, with an Intent to destroy him. This _Animal_ was carv’d as bearing upon one Knee, and in a languishing Condition. This Observation gave the Spectators occasion to believe it fallen dead backward, if the _Base_ where he stood had not supported him. There was also the _Figure_ of another _Animal_, in whose Jaws was represented a Smaller Creature, whose Mouth was open as almost choak’d by the Teeth which held him, struggling to get loose, but to no Purpose. His Tail, which was very Short, seem’d to tremble; his Shoulders, his fore Feet, and the hinder Part of his Body, were hid in the Mouth of his Enemy, and mash’d by his Jaws. These _Animals_ also mutually kill’d each other. Thus we may observe, that these Poisonous Creatures, so destructive to Man, are no less noxious to each other. And this, many Times, is the Case of Nations, and Kingdoms, as was exemplify’d in the _Romans_, when they made War upon us; killing, and destroying one another, through the Power of _Christ_, who rejoyceth not in Blood, and disperseth the Nations that delight in War; who maketh the Just to walk upon the Adder, and the Basilisk, and treadeth the Lyon and Dragon under his Feet.

* * * * *

_In the Beginning of this_ MS _upon a large Folio Page, are inscrib’d the following Words, in the Benefactor’s own Hand_. “_Sir_ John Roe, _Bart. Ambassador from His Majesty of_ Great Brittain _to the_ Grand Seignior, _as a perpetual Testimony of his Gratitude to the University_, (Oxon) _gave this Book, which he met with in his Travels, to the Publick Library_, 1628.”

AN EXPLANATORY INDEX.

A.

ABACUS from ἄβαξ, which signifies a square Trencher. It is the four square Table, that makes the Capital on the Top of a Column, _p._ 148

ACROPOLIS, is that Point of Land where Old _Byzantium_ stood, 157

ÆGYPTIANS, how they adorn their Pillars, 175

ALPHABETS, _Assyrian_ and _Greek_, 77

ANNULETS, are little square Parts turn’d round in the _Corinthian_ Capitals, 264

ANTIQUITY, a famous Piece of it, 154

APOPHYGE, it comes from the _Greek_ Word ἀποφυγὴ, and signifies that Part of a Column, where it seems to _fly_ out of its _Base_, 253

AQUEDUCT of _Valens_, 197 Of _Valentinian_, 212 Other _Aqueducts_, 213

ARCHITRAVE, this Word is a Compound of two Languages, ἀρχὴ and _Trabs_, and denotes the first Member of the _Entablature_, 113

ARIUS, his miserable Death, 177

ARMATION, a Place of Arms, 28

ASTRAGAL, is deriv’d from the _Greek_ Word Ἀστράγαλος, and signifies the little Joynts in the Neck. It is a Member of Architecture joyn’d to _Bases_, _Cornices_, and _Architraves_, 242

AVASARIUS, a Street in _Constantinople_, 238

B.

BAGNIO’S, of _Achilles_, 20 Of _Arcadius_, 79 Of _Anastasia_, 208 Of _Bajazet_, 193 Of _Carosia_, 198 Of _Constantius_, 210 Of _Honorius_, and _Eudocia_, 169 Of _Zeuxippus_, 97

BASE. This signifies the Foot of a Pillar, which supports it; as also that Part, upon which the Shaft of the Pillar bears, 109

BASILICA, is derived from Βασιλεὺς, a King, and was a large Building, made at first for Kings and Princes; afterwards they were turn’d into Courts of Justice, and sometimes into Churches. _In Constantinople_ it contain’d the Imperial Library, consisting of six hundred Thousand Volumes; was also a Seat of Learning, and a Place of Traffick, 145

BEZESTAN, in the _Ottoman_ Language, is their Grand Exchange, 48

BLACHERNÆ, a Part of the Suburbs, 63

BRAZEN-BULL, 228

BYZANTIUM, founded by _Byzas_, 13 The _Megarians_ its first Inhabitants, 14 Rebuilt by the _Lacedæmonians_, 15 Afterwards call’d _Antonina_, ibid. After that _New Rome_, _Constantinople_, and _Anthusa_, or _Florentia_ by _Constantine_, ibid. Its Revolutions, _ibid._ Its Walls, Towers, Gates, Ports, 17 Taken by the _Romans_, 19 Its Antient Situation and Extent, 20 The greatest City in all _Thrace_, 21 Rebuilt by _Constantine_, 23 Its seven Towers, 71 Its Old Castle where built, 76

C.

CAPITAL, the Top of a Pillar, 113

CAPITOL; This was a large Temple, where they celebrated their Festivals and Triumphs, and to which they repair’d upon publick Occasions, 203

CAPOCHEE’S, the drudging Porters among the _Turks_, 38

CHALCA, a Description of it, 134

CHALCOPRATIA, the Places where they worked their Brass, 148

CARAVANSERA, a Place built like an Inn for the Reception of Strangers and Travellers, 52

CERAS, or CHERAS, a Bay which divides _Galata_ from the City, and is so called, because it winds round like a _Horn_, 20

CHRYSOSTOM St., banish’d, 102

CHURCH of St. _Anthony_, _Blessed Virgin_, St. _John Baptist_, 28 Of _Anastasia_ and _Hirena_, 192 Of St. _Agathonicus_, 80 Of the _Apostles_, 221 Of the _Blachernæ_, 63 Of _Bacchus_, and _Sergius_, 117 Of St. _Euphemia_, 124 Of St. _Irene_, 101 Of St. _Marcian_, 114 Of St. _Mina_, of _Mocius_ and St. _Anne_, 260 Of St. _Peter_ and St. _Paul_, 117 Of St. _Paul_, 204 Of St. _Polyclete_, 124 Of _Procopius_, of the Martyr _Theca_, 121 Of St. _Theodore_, 202 And of St. _Thomas_, 120

CHURCH, without the Walls of the City. This Church was called Χριστὸς χώρας, that is, a Church sacred to _Christ_, in a Monastery call’d _Chora_; because when first built it stood in the Suburbs, 242 See _Cantacuzenus_.

CHURCH of St. _Sophia_, situate in the Imperial Precinct, 81 By whom built, 82 By what Architects, 84 Its Length, Breadth, and Height, 86 Incrusted with elegant Marble of all Kinds, 87 Its Roof, Pillars, and Arches, _ibid._ The whole Architecture of it describ’d from _Page_ 87, to 95

CIRCUS MAXIMUS, a Place of a large oblong Figure, built for the Exercise of Martial Sports, with Seats for the Spectators, 103

CISTERN, of _Bonus_, 28 Of _Mocisia_, 66 Imperial Cistern, whose Roof is supported with 336 Marble Pillars, discovered by the Author, 147 More Cisterns, 162 Cistern of _Theodosius_, 169 Of _Arcadius_ and _Modestus_, 124 Of _Justinian_, 260 Of St. _Benedict_, 275

COCHLIA, This was a Gate of the City, and so call’d, as I conceive, because it had winding Stairs within it, 116

COLOSSUS, Its Description and Size, 108, 109

COLUMNA VIRGINEA, 58

CONSTANTINE. An Account of his fine Buildings, 23, 24 A Prince of Remarkable Clemency and Goodness, 28 His Military Standard, 183 The Story of his seeing the Cross in the Heavens vindicated, 84 His Coffin, 222

CONSTANTINOPLE, its delightful Situation, 1 Its Strength, 2 Its Commodities, 3 Conveniencies of its Port, 5 Is the Key of the _Mediterranean_ and _Black Sea_, 6 Its choice Wines, 7 Its Timber, 8 Its Fish, 9 Temperature of its Climate, _ibid._ The Disposition of its Inhabitants, 10 The Fortress of all _Europe_, 11 Its Magnificence and vast Extent, 24, 25 Its Figure, 29 Its Compass and Length, 30 Its Breadth, 31 Strength, and Stateliness of its Walls, 67 By whom built and repair’d, 68 Its several Gates, 70 The long Walls of it by whom built, 72 Divided into 14 Wards, 73

CORNICE; this signifies the third, and highest Part of the _Entablature_, 113

CYCLOBION; this was a round Castle in the City, and some time a Palace, 239

CYNEGION; this was the same Kind of Building with the _Theatrum Venatorium_ in antient _Rome_, 244

D.

DELPHIC TRIPOS, 111

DENTILS, is a Member of the _Ionic Cornice_, Square, and cut out at proper Distances, which gives it the Form of a Set of Teeth, 242

DICERATON; a Tax laid upon the People for Repairing the Walls of the City, 68

DIGIT; this is a Measure somewhat short of an Inch, 104

DIVAN, it signifies the _Forum Judiciale_ of the _Turks_, 38

E.

EMERALD, of a large Size, 160

ENTABLATURE; this Word denotes the three Members of Architecture, _viz._ the _Architrave_, _Frieze_, and _Cornice_, 113

EXACIONION; this was a Place, thro’ which there ran the Land-Wall of the City, 218

EXAMMON _of_ HERACLIUS, or Ἐξάμον. This is a Word which is _Greeciz’d_ from the Latin _Examen_, and signifies a Standard Measure appointed by that Emperour, 141

F.

FACTIONS. These were Company of Chariot-racers. There were four Companies of them at Old _Rome_. At _Constantinople_, (as far as I have observ’d, or at least not mention’d by _Gyllius_) but only One, which was called the _Prasine Faction_, because they wore a _Green_ Livery. The Word _Prasine_ is deriv’d from Πράσον, a _Leek_, 116, 117

FASCIAE. These are three _Bands_ in Architecture, of which the _Architrave_ is compos’d, 242

FRIEZE. The round Part of the _Entablature_, which is between the _Architrave_, and the _Cornice_, 253

Forum of _Arcadius_, 257 Of _Augustus_, 83 Of _Constantine_, 171 _Cupedinis_, 153 Of _Honorius_, 275 _Forum Pistorium_, 195 _Forum Prætorianum_, or the Court of Publick Justice, 170 _Forum_ in the _Taurus_, and the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_, 169

G.

GALATA, now called _Sycæ_ and _Pera_, its Situation, 264

GATES, of _Constantinople_, 70

GRAND-HETAERIARCH, Commander of the prime Auxiliary Band; for there were two such Bands under the _Greek_ Emperors, the One called the ἡ μεγάλη, the other ἡ μικρὰ ἑταιρεία i. e. the Greater and Lesser Band of Auxiliaries. The Commander of the former was ὁ μεγάλης ἑταιρείας Ἄρχων, or sometimes in one Word Μεγαλεταιρειάρχης, 230

See _Codinus_.

GYMNASIA, Places where they exercis’d themselves in Martial Sports, 158

H.

HIPPOCUM, 290. This I take to be the same with the _Hyppodrom_.

HIPPODROM, the Place where they perform’d their Races of all Kinds, 103

HOMER, his _Iliads_ and _Odysses_ inscrib’d, in Golden Characters, on the Gut of a Dragon, 144

HOSPITAL of _Sampson_, and _Eubulus_, 100

HYPOTRACHELION, this is the most slender Part, or _Neck_ of the Pillar, which touches the _Capital_, 263

I.

INTERCOLUMNIATION, the Distance of one Pillar from another, 147

L.

LABARUM, this Word signifies a longer piece of Wood, transvers’d near the Top with a short Piece, upon which hangs the military Flag, 184

LAMPTERUM, a place in _Constantinople_ so called, because it was Nightly Illuminated, 192

M.

MAGNAURA, a place in the Suburbs, 239

MAHOMET, took the City, 195

MANGANA, a Place of Arms; also a Monastery of that Name, 96

MEDAL, of _Belisarius_, 116

MILIARIUM AUREUM, this was a gilded Pillar, from whence they us’d to adjust the Distances of Places from the City, 152

MODIUS, this generally signifies a Bushel according to English Measure; but I am sensible, I had translated it more properly, had I made it to signify no more than a Peck wanting half a Pint; which is the _Grecian Modius_, 107

MODULES, these are certain Measures invented to regulate the whole Building, 113

MONASTERY, of _Studius_, 259

MORION, a place so call’d, which ran round the _Hippodrom_, 123

MOSAIC WORK, A curious Piece of it, 87

O.

OBELISK, built of _Thebaic_ Marble, 103 Two more _Obelisks_, 104

OVOLO, or Egg, is that Member of Architecture, which is first plac’d on the Top of _Ionic Capitals_, 113

P.

PACES, by this, the Author means the Ordinary Steps a Man takes in Walking, which cannot be exactly reduced to the _Roman Pace_, because they vary according to the different Ascents and Descents of the Ground he walks, 65

PALACE of _Constantine_, 134 of the Grand _Seignor_, 37 of _Justinus_, 120 Other Palaces built by him, 121 Palace of _Maximinus_, 81 Palaces of _Sophia_, 121

PALLADIUM of _Minerva_, 117 Describ’d, 179 How Figur’d, 180

PEDESTAL; this is that Member of Architecture, that supports a Column, having a Base and Cornice different, according to the Difference of the several Orders of Building, 113

PHANARIUM, a Street in _Constantinople_, 236

PHARO, a Watch-Tower; set up as a Guide to Ships at a Distance, 96

PHILOXENON; this Word, by its Derivation from the _Greek_, signifies a publick Place of Entertainment for Travellers, and Strangers. The _Turks_ at present call these Places _Caravansera’s_, 161

PILLAR of _Arcadius_; this is the same Pillar, which is called the Historical Pillar; and which is Represented among the Cuts which I have added to this Book: It is therefore called the Historical Pillar; because it Represents the Actions and Triumphs of that Emperor. It is a plain Marble Column, 147 Foot in Height; work’d in _Basso Relievo_, 250 See _Tournefort_.

PILLAR of MARCIAN; this Pillar is only mention’d by my Author; but since his Time has been discover’d in a private Garden at _Constantinople_, by Sir _G. Wheler_. The Pillar is made of _Granate_, and is thought to have been the Urn, where that Emperor’s Heart was buried, 256 See the same Author.

PILLARS; Of _Constantine_, 156 _Corinthian_, very large, 137 Pillars in the _Hippodrom_, 110, 111, 112 Of _Justinian_, 129 _Porphyry_ Pillar, 172 See also the Cuts. Pillars in the _Senate-House_, 131 Of _Sophia_, 120 Of _Theodosius_, 129 Of _Valentinian_, 256

PLINTH; in Architecture it is taken for that square Member, which makes the Foundation of the Base of the Pillar, 113

PORTICO’S; these were Buildings of curious work, added to publick Structures whether Sacred or Civil.

PORTICO, Of the Church of the Apostles, 221 Imperial _Portico_, where sealed, 150 Other _Portico’s_, full of Statues, 151 _Portico_, called _Sigma_, 221

PRYTANEUM; this was a stately Building, where those who had deserv’d well of the Government, were handsomely maintain’d at the publick Charge. There was such a Structure at _Athens_, for the same purpose, 169

PYRAMIDICAL Engine; its Use and Contrivance, 197

S.

SCOTIA; this is a Member of Architecture hollow’d, or fluted as a Demi-Channel. It is particularly us’d in the _Bases_, where it is plac’d between the _Tore_, and the _Astragals_, 113

SENATE-HOUSE; built by _Constantine_, 132 How adorn’d, 182

SERAGLIO, or the Imperial Palace; a Description of it, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 Where situate, 51 Its Extent, 52

SHAFT of a Pillar is the Body of it, 111

STADIA; these were Places, in the Form of _Circo’s_, for running of Men and Horses, 136

STATUES; Of _Apollo_, 176 Of _Arcadia_, and _Verina_, 79 Of _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_, 197 Of _Ariadne_, 139 Of _Arius_ and others, 154 Of _Byzas_ and _Phidalia_, 141 Of _Constantine_ the _Great_, 170 A Silver Statue of _Eudoxia Augusta_, 101 Two _Female Statues_, 186 Of the _Fortune_ of the City, 154 A gilded _Statue_, and that of _Justinian_, 141 Of _Helena_ and others, 138 Of _Hercules_, 142 _Statues_ in the _Hippodrom_, 108, 109, 110, 111 _Statue_ of old _Homer_ very fine, 78 Of _Justinian_, 127 _Statues_ in the _Lausus_, 159 Of _Leo_ the Emperour, 123 Of _Longinus_, 187 Of the _Muses_, 139 Of Princes, Poets, Historians, and Orators, 99 Of _Pulcheria_, 139 Of _Rhea_, 131 Of _Theodora_, 79 Of _Theodosius_, 125, 129 Of _Trajan_, _Theodosius_, _Valentinian_, _Gibbus_, _Firmillianus_, and _Eutropius_, 142 Of _Zeno_, _Statues_ in the _Bagnio’s_ of _Zeuxippus_, 98

STATUES (mention’d in the _Appendix_) demolish’d by the _Romans_. _Anemodes_, a _Woman_ plac’d on a _Pyramid_, and turning with the Wind, 287 _Animals_; two large ones represented in Brass, 293 _Animals_; two less, 294 An _Ass_ and his _Driver_, 289 _Charioteers_; a Range of them, 293 An _Eagle_ in Brass, entwin’d by a _Serpent_, 290 An _Elephant_, 289 An _Equestrian Statue_ of a Man, 293 An _Equestrian Statue_ in the _Taurus_, 287 A _Helen_ very fine, 291 An _Hesperian Hercules_, 288 A _Horse_ wild, 289 A _Hyæna_, and a _Wolf_, _ibid._ A _Juno_ in Brass, 288 A _Man_ fighting with a _Lyon_, 289 _Neilôus_, a _Horse_, _ib._ Old _Scylla_, ibid. _Sphinx’s_, ibid. a _Woman_, a more modern _Statue_, 293

STRATEGIUM, a kind of a Parade, or Place where the Generals usually pitched their Tents, and exercis’d their Men, 23

SYPARUM; the Flag of a Military Standard, 184

T.

TAURUS; a Street in _Constantinople_, 193

TEMPLES; Of _Amphiaraus_, 274 Of _Apollo_, 120 Of _Bacchus_, 77 Of _Ceres_, 166 Of _Concord_, 120 Of _Diana Lucifera_, 274 Of _Ja_, 259 Of _Juno_, 190 Of _Jupiter_, 97 Of _Neptune_, 76 Of _Pluto_, 190 Of _Proserpina_, 166 Of the Sun and Moon, 208 Of _Tellus_, 166 Of _Venus Placida_, 274

TETRAPYLUM; a Description of it, 196

THEBAIC OBELISK, where fix’d, 103 Its Length, with a Description of it, 104, 105 Manner of Raising it, (See the Cuts) 106

THERMATION; a Place of Bathing, 255

TOMB of _Bajazet_, 194 describ’d, 200 _Tomb_ of _Constantine_, 221 Of _Mahomet_, 55 Of _Mahomet_, _Solyman_’s Son, 202 Of _Mauritius_, 248 Of _Selymus_, 59

TORE; this is the third Member of Architecture in the _Base_ of the Column, which turns round it like a Ring, 113

TRABEATION, 113 See _Entablature_.

TRICLINIUM; this was a place of Publick Entertainment, and was many Times a very sumptuous Building most beautifully adorn’d, 162 The great _Triclinium_ built by _Anastasius_, 246 The _Triclinium_ of _Magnaura_, 239

TRIPOS of _Apollo_; this _Tripos_ was set upon a brazen Pillar made of three Serpents entwin’d, which was about fifteen Foot high, according to _Tournefort_. See the Cut of the _Serpentine_ Pillar, 112

TURKS; their Way of building Pillars, 188

V.

VESTIBULE, or VESTIBULUM; a House of Entrance into a Church, or any great Building, 133

VOLUTÆ. The Word signifies _wreath’d_, and is that Part of the _Capitals_, of the _Ionic_, _Corinthian_, and _Composite_ Orders, which is suppos’d to represent the Bark of Trees twisted, 119

W.

WALLS of _Constantinople_, 72

WALKS Imperial, 142

X.

XEROLOPHON; this Word signifies a _dry Unction_, and the Place was call’d so, because whoever was anointed there never us’d to bath, 259

_FINIS._

A DESCRIPTION Of the CITY of CONSTANTINOPLE, As it stood in the REIGNS of ARCADIUS and HONORIUS.

Published from the _Notitia Utriusque Imperii_.

WITH PANCIROLUS’_s_ NOTES.

——_Vestigia retrò Observata sequor._——

VIR. ÆN. II.

_LONDON_: Printed in the Year MDCCXXIX.

A DESCRIPTION Of the WARDS of CONSTANTINOPLE.

The first _Region_, or _Ward_.

_The first_ Ward _contains in it, the House of_ Placidia Augusta; _the House of the most illustrious_ Marina; _the_ Bagnio’s _of_ Arcadius; _twenty nine Streets; an Hundred and eighteen large Houses; two_ Portico’s _of a great Length; fifteen private_ Bagnio’s; _four publick, and fifteen private Mills; and four_ Gradus. _It was governed by one_ Curator, _who had under his Charge, the whole_ Ward. _There was also one_ Vernaculus, _who was Messenger of the_ Ward, _was also Assistant to him, and entirely at his Command. It had also twenty five_ Collegiati, _chosen out of the several Bodies of Tradesmen, whose Office it was to direct and assist in Cases of Fire. There were also five_ Vico-Magistri, _whose Business it was to watch the City by Night_.

* * * * *

Thus far my Author. I shall here add a Remark made by _Gyllius_, it not being foreign to our Purpose, _viz._ That those whom _P. Victor_ and _S. Rufus_, believed to have been called the _Denunciatores_ in antient _Rome_, here in new _Rome_, he calls _Vernaculi_. Neither of them mention the _Collegiati_, tho’ all Historians take Notice of the _Vico-Magistri_, who with more Propriety of the _Latin_ Tongue, should rather have been called _Vicorum Magistri_, as appears, he tells us, by an Inscription yet remaining in the Capitol of _Old Rome_, which is as follows.

IMP. CAESARI DIVI. TRAIANI PARTHICI FIL. DIVI NERVAE NEPOTI. TRAIANO HADRIANO. AVG. PONTIF. MAXIMO. TRIBVNIC. POTESTAT. XX. IMP. II. CON. III. P. MAGISTRI VICORVM XIIII.

NOTES.

_The first Ward._] ’Tis evident from _Pliny_, and also from _Tacitus_, in that Part of his History, where he mentions the Burning of the City by _Nero_, that antient _Rome_ was divided into fourteen _Regions_, or _Wards_. _Sex. Rufus_, and _P. Victor_, who had pass’d the _Consular_ Dignity, have given us some short Descriptions of them. As to the _Wards_ of _New Rome_, they are here described as I found them placed before the _Notitia Utriusque Imperii_. _Constantinople_, which was a kind of Representation of _Old Rome_, was likewise after her Example, as _Justinian_ observes in his 43ᵈ _Novel_, divided into fourteen _Wards_; and he calls them _Regions_ or _Wards_. There were many Monuments of Antiquity carried thither from _Old Rome_, and many new ones made there, which I could by no Means pass by, as the Accounts of them may be necessary to the Knowledge of both Places. And therefore to explain and illustrate them the more, I have subjoined some _Annotations_ of my own; and have also taken Notice, as they fell in my Way, of some Observations made in my _Comments_ on the _Notitia_, _&c._ The Author of the _Description_ observes this Method. The Churches, and other Matters which are most Material, he treats of in the first Place, then he mentions what is less Important, in the same Order, in every _Ward_; as the Streets, Houses, _Bagnio’s_, Mills, the _Gradus_, then the _Curator_, _Vernaculus_, the _Collegiati_, and last of all, the _Vico-Magistri_. In the thirteenth _Ward_, through a Mistake, the Streets are omitted, which Error I have taken Care to correct, as I have also another in the fourteenth _Ward_, where he has left out the _Curator_, the _Vernaculus_, the _Collegiati_, and the _Vico-Magistri_. He mentions only fourteen Churches, in seven _Wards_; whereas at _Rome_, there was not a Street without some Temple or other, and some had two. I shall make my _Annotations_ upon every Monument of Antiquity, in the same _Ward_, and in the same Place, that I find it.

_The House of_ Placidia Augusta.] This Lady was the Daughter of _Theodosius_ the _Great_, and Sister of _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_. When _New Rome_ was taken by _Alaric_, King of the _Goths_ and _Vandals_, he carried her away into Captivity, who afterward married his Kinsman and Successor _Athaulfus_. Upon his Death, she was restored to her Countrey, and being married again to _Constantius_, she had by him two Sons, _Valentinian_ and _Honoriades_; as _Eutropius_, _Zonaras_, _Cedrinus_, and other Historians tell us.

_The House of the most illustrious_ Marina.] _Marina_ was the Daughter of _Arcadius_, who being honoured with the Title of the _Most Illustrious_, as _Cedrinus_ writes, continued a Virgin. The Title of the _Most Illustrious_, is discovered by an antient Inscription to have been first given to _Valerianus_ the Younger, about the Year of our Lord 260. Afterwards it was given to _Severinus_, and _Maximinus Cæsar_, and at Length it was ascribed to Ladies of the highest Birth. This sometimes entitled them to a Share in the Government; for whosoever was dignified with this Character, was allowed to wear a Purple Habit, laced round with Gold, and took Place of the _Præfecti_, (the Mayors or Chief Magistrates of the City) as _Zosimus_ observes, who will have it, that this Honour was first instituted by _Constantine_; tho’ ’tis very evident, that this Dignity was conferred long before his Time.

_The Bagnio’s of_ Arcadius.] They were so called, because they were built by him, as _Procopius_ writes in his 1st _Orat._ concerning the Buildings of _Justinian_. As you sail, says he, out of the _Propontis_, to the Eastern Coast, you see a Publick _Bagnio_, call’d the _Arcadian Bagnio_, which is a great Ornament to the City. In this Place _Justinian_ built a Court, which lies before the City, so near to the Sea, that they who walk upon the Shore, may hold a Discourse with any of the Ships Crew, as they sail by them. The Account I shall give of the Curiosities of this Court, is as follows. The Court it self is a very beautiful Building, and is fann’d with gentle Breezes. ’Tis paved with delicate Marble, and adorned with stately Pillars, which afford a delectable Prospect, even to a Brightness, which seems to rival a Meridian Sun-shine. There are also many other Curiosities which adorn this Court, some of which are Pieces of most elegant Workmanship, both in Brass and Stone. Thus far _Procopius_. The _Bagnio’s_ here mentioned are probably the same with those which are called the _Xerolophus_, which _Cedrinus_ tells us were built by _Arcadius_. The _Xerolophus_, says he, was built by _Arcadius_, the Pillars of which are all like that Pillar, which _Theodosius_ erected in the _Taurus_. _Socrates_ in his _Seventh_ Book, _Chap._ 1. attests, that this Building stood in the _Forum_ of _Arcadius_. For speaking of one _Sabbatius_ a Heretick, he says, that the People rais’d a Tax to oppose _Sesonnicus_ their Bishop, in a Place of the City which is called Ξηρόλοφος, in the _Forum_ of _Arcadius_. Thus _Socrates_. This was certainly a Building which consisted of several Apartments, which induces me to believe it was the _Bagnio’s_ here mentioned. For _Nicephorus Gregoras_, in his _Seventh Book_, _Chap._ 1. writes, That _Athanasius_, Patriarch of _Constantinople_, resided some Time in the Apartments of the _Xerolophus_. The Word _Xerolophus_, says _Suidas_, signifies a _Dry Unction_, and the Place was called so, because, when any Body was anointed there, they never used to bath, and adds; That this Place was formerly famous for Oracles, and that answers were given to Enquiries there made, from a _Tripos_. There were also in the same Place sixteen private Apartments, with Winding-Stairs. I have seen it in an antient _Greek_ Author, that there were here twelve Buildings with Winding-Stairs, as also the Columns of _Diana_, _Severus_, _Marcianus_, and the Statues of _Valentinian_, and _Theodosius_ the _Less_. _Justinian_ also quotes an Inscription there, taken out of the _Fifth Book_ of _Xenophon_’s _Anabasis_. _Zonaras_ also writes, that when _Leo Isaurus_ was Emperor of _Constantinople_, the Statue of _Arcadius_, placed upon a Pillar in the _Xerolophus_, was thrown down by an Earthquake. The _Bagnio’s_ here mentioned were called Publick, or Imperial _Bagnio’s_; whereas those which were built by private Persons were called _Thermæ_, or _Baths_.

_A Hundred and eighteen Houses._] I take the Word _Houses_ in this Place, to signifie the Dwelling Houses of some of the principal Men of the City, as the Great Mens Houses at _Rome_ were distinguished by standing by themselves, and having no other Houses adjoining to them.

_Two_ Portico’s _of a great Length_.] These _Portico’s_, as at present, were not joined to Houses, so as to seem a Part of them, but were built separate from them, contrived for the Pleasure of Walking, and refreshing the Mind. Hence it is, that _Strabo_, _Lib._ V. _de Geogra._ where he is describing the Parts of _Rome_, calls the _Portico_ of _Livia_ the περίπατον, or Walk. _Pliny_ is of the same Opinion in his _Fourth Book_, _Chap._ 1. _Strabo_ tells us in another Place, that the _Cumani_ of _Æolis_ borrowed Money to build a _Portico_, and that when they failed, as to the Time of Payment, the Person, who gave them Credit, laid them under a Prohibition not to walk in it, but only when it rained; and when the Cryer called aloud to them to enter the _Portico_, it passed into a Proverb, _That the Cumani_ dared not to enter their _Portico_ without the Leave of the Cryer. These are the same Kind of _Portico’s_ which _Ulpian_ means, where he mentions the _Portico’s_, which had no Houses adjoining to them. _Tacitus_, _Lib._ XV. speaking of the Burning of _Rome_ by _Nero_, takes Notice of these Ambulatory _Portico’s_, when he tells us, that the _Portico’s_ which were dedicated to Pleasure, were most of them destroyed by Fire. There was a _Portico_ of this Sort at _Athens_, Part of which, as _Pliny_ records, _Lib._ XXXV. _Cap._ 3. was painted by _Myco_, who was paid for it; and the other Part was finished _gratis_ by _Polygnotus_, an eminent Painter. It was for this Reason, that ’twas call’d _Porticus varia_, or ποικίλη. This is the same _Portico_ in which _Zeno_ taught, and for which he was called the Father of the _Stoicks_. _Suidas_ says, that it was customary to adorn such _Portico’s_ with Silver and Marble Statues, as appears by a Will mentioned by _Marcellus_, which runs thus, _My Will and Pleasure is, that my Heir, at his own Expence, build in my native Countrey a Publick_ Portico, _in which, I desire my Silver and Marble Statues may be reposited_. I believe my Author understands in this Clause of the Will, the same Kind of _Portico’s_ with those I now comment upon, which were of so considerable a Length, that they reached from the Imperial Palace, to the _Forum_ of _Constantine_. For _Procopius_ writes, in his _First Orat. de Ædif. Justin._ That in the Reign of _Justinian_, the Church of St. _Sophia_, and both the long _Portico’s_, stretching themselves as far as the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, were burnt down. The same Fact is testified by _Cedrinus_, who says, that both these _Portico’s_ were consumed by Fire, in the Reign of _Basiliscus_, altho’ after these Casualities, they were always rebuilt. I would observe, that every _Ward_ at _Constantinople_ had in it some _Portico’s_, though some _Wards_ at Rome had none.

_Four Gradus._] The Word, which is here called _Gradus_, signifies a Tribunal, which was ascended by Marble Steps, to receive the Bread which was to be distributed among the common People, and which, was therefore called, _Panis Gradilis_. _Valentinian_ tells us, that the carrying the _Panis Gradilis_ from one Tribunal to another, is strictly forbidden. He also commands in _Cod. Theod._ that every one receive the _Panis Gradilis_ from the Tribunal. From which Passages it is plain, that this _Gradus_ was a famous Tribunal, from whence they used to distribute Bread. For _Constantine_, as _Metaphrastes_ writes, bestowed every Day upon the Poor, eighty Thousand Loaves. _Socrates_, _Lib._ II. _Cap._ 13. says expressly, that he gave Daily eighty Thousand Bushels of Corn to the Poor; besides, as _Suidas_ adds, Wine, and Flesh, and Oil. These were therefore _Gradus_, or Tribunals, erected in this _Ward_ for that Purpose.

_It was governed by one_ Curator, _who had under his Charge the whole_ Ward.] The _Curators_ (who seem something like our Aldermen) were first instituted by _Augustus_, and by _Suetonius_, _Cap._ XXX. are called _Magistratus_. He divided, says he, meaning _Augustus_, the City into Streets and _Wards_, and commanded that the _Wards_ should be governed by a Magistrate, chosen by Lot yearly, and that the Streets should be governed by a Master elected out of the common People. Afterwards, in the Room of these, _Alexander Augustus_ appointed fourteen _Curators_. _Lampridius_ tells us, that _Rome_ chose fourteen _Curators_, out of the most eminent Citizens, and obliged them to assist the _Prefect_ of the City, so that all, or most of them attended, when any Thing was transacted for the good of the Publick. It was a principal Part of their Business to decide Causes, and to take Care of Orphans, and the Poor.

_There was also one_ Vernaculus _who was Messenger of the_ Ward, _he assisted the_ Curator, _and was entirely at his Command_.] The Business of this Officer was to be subservient to the _Curator_, and give Notice to, and summon the Citizens to meet in all Matters, which more immediately related to the _Ward_. Their Office was the same, mentioned by _S. Rufus_, and _P. Victor_, who give them at _Old Rome_, the Name of _Denunciatores_. Two of which were appointed to assist in every _Ward_.

_It had also twenty five_ Collegiati, _chosen out of the several Bodies of Tradesmen, whose Business it was, to direct and assist in Cases of Fire_.] At _Rome_ the _Præfectus Vigilum_ commanded in Chief the seven Companies of Freemen appointed for a constant Watch to the City. This Office was instituted by _Augustus_, who placed a single Company over two _Wards_, as is observed by _Suetonius_, and _Dion._ _Lib._ LV. and by _Paullus_, _Lib. de Offi. præ. Vigil._ These Men were chosen out of the several Bodies of the Tradesmen, whose Business was the same with those at _Rome_; and were called _Collegiati._ The Number of them was always stated, and unalterable so that when one of them died, the _Prefect_ of the City filled up the Vacancy with one of his own Body. _Honorius_ and _Theodosius_, in their _Letters Mandatory_ to _Æstius Prefect_ of the City, will and command, _That the Number of five hundred sixty three be the standing Number of them, and that no Person presume by any Authority whatsoever, to alter that Number; so that it shall be lawful to you only, in the Presence of the Body Corporate, when any Person is deceased, or otherways removed, to elect, and nominate one to succeed him out of the same Body Corporate of which he was a Member_: These _Collegiati_ are chosen out of thirty five Corporations of Tradesmen, which are particularly specified in a Letter sent by _Constantine_ to _Maximus_, and are discharged upon their Election from all other Offices whatsoever. In this first _Ward_, there were only twenty five of them, in others more or less, who made up the Number a Hundred and sixty, or a Hundred and sixty three. To complete the Number of which, as appears from the first Book of _Zeno de Collegiat._ Thirty seven or forty, are wanting in the last _Ward_. The Word _Collegiati_, in other Places, sometimes signifies the _Deacons_ who buried the Dead; and sometimes it is taken for _Freemen_, as in _Lib._ XLI. _Co. Theod. de Op. Pub._

_There were also five_ Vico-Magistri, _whose Business it was to watch the City by Night_.] These were originally instituted by _Augustus_. _Suetonius_, in the Life of _Augustus_, _Chap._ XXX. writes, that the City was divided into Streets and _Wards_, and adds, that _Augustus_ commanded, that the Magistrates of the _Wards_ should be annually chosen by Lot. The Streets were governed by the _Vico-Magistri_, who were elected out of the Commons, in the Neighbourhood of the Streets, over which they presided; so that as those who governed the _Wards_ were called _Curatores_, so they who governed the Streets were called _Vico-Magistri_. ’Tis very probable, that these Magistrates had some Soldiers under their Command to prevent Robberies, and other Outrages committed in the Night, as _Old Rome_ had its _Vigils_, or Watchmen, who were all Soldiers. There were two, three, or four _Vico-Magistri_ appointed over every Street at _Rome_: At _Constantinople_ every _Ward_ had but five, so that the whole Number of them is Seventy; although my Author in his _Summary View of the City_, which follows hereafter, reckons no more than sixty five.

The Second _Ward_.

_The second_ Ward, _after an easy, and almost imperceptible Ascent above its Level from the lesser Theatre, falls with a deep Precipice down to the Sea. This_ Ward _contains in it, the Great Church of St._ Sophia; _the Old Church; the Senate-House; a Tribunal with_ Porphyry _Steps; the_ Bagnio’s _of_ Zeuxippus; _a Theatre; an Amphitheatre; thirty four Streets; ninety eight large Houses; four great_ Portico’s; _thirteen private Baths; four private Mills, and four_ Gradus. _It has also one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _thirty five_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The great Church of St._ Sophia.] This Church, some say, was built by _Constantine_, others by _Constantius_. It was afterwards burnt down, and rebuilt by _Justinian_, and was then look’d upon as the finest and most beautiful Church in the whole World. _Periander_, and others, whose Works are still extant, have described at large the Delicacy and Magnificence of this wonderful Piece of Architecture. _Evagrius_ writes, that this Church measured in Length a Hundred and ninety Foot, in Breadth a Hundred and fifteen; and that from the Pavement to the Top of the _Cupola_, it was an Hundred and eighty Foot high.

_The Old Church._] I suppose the Author here means one of those Churches which were built by _Constantine_, some of which are mentioned by _Procopius_, in _Lib. de Ædif. Justinian._

_The Senate-House._] In this Place they held their Senate, which, as _Sozomen_ affirms, was built by _Constantine_ the _Great_, where he commanded the same yearly Solemnity to be celebrated on the _Calends_ of _Jan._ as was done at _Rome_. It was burnt down, upon a Sedition occasioned by an Attempt to banish St. _Chrysostom_ out of the City, and was rebuilt, as _Procopius_ tells us, with greater Splendor.

_A Tribunal with_ Porphyry _Steps_.] This Tribunal was made of _Porphyry_ Marble, which Word in _Latin_, signifies _Purple_, because _Porphyry_ Marble is of a _Purple_ Colour.

_The_ Bagnio’s _of_ Zeuxippus.] These _Bagnio’s_ were famous for a _Portico_, which run round the Houses and Shops adjoining to them. There was a yearly Revenue assigned for lighting the Lamps of this _Bagnio_, and repairing them. _Theodosius_ in _Lib. de Op. Pub._ writes thus; _Because there are many Houses and Shops adjoining the_ Portico’s _of_ Zeuxippus, _we will and command, that the yearly Income of the said Houses and Shops, without any Pretence or Excuse to the contrary, be paid into our Imperial_ Bagnio, _for purchasing Lights, and for the Repairs of the said_ Bagnio’s. This Passage is part of a Letter which he wrote to _Severinus_, _Prefect_ of the City, (not _Prætor_) as it stands in the _Codex Theodos. de Op. Pub._ These _Bagnio’s_ formerly stood near the Imperial Palace, and were afterwards called the _Bagnio’s_ of the _Numeri_, as _Nicephorus_ writes, _Lib._ IX. _Cap._ 9. _Sozomen_ and _Socrates_ take Notice of the same _Bagnio’s_. I believe they were first built by _Zeuxippus_, who persecuted the _Christians_ at _Byzantium_, much about the Time of _Nero_; and who among other of his Severities, forced St. _Andrew_ to fly to _Argyropolis_. If I mistake not, he was at that Time Lieutenant of _Macedonia_ and _Thrace_. These _Bagnio’s_ were enlarged and beautified by _Severus_ the Emperor, for which Reason they were afterwards called the _Bagnio’s_ of _Severus_. After this they were called _Balnea Numerorum_, because great Numbers of Soldiers use to bath there. _Zosimus_, in his second Book writes, that these _Bagnio’s_ formerly stood in a _Peninsula_. In antient Times, says he, _Constantinople_ had a Port at the End of the _Bagnio’s_, which were built by _Severus_ the Emperor, when he was reconciled to the _Byzantians_, for opening the Gates of the City to _Niger_, his Enemy. _Suidas_ says, that a Poet named _Christodorus_, celebrated the Statues and Images of _Zeuxippus_ in Verse, among which he is very particular in the Praises of the Statue of _Hesiod_. _Procopius_, in his First Book, _de Ædif. Justinian._ tells us, that these _Bagnio’s_ were rebuilt by _Justinian_, but were called the _Zeuxippum_, because in this Place they used to run their _Horses in Pairs_, as the Word _Zeuxippus_ signifies in the _Greek_. St. _Gregory Nazianzen_ takes Notice of them in his Oration to the _Arians_, and in another which he made _concerning himself_. I am not, says he, taking a Journey to a new _Jerusalem_, that is to the _Zeuxippum_; for that Place was laid in Ashes in the Reign of _Justinian_. The _Bagnio’s_ of _Severus_, as _Cedrinus_ relates, which were call’d the _Zeuxippum_, were consumed by Fire. In this Place was a very delightful Variety of Prospects. All the ingenious Contrivances of Art were here expressed in Marble and Stone, and the most elaborate Workmanship of Antiquity. In short, the Designs here were so matchless and inimitable, that they seemed to want nothing but a Soul to animate, and inform them. Among other surprizing Pieces of antient Skill, was the Statue of old _Homer_. The Figure was finished very naturally, and in his Looks might be observed a great Thoughtfulness, with a Mixture of much Uneasiness and Trouble. This Place was also beautified with brazen Pillars, which had been here set up in Honour of those great Personages, who had been renowned for their Learning or Virtue, through the whole World.

_An Amphitheatre._] This stands near the Sea Shore. You must pass by it, as you go to the Imperial Palace, and the Port of _Julian_, between which Places there were formerly Lime Kilns, which were commanded to be filled up by _Theodosius_ the _Less_, as the Reader may see in _Lib. ult. Cod. Theod._ _We will and command_, says he, _that all Lime-kilns, standing on any Ground, between the Sea Shore, the Amphitheatre, and the Port of St._ Julian, _be entirely demolished, for the Benefit and Health of our most great and magnificent City_, and _by Reason of the Nearness they stand to our Imperial Palace; and we do hereby prohibit all Persons whatsoever for the future, to burn any Lime in those Places_.

The Third _Ward_.

_The third_ Ward, _at the Entrance of it, is a Level Ground, and stands, in Part, where the_ Circus _is built; but descends, at the End of it, with a very great Declivity down to the Sea, and contains, the same_ Circus Maximus; _the House of_ Pulcheria Augusta; _the new Port; a_ Portico _of a Semi-circular Figure, made after the Likeness of the_ Greek _Letter_ Sigma, _which was formerly wrote thus_, C; _the Tribunal of the_ Forum _of_ Constantine; _seven Streets; ninety four great Houses; five large_ Portico’s; _eleven private_ Bagnio’s; _and nine private Mills. It had one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _twenty one_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The House of_ Pulcheria Augusta.] This Lady was the Sister of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, who continued for some Time unmarried. When her Brother was dead, she married _Martian_, and made him Emperor. _Zonaras_, _Cedrinus_, _Zosimus_, _Nicephorus_, and other Historians have mentioned many Things of her. She had also another House in the eleventh _Ward_.

_The New Port._] This probably is the same Port that was built by _Julian_ the Apostate. There was another Port in the sixth _Ward_ called _Portus Neorius_, because there was a Dock there for building Ships.

_A_ Portico _of a Semi-circular Figure_.] The _Greek_ Letter Σ, as ’tis now wrote, was formerly wrote C. _Zonaras_ and _Cedrinus_ often take Notice of this _Portico_.

The Fourth _Ward_.

_The fourth_ Ward _extends itself in a long Vale, the Hills rising on the Right and Left from the_ Miliarium Aureum _through a Vale, to a plain level Ground. It contains, the_ Miliarium Aureum; _the_ Augusteum; _a_ Basilica; _a_ Nympheum; _the_ Portico _of_ Phanio; _a Marble Galley, the Monument of a naval Victory; the Church of St._ Menna; _a_ Stadium; _The Stairs of_ Timasius; _thirty two Streets; three hundred and seventy five great Houses; four large_ Portico’s; _seven private Baths; five private Mills; and seven_ Gradus. _It is presided by one_ Curator, _assisted by one_ Vernaculus, _forty_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The_ Miliarium Aureum.] _Cedrinus_, speaking of the _Miliarium Aureum_, writes thus: Under the Roof of the _Miliarium Aureum_ were placed the Statues of _Constantine_ the _Great_, and his Mother, with a Cross between them. Behind him stands _Trajan_, and near his Mother is the Statue of _Ælius Hadrianus_ on Horseback. There is a Clock here, which was set up by _Justinian_. There was also a _Miliarium Aureum_ at _Rome_, erected in the _Forum_ by _Augustus_, from whence they used to adjust the Distances of Places, and the Mensuration of Miles, all the Roads of _Italy_ meeting at the Foot of it, as ’tis observed by _Plutarch_, _Dion_, _P. Victor_, and others. Yet _Æmilius Macer_ is of another Opinion. A Mile, says he, is not to be computed from the _Miliarium_, but from the Houses, upon the Skirts of the City, to the Place to which you measure. As then there was a _Miliarium Aureum_ at _Rome_, so there was at _Constantinople_, which imitated _Old Rome_ as near as it could; tho’ at _Rome_ it was built in the Figure of a Pillar, at _Constantinople_ it was another kind of Building, as is evident from what is above-mentioned by _Cedrinus_; and is also attested by _Suidas_, who writes, that under the Roof of the _Miliarium_, stood the Cross, the Figures of _Constantine_ and _Helena_, the Image of _Fortune_, and many other Statues. He calls it not the _Miliarium_, but the _Milium_.

_The_ Augusteum.] This was a large Pillar of Brass, erected by _Justinian_, as _Cedrinus_ relates, who tells us, that in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of _Justinian_, was finished the great brazen Pillar, which is called the _Augusteum_. Upon it was placed the Statue of _Justinian_ on Horseback, holding in his Right Hand an Apple, in Imitation of a Globe, to signify that the whole World was subject to his Government. He sat with his Right Hand stretched out, pointing to the _Persians_ to stand off, and not to approach his Dominions. All the Coverings of the Passage of Entrance into the Imperial Palace, were made of gilded Brass. This is still called the Brazen Passage, as the Pillar is call’d the _Augusteum_. _Procopius_ speaks largely of it in his Oration _de Ædif. Justin._ where he writes, that not the Pillar, but the Place where the Pillar stood, was called the _Augusteum_, as it was also the _Macellum_. The principal Pillar, says he, is to be admired for its Size, yet is it no regular and uniform Structure, but made of Stones of a vast Compass. The Pedestal and Top of it is covered with the most refined Brass, which by cramping its Stones together, does at the same Time both strengthen and adorn it. The Brass, as to its Lustre, is not much inferior to pure Gold, and at least of equal Worth and Beauty with the finest Silver. At the Top of this Pillar was placed a very large Horse cast in Brass, facing the East, wonderful in his Kind, in a walking Posture, with his Head bending downwards, lifting up his near Fore-Foot, as though he would paw the Ground. His Off-Foot is fixed to the Pedestal, on which he stands; and his Hind-Feet are so closely contracted, as if he was rising upon his Speed. Upon him sits the Statue of the Emperor in Brass, whom they call _Achilles_, because he is somewhat like him. He has no Boots, but his Feet are bound round with a kind of Sandals. He is armed with a radiant Breast-plate and Head-piece, and looks, you would fancy, as if he were marching, in a war-like Posture, against the _Persians_. In his left Hand he bears a Globe, by which ’tis signified, that the Earth and the Sea is subject to his Power. He is not equipped either with Sword nor Spear. There’s a Cross fixed upon the Globe, intimating, that under its auspicious Influence, he arrived to the Imperial Dignity; and that all Success in War is to be attributed to the Omnipotency of the Saviour of Mankind. His Right Hand, which is open, is stretched Eastward, and seems to forbid the barbarous Nations to approach his Territories. Below this Place, stands the _Forum_ called _Augustum_. This _Forum_ stands before the Imperial Palace; ’tis surrounded with Pillars, and the Inhabitants call it _Augustum_. Eastward from hence stands the _Curia_, or _Prætorium_, which was built by _Justinian_, where the old _Romans_, in the Beginning of the new Year used, as _Suidas_ observes, to perform a solemn Festival. _Phavorinus_ relates, that the Flesh-Market was the same with the _Augusteum_. It was so called, says _Suidas_, because the _Curatores_, and _Senastophori_ of the _Wards_, used every Year, on the _Ides_ of _October_, to dance in Honour of _Augustus_, or because the Statues of _Constantine_, and _Helena_ his Mother, were erected there.

_A_ Basilica.] This was one of the most magnificent _Basilica’s_ in the World, which _Cedrinus_ takes Notice of, when he tells us, that a Fire began at the Middle of the _Chalcopratia_, which consumed both the _Portico’s_ before mentioned, all the neighbouring Buildings, and the _Basilica_, which contained a Collection of a Hundred and twenty Thousand Books. There was a Curiosity very particular in this Library, which was the Gut of a Dragon, on which were inscribed in Golden Characters, the _Iliads_ and _Odysses_ of _Homer_, with the _History_ of the Atchievements of other _Heroes_. The Roof of this _Basilica_ was supported with many Ranges of Pillars, as we see at present in some Churches, which are many of them built after the same Manner with the _Basilica’s_. One of these _Basilica’s_ is described by _Virgil_, in his seventh _Æneid_.

_A stately Palace in the City’s Height, Sublime upon a hundred Pillars stood, With gloomy Groves, religiously obscure_, Laurentian Picus’ _Palace; where the Kings, The first Inauguration of their Sway, The Sceptres, and the regal_ Fasces _took_.

TRAPP’S Virg.

In these _Basilica’s_ they used to plead, and admit to Audience publick Ambassadors; and, indeed, most of the publick Affairs were transacted here. This I am speaking of was finely gilded, and made of a delicate Marble. _Theodosius_, in his Letters Mandatory to _Cyrus_, _Prefect_ of the City, means this _Basilica_, in the following Words: _We will and command, that the_ Basilica _gilt with Gold, and shining with Marble, be no Ways shaded or darkened with Statues, or Pictures placed before it_. I believe _Zonaras_ understands the same Building in his _Leo Magnus_, where he says, that the Building called the _Domus Maxima_, in which the Senate, and some of the principal Citizens met to deliberate upon publick Affairs, was burnt down; nay, that the Emperor himself came thither in solemn Pomp, when he entered upon his Consular Dignity. It was a Work of surprising Beauty and Splendor. _Justinian_ tells us in his 81st _Novel_, that the inferior Judges used to sit there in small Apartments. _Suidas_ writes, that this _Basilica_ stood behind the _Miliarium_, and that there was placed in it, amidst several others, a golden Statue. Among other Curiosities here, there is an Elephant, cast at the Expence of _Severus_, on the Account of a certain Banker, who killed his Keeper, and gave his Body to be devoured by a wild Beast; which the Elephant seeing, in a Rage slew the Banker. _Severus_, to preserve the Memory of the Fact, ordered the Elephant and his Keeper to be cast in Brass, and both the Figures, in the Consulship of _Julian_, were carried to _Constantinople_, and placed in the _Basilica_.

_A_ Nympheum.] This, as _Zonaras_ and _Cedrinus_ tell us, was a spacious Building, in which they used to celebrate Marriage, when they had not Houses large enough for that Purpose. _Suidas_ mentions, that in the _Forum_ of this _Ward_, there was a Spring continually running, which filled the _Bagnio_ of the _Nympheum_. _Theodosius_, in another Letter to _Cyrus_ above-mentioned, writes thus. _I command you, by Virtue of your prefectorial Authority, to appoint, as you shall judge convenient, what Share of Water be allotted to our Imperial_ Bagnio’s, _and what Quantity may be sufficient for the_ Bagnio’s _of the_ Nympheum.

_The_ Portico _of_ Phanio.] _Suidas_ tells us, that _Phanio_ is a Place where they carried the Filth of the City. This, probably, is the same _Portico_, which the Emperor _Zeno_ tells us, reached from the _Miliarium_, as far as the _Capitol_, and is supported with four Ranges of Pillars, between which he allows, in his _Cod. de Priv. Ædif._ a Privilege to build little Shops.

_A Marble Galley._] This was set up in Memory of a Victory, which _Zosimus_, in his fifth Book tells us, _Trajutus_, Admiral of _Arcadius_’s Fleet, obtain’d over _Gaina_, near _Chersonesus_.

_The Church of St._ Menna.] This Person was an _Egyptian Soldier_, who suffer’d Martyrdom under _Dioclesian_, in _Phrygia_: This Church was built by _Constantine_, who, as _Eusebius_ reports in _his Life, Book_ III. _Chap._ 4. built also other Churches in honour of the _Martyrs_.

_A_ Stadium.] This was a square _Area_, design’d, as _Suidas_ observes, for Martial Exercises. The _Grecians_ generally made them two hundred Foot long, and sometimes more. This _Area_ was surrounded with a _Portico_, and Pillars. The _Grecians_ used them sometimes in Merriment, and Dancing, and sometimes in more manly Diversions, as Wrestling, fighting at Gauntlets, _&c._ The _Portico_, on the South Side of it, was double Wall’d, to secure it from the Violence of the Northern Storms. In the _Stadium_, stood an _Ephebeum_, with Seats all round it, where they held publick Disputations in Philosophy, and where Youth was train’d up in Literature, and Science. In ancient Times, when Books were scarce, they used to improve themselves by Dispute, and Argumentation. On each Side of the _Ephebeum_, there were _Bagnio’s_, in which the Combatants anointed themselves, before they enter’d the Lifts. The _Stadium_ fac’d the Sea, as _Procopius_ observes in his Book _de Ædif Justin._ In a Place, says he, near the Sea, at present call’d the _Stadium_, (a Place formerly appropriated to Games, and Martial Exercises) _Justinian_, and his Consort _Theodora_, built some large Hospitals.

_The Stairs of_ Timasius.] These were three Steps, at the Foot of a Hill, leading down to the Sea, which were built by _Timasius_. ’Tis very probable, that they were made of Marble, and were something remarkable, because my Author takes Notice of them. There was Custom paid at these Stairs, for the Repairs of the City _Aqueduct_; as appears from the _Cod. Theod. Aquæduc._ _We will_, says he, _that all the Customs, which are, or may be collected at the Stairs of this our City of_ Constantinople, _be expended in the Repairs of the common Aque-duct_. I am of Opinion, that this Custom was payable by such Ships as unladed their Freight there. _Justinian_ in his 159ᵗʰ _Novel_ takes notice of a Clause in the Codicil of the Will of _Hierius_, where he bequeaths to his Kinsman _Hierius_ the Suburbs _Coparium_, with all the Stairs thereunto belonging. _Cedrinus_ writes, That in the Reign of _Copronymus_ the Emperor, the Sea was froze by the Severity of the Weather, and that upon a sudden Thaw, a large Cake of Ice bore against, and demolish’d the Stairs of the Imperial Palace at _Constantinople_. _Timasius_, who built these Stairs, was General of the Infantry to _Theodosius_ the _Great_, and was train’d up in the Art of War from the Time of _Valens_ the Emperor. At last being falsely, and injuriously accused by _Eutropius_, the Chamberlain of _Arcadius_, he was banish’d into _Oasis_. _Zosimus_, speaking of him in his _fifth Book_, says, that he was the Father of _Syagrius_, who was entitled _Pater Patriæ_.

The Fifth _Ward_.

_The fifth_ Ward, _a great Part of it is full of Windings, and Turnings, and is lengthen’d by an adjoining Plain. There are many useful Buildings in this_ Ward, _which contains the_ Bagnio’s _of_ Honorius; _the Cistern of_ Theodosius; _the_ Prytaneum; _the_ Bagnio’s _of_ Eudocia; _the_ Strategium, _in which stands the_ Forum _of_ Theodosius, _and the_ Thebean Obelisk; _the Store-houses for Oil; a_ Nympheum; _the Granaries of_ Troas; _the Granaries of_ Valens, _and_ Constantius: _It contains also the_ Prosphorian _Port; the_ Stairs _of_ Chalcedon; _twenty three Streets; a hundred and eighty four great Houses; seven large_ Portico’s; _eleven private Baths; seven publick, and two private Mills; nine_ Gradus, _and two Flesh-Markets: It had one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _forty_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vice-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The Cistern of_ Theodosius.] This Cistern was a subterraneous Cavern, arched at top, which was supply’d, not with Spring, but with Rain Water only. _Petrus Gyllius_ in his _Antiquities_ of _Constantinople_, tells us, that when he resided at that City, he discover’d a subterraneous Cistern there; which he shewed to the Proprietors of the Land where it was, who, before, were intirely ignorant of it. It was, says he, 336 Foot in length, 182 Foot broad, and 224 in compass. The Roof of it was supported with Marble Pillars, placed at twelve Foot distance from each other. Every Pillar was near nine Foot high. They stand, lengthways, in twelve Ranges; broad-ways, in twenty eight. In Winter-time, when the _Aque-duct_ pours itself with more Violence into it, it fills up to the Middle of the Capitals of the Columns. It has sometimes Fish in it, which the Master, who overlooks it, skiffing about in a small Boat, kills with a Spear.

_A_ Prytaneum.] There was at _Athens_ a Tower call’d the _Prytaneum_, where their Senators, and wise Men met upon publick Affairs, and where Persons, who deserv’d well of the Commonwealth, were maintain’d at the Publick Charge, as ’tis observ’d by _Cicero_, _Lib. primo de Orat._ In Conformity to _Athens_, there was also at _Constantinople_ a spacious Building, near the Imperial Cistern, where a Person, eminent in Wisdom and Learning, instructed twelve young Men in such Arts and Sciences, as might qualify them to be serviceable to the Publick. _Cedrinus_ in his History of _Leo Isaurus_, writes, that, near the Royal Cistern, there was a venerable Pyle of Building, over which there presided a Master, who had under him, according to ancient Custom, twelve Scholars, of sober Life, and a good Share of Learning. These, when they had run through the whole Compass of human Literature, apply’d themselves very diligently to the Study of Divinity, and were had in so high Estimation, that the Emperors themselves look’d upon it as an Injury to their Character, to transact any thing of Importance, without their Advice. This Institution was afterwards suppress’d by _Leo_. _Zonaras_ is more express, and large upon this Occasion; there was, says he, a House in the _Basilica_, near the _Forum Ærarium_, large enough for a Palace, in which were reported many ancient _Manuscripts_ of Human, and Divine Learning, and where a sufficient Maintenance was allow’d for a Person of distinguish’d Knowledge whom they call’d the _Oecumenical Doctor_. He had under him twelve _Fellows_, who lived at the publick Cost, and instructed such as desired to be their Pupils. The Emperors also, concludes he, consulted them in the most arduous Affairs of State. But _Leo_ the Emperor, when he could not prevail with them to declare themselves the same profess’d Enemies to Images, in Church-worship, with himself, destroy’d them, and their Library, in the Night by Fire. As therefore it was customary in other Nations to maintain at the common Charge Persons who might prove useful to the Publick, so was it here; and therefore, I conceive, that as the _Prytaneum_ at _Constantinople_ took its Name from that of _Athens_, so was it originally instituted for Purposes, much of the same Nature.

_The_ Bagnio’s _of_ Eudocia.] These _Bagnio’s_ were so call’d, because they were built by _Eudocia_ the Wife of _Theodosius_ the _Less_. Before she was converted to the Christian Faith, she was called _Athenais_. _Zonaras_, _Nicephorus_, and others have wrote much concerning her. She had some Houses in the tenth _Ward_; where I shall speak more of her.

_The_ Strategium.] This, I look upon, to be the Place, where the General’s Troops liv’d, and pitch’d their Tents. Here was the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_, and the _Thebean Obelisk_ which was brought from _Thebes_ in _Ægypt_ to _Constantinople_, and there squat’d.

_The Granaries of_ Troas.] These Granaries contain’d the Corn, and other Commodities which were brought from _Troas_; as those Granaries were call’d the Granaries of _Alexandria_, in which the Corn was laid up, that was brought from _Alexandria_. _Troas_ is a Countrey of _Phrygia_, situate near the _Hellespont_, not far from _Constantinople_.

_The Granary of_ Valens.] This was built by _Valens_. It is probably the same Granary, in which was placed the Statue of _Manaim_, who march’d his Army against the _Scythians_. There was kept here a brazen Bushel, which was the common Standard, by which Corn was bought, and sold. _Valens_ commanded that twelve Bushels of Wheat should be sold at the Price of an _Aureus_, (in _English_ Coin 17_s._ 1_d._ _ob. qua._) and commanded a Sailor’s Hand to be cut off, who had eluded the Force of that Law by Tricks, and Evasions, and in Memory of the Fact, order’d a Brazen Hand to be hung up in the Granary.

They had also at _Constantinople_ Store-houses where they reposited their Gold, and Silver, and Jewels. For _Paulus_ a Lawyer informs us, that ’twas customary to lay up in Store-houses the most valuable Part of their Estates. _Lampridius_ also mentions some Store-houses built by _Alexander_, where private Persons, who had no Conveniency in their own Houses, used to lay up their Gold, their Silver, their Jewels, and their Corn, and that the Masters of the Store-houses were obliged to keep them safe at their Peril.

_The_ Prosphorian _Port_.] Here they used to unlade all kinds of Provisions; for the Word προσφορὸν in the _Greek_ signifies any thing that is brought to Market.

_The Stairs of_ Chalcedon.] These were a convenient Descent by Steps, where they went on Board, when they sail’d for _Chalcedon_, which lay over against _Constantinople_.

_Two Flesh-Markets._] All kind of Provisions were sold here.

The Sixth _Ward_.

_The sixth_ Ward, _upon the Entrance of it, is a short Piece of level Ground, all the rest is upon the Descent; for it extends itself from the_ Forum _of_ Constantine _to the Stairs, where you ferry over to_ Sycæna. _It contains the_ Porphyry _Pillar of_ Constantine; _the Senate-house in the same Place; the_ Neorian _Port; the Stairs of_ Sycæna; _twenty two Streets; four hundred and eighty four great Houses; one large_ Portico; _nine private Baths; one publick, and seventeen private Mills; it has also one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus; _forty nine_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The_ Porphyry _Pillar of_ Constantine.] This Pillar stood in the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, which was pav’d with square Stones. _Zonaras_, speaking of _Nicephorus Phocas_ the Emperor, has this Passage: The People curse _Nicephorus_ even to the pav’d _Forum_, in which is erected the round _Porphyry_ Pillar. _Cedrinus_ in his History tells us, that _Constantine_ in the twenty fourth Year of his Reign, built a _Forum_ with two _Rostrums_, or Pleading Desks made in the form of Pulpits, and that he plac’d in the _Forum_, a Pillar which he brought from _Rome_. It was one solid Piece of _Porphyry_ Marble, and was bound with three _Fasciæ_, or Wreaths of Brass round it, with Inscriptions upon them. On the Top of it he erected his own Statue, with this Inscription, _CONSTANTINUS_. It blazed like the Sun, was made by the famous _Phidias_, and was brought from _Athens_. Upon the Pedestal of the Pillar were carved in _Basso Relievo_, the seven and twelve Baskets of Fragments, which were taken up in the Miracles of the _Loaves_ and _Fishes_, and beneath were inscribed the following Verses.

_To thee, O Saviour, Lord of th’ Universe, Who rulest the unmeasurable Globe With deepest Knowledge, I this People offer; May they be thine; I conquer’d them for thee. I lay m’ Imperial Sceptre at thy Feet, With all the mighty Force and Pow’r of_ Rome. _Let thy good Providence with watchful Eye Look down, and guard the City from all Ills._

_Zonaras_ mentions the same Thing, tho’ in different Words. He placed, says he, meaning _Constantine_, the round _Porphyry_ Pillar which he brought from _Rome_, in the _Forum_, paved with square Stones. For this Reason it was called by the _Greeks_ Πλακότον. At the Top of the Pillar he placed his own Statue in Brass, which for its Largeness, and the Exquisiteness of its Work, was scarce to be matched in the whole World, as being finished to the Life, by an antient and eminent Statuary. It was thought that it was originally designed for _Apollo_, and brought from _Troy_; but _Constantine_ gave it his own Name, making some Alteration by fattening some of those Nails in the Head of it, with which the _Jews_ crucified the _Lord of Life_. This Statue continued standing upon the Pillar till very lately, when in the Reign of _Alexius Comnenus_, it was thrown down by an Earthquake, and crushed some People to Death. _Nicephorus_ in the Fourth Book, _Chap._ 8. of his _Eccles. Hist._ gives a better Description of it. He built, says he, a large _Porphyry_ Pillar, upon which he placed his own Statue, holding in his right Hand a Globe, with a Cross fixed upon it. By this Symbol he intimated, that by Virtue of that invincible Trophy the Cross, the whole Earth and Sea was subject to his Power. _Gyllius_ writes, that this Pillar was made of eight Stones, and that at the Joints of it, it was covered round with Wreathed Laurels made of Brass, so that you could not perceive where it was cemented; but that upon the Removal of the Brass-work, you might easily discern that it was a jointed Structure, and that the Number of the Stones might be plainly seen. This Pillar is eighty six Foot high, besides the _Basis_, the Steps, and the Pedestal.

_The Senate-House, in the same Place._] This Building stood on the North Side of the _Forum_ of _Constantine_. The Senators and principal Men of the City used to assemble here upon publick Affairs, and the Emperor took upon him in this Place the Consular Habit. It was curiously beautified with Brass, and _Porphyry_ Marble. _Zonaras_, and _Cedrinus_ tell us, that in the Reign of _Leo_ the _Great_, it was destroyed by Fire.

_The_ Neorian _Port_.] This was the Haven, or Dock, where they built their shipping, from whence the Gate, which hands near it, is called by some Writers, the Gate of the _Neorium_; but by _Zonaras_, and _Cedrinus_, as will appear in my Notes upon the twelfth _Ward_, it was called _Porta Aurea_, the gilded or beautiful Gate. Some have given it the Name of the Imperial Gate, because it joins to the Palace.

_The Stairs_ of Sycæna.] These are the Stairs upon the Shore, from whence you go off to a neighbouring Island called _Sycæna_ but which at present is called _Pera_. In the Creek here, there are many Thousand small Boats, more in Number than at _Venice_. They are generally called Ferry-boats, because they _carry_ their Fare to and fro’ across the River.

_One large_ Portico.] This _Portico_ reached as far as the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, and was burnt down in a tumultuous Manner, in the Reign of _Justinian_.

The Seventh _Ward_.

_The seventh_ Ward, _if compared with the former, lies more upon the Level, although at the Extremity on one Side of it, it falls with a greater Declivity into the Sea. It stretches its self with very long_ Portico’s, _from the right Hand of the Pillar of_ Constantine, _to the_ Forum _of_ Theodosius; _as it does also on another Side of it as far as the Sea, by_ Portico’s _extended in the same Manner. It contains in it three Churches, that of St._ Irene; _St._ Anastasia, _and St._ Paul; _the Pillar of_ Theodosius, _which you ascend on the Inside by Winding Stairs; two large Equestrian Statues; Part of the_ Forum _of_ Theodosius; _the_ Bagnio’s _of_ Corosia; _eighty five Streets; seven hundred and eleven great Houses; six large_ Portico’s; _eleven private Baths; twelve private Mills; and sixteen_ Gradus. _It is governed by one_ Curator, _has one_ Vernaculus, _eighty_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The Church of St._ Irene.] This Church stood in a Street of this _Ward_, which was called _Taurus_. It was called the Church of St. _Irene_, _i. e._ of Peace; and which, as _Socrates_ and _Cedrinus_ inform us, was built by _Constantine_ the _Great_, and burnt down in the Reign of _Justinian_.

_The Church of St._ Anastasia.] The Reliques of St. _Anastasia_, in the first Year of _Leo_ the _Great_, were brought from _Syrmium_ to _Constantinople_, and reposited in this Church which was built by the Catholicks, because St. _Gregory Nazianzen_ had there revived the Doctrine of the _Holy Trinity_, or as _Sozomen_ reports, because a Woman big with Child falling from a Gallery over the Church-porch died upon the Spot, and revived by the Prevalency of the Prayers of the Congregation.

But it seems to me more agreeable to Truth, that there were at _Constantinople_ two Churches which went under this Name: One was the Church of the _Novatians_, which was pull’d down by the _Arians_, and which was afterwards rebuilt by them, as _Sozomen_ observes, _Lib._ IV. _Cap._ 19, and was therefore call’d the Church of St. _Anastasia_. The other was so call’d, from the Revival of the Doctrine of the Trinity, just mentioned. The Church here meant was anciently the House of _Nicobulus_, where St. _Gregory Nazianzen_ was hospitably entertained by him, as appears in his Oration to the Hundred and fifty Bishops. This House was afterwards made a Church, and became a most magnificent _Basilica_. But _Sozomen_ tells us, _Lib._ V. _Cap._ 5. That the Church was so called for the Reason above-mentioned. _Martian_, one of the Principal, and most wealthy Citizens, built there a large and beautiful Church. The Reliques of _Anastasia_, were reposited there, because the Church bore her Name.

_The Pillar of_ Theodosius, _which is ascended on the Inside by Winding Stairs_.] _Zonaras_, in his Life of _Justinian_, writes concerning this Pillar as follows: In the seventeenth Year of his Reign, says he, the great Pillar placed before the Porch of the great Church was finished, upon which he placed his own Statue on Horseback. In the same Place had stood formerly the Pillar of _Theodosius_, supporting a silver Statue, made at the Cost of his Son _Arcadius_. This Statue was seven Thousand four hundred Pound in Weight. _Justinian_ took down the Statue, and demolished the Pillar, and laid them both up; so that the Statue, with the Stones of the Pillar, is to be seen at this Day. As the Treatise, I am, upon was wrote when this Pillar was standing, it must of Consequence be wrote before the Time of _Justinian_. _Cedrinus_, in his Life of _Zeno_, speaks of this Pillar in another Manner, or else he is speaking of another Pillar. In the Street called _Taurus_, says he, _Theodosius_ the _Great_ erected a Pillar, on which was carved the History of his Battles with the _Scythians_, and the Trophies of his Success. This Pillar, continues he, has Winding-Stairs within it. At the Top of it, in a Place where two Ways meet, sat _Theodosius_ on Horseback, with his right Hand stretched towards the City, and pointing downwards to the Trophies carved upon it. This Pillar, with the Statue, was thrown down by an Earthquake in the fourth Year of the Reign of _Zeno_ the Emperor. The same Historian, speaking of _Anastasius_, says, that he ordered to be melted down many of the Statues, and other Curiosities set up by _Constantine_ the _Great_, out of which his own Statue was made, which he placed upon the Pillar in the _Taurus_. For before the Statue of _Theodosius_ the _Great_ was placed there, the Pillar of _Anastasius_ was thrown down, and dashed to Pieces by an Earthquake.

_Two large Equestrian Statues._] One of these was the Statue of _Theodosius_ the _Great_. The other is unknown.

_The_ Bagnio’s _of_ Corosia.] These Bagnio’s took their Name from _Corosia_, the Daughter of _Valens_ the Emperor, as _Sozomen_ observes in the Ninth Chapter of his Sixth Book. _Martian_, says he, a Man of consummate Learning, and great Austerity of Life, who had formerly been one of the Emperor’s Life-Guard, but at that Time a Priest, was a _Novatian_, and Tutor to _Anastasius_ and _Corosia_, the Son and Daughter of _Valens_, in the Rudiments of Grammar. He adds, that there were some _Bagnio’s_ at _Constantinople_ that were named from them.

The Eighth _Ward_.

_The eighth_ Ward, _on the Side of the_ Taurus, _is not bounded by the Sea, and may be looked upon to be rather a narrow, than a broad Piece of Ground; yet is this Defect sufficiently amended by its great Length. It contains part of the_ Forum _of_ Constantine, _a_ Portico _on the left Side of it, reaching as far as the_ Taurus; _the_ Basilica _of_ Theodosius; _the_ Capitol; _twenty two Streets; a hundred and eight spacious Houses; five large_ Portico’s; _fifteen private Baths; five private Mills; five_ Gradus, _and two Flesh Markets. It has one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _seventeen_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

This _Ward_ is wholly encompassed by the Land, and contains part of the _Taurus_, which was a Street of _Constantinople_. _Zonaras_ in his Life of _Nicephorus Botoniates_, takes Notice of it, and tells us, that it contained Part of the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, a _Portico_ on the left Side of it, reaching as far as the _Taurus_, the _Basilica_ of _Theodosius_, and the _Capitol_: In such magnificent Buildings, more especially, did _Constantinople_ much resemble _Old Rome_.

The Ninth _Ward_.

_The ninth_ Ward _is all a Declivity, and bounded by the Sea. It contains the two Churches of_ Cænopolis, _and_ Omonæa; _the Granaries of_ Alexandria; _the House of the most illustrious_ Arcadia; _the_ Bagnio’s _of_ Anastasia; _the Granaries of_ Theodosius; _sixteen Streets; a hundred and sixteen great Houses; two large_ Portico’s; _fifteen private Baths; fifteen private, and four publick Mills. ’Tis governed by one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _thirty eight_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The two Churches of_ Cænopolis, _and_ Omonæa.] I am of Opinion, that the first of these Churches took its Name from some Place in the City. Perhaps it was call’d so from a Spring without the _Porta Aurea_, which had made the Ground foul, and oozy. _Leo_, before he came to the Government, as the Story goes, anointed the Eyes of a blind Man with the Dirt of that Place, and he recover’d his Sight. When he arriv’d afterwards to the Imperial Dignity, he dedicated a Church to the _Virgin Mary_, who foretold his Accession to the Government. _Nicephorus_, in _Lib._ XV. _Cap._ 25. _Hist. Ecclesiast._ (and _Procopius_ confirms it) says, that in the Suburbs, which was called _Fons_, or the Spring, _Justinian_ repair’d the Church of the _Blessed Virgin_. The other Church is call’d Ὁμόνοια, or the Church of Concord; because, probably in the Times of Heathenism, the Temple of _Concord_ stood there; as there were no less than three such Temples at _Rome_. One of which was dedicated to her by _M. Furius Camillus_, upon a Suppression of a Military Tumult; the second by _M. Manlius Prætor_, upon quelling such another Tumult in _Gaul_; and the third in the _Forum Romanum_, near the _Græcostasis_, by _L. Opimius_ the _Consul_, upon the Defeat of _Gracchus_ and his Party, in Opposition to the strongest Resentments of the People; so that the Inscription over this Temple was _Opus Vecordiæ_, and not _Concordiæ_. There was also another Temple dedicated to _Concord_, which was either built, or repair’d by _Livia Augusta_, as is observed by St. _Austin._ _Lib._ III. _Cap._ 2. _de Civit. Dei._ One of these Temples was repaired by _Constantine_ for Christian Worship, as is evident from an antient Inscription in the _Lateran_.

_The Granaries_ of Alexandria.] There were yearly carried from _Alexandria_ to _Constantinople_, eight Millions of _Medimni_ of Wheat, (each _Medimnus_ of _Attick_ Measure consisted of six Bushels) for which the Masters of the Ships by an Edict of _Justinian_, received the Sum of ninety Thousand _Aurei_. There was antiently rais’d by Order of the Senate, and the principal Inhabitants, the Sum of six hundred and eleven Pounds in Gold, which was lodged in the Hands of the _Prefect_ of the City, for purchasing Provision; to which the Emperor added another Import, for purchasing Corn from _Alexandria_, _Lib._ III. _Cod. Theod. de Frumen. Urb. Constan._ This Corn, when brought to _Constantinople_, was laid up in Granaries, which were therefore called the Granaries of _Alexandria_.

_The House of the most illustrious_ Arcadia.] This Lady, as _Cedrinus_ relates, was the Daughter of _Arcadius_. She had another House in the tenth _Ward_. _Arcadius_ had by the Empress _Eudocia_, three Daughters, _Pulcheria_, _Marina_, and _Arcadia_, who all lived in a State of Celibacy.

_The_ Bagnio’s _of_ Anastasia.] These _Bagnio’s_ were so call’d from _Anastasia_, the Daughter of _Valens_, as others were from her Sister _Carosia_ abovementioned. _Marcellinus_, in his _Seventeenth Book_ observes, that these _Bagnio’s_ took their Name from _Anastasia_. _Paulas Diaconus_ tells us in his _Thirteenth Book_, that there’s a very large House in _Constantinople_ called _Carya_, which signifies a Nut: For, says he, there stands in the Porch of this House a Nut-tree, on which, as the Report goes, St. _Achatius_ suffered Martyrdom. Upon this Account, there is also an Oratory built in the same Place. _Procopius_ also mentions a Man, who went to the _Bagnio’s_ of _Anastasia_, which took their Name, says he, from the Sister of _Constantine_.

The Tenth _Ward_.

_The tenth_ Ward, _on the other Side of the City, is divided from the ninth by a broad Way, yet is it much more upon the Level; nor is it, in any Part of it uneven, but near the Sea Shore. ’Tis of a proportionable Length and Breadth, and contains in it; the Church of St._ Achatius; _the_ Bagnio’s _of Constantine; the House of_ Augusta Placidia; _the House of_ Augusta Eudocia; _the House of the most illustrious_ Arcadia; _a large_ Nympheum; _twenty Streets; six hundred and thirty six great Houses; six large_ Portico’s; _twenty two private Baths; two publick, and sixteen private Mills; and twelve_ Gradus. _It has one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _ninety_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The Church of St._ Achatius.] This good Man suffered Death at _Constantinople_, as I just observed, upon a Nut-tree, which _Nicephorus_ says, remained in the Middle of the Church, sacred to his Memory in the Reign of _Arcadius_, though he was martyr’d in the Time of _Dioclesian_ an hundred Years before. For, speaking of _Procopius_ the Tyrant, The Church, says he, which was demolished with Age, was rebuilt, and beautified by _Justinian_. And _Procopius_ the Historian tells us in _Lib. de Ædif Just._ That _Justinian_ rebuilt it from the Ground, and that it cast such a Lustre, that it struck the Spectators with Admiration, its Marble being very glossy, and white as Snow. He adds farther, that this Church was called the _Martyrdom_ of St. _Achatius_, because he was buried there, which happened on the sixth of _May_.

_The_ Bagnio’s _of_ Constantine.] _Gyllius_ says they were the _Bagnio’s_ of _Constantius_, and which, indeed, are often mentioned by _Sozomen_, _Socrates_, and _Suidas_; but ’tis more probable that these _Bagnio’s_ were built by _Constantine_, who was indefatigable in beautifying the City with many Decorations.

_The House of_ Placidia Augusta.] This Lady was the Daughter of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, who afterwards resided in _Italy_, with her Brother _Honorius_.

_The House of_ Augusta Eudocia.] She was the most learned Woman of her Age, and wrote the Life of _Christ_ in _Greek Hexameters_, after the Manner of _Homer_. At last being suspected by her Husband of Adultery, and divorc’d, she went to _Jerusalem_, but upon the Death of _Theodosius_, as _Zonaras_ and _Nicephorus_ write, returned again to _Constantinople_.

The Eleventh _Ward_.

_The eleventh_ Ward, _much wider in Compass than the former, is, in no part of it, bounded by the Sea. The whole of it, level and rising Ground, contains, the Church of the_ Apostles; _the Palace of_ Flacilla; _the House of_ Augusta Pulcheria; _the Brazen Bull; the Cistern of_ Arcadius; _the Cistern of_ Modestus; _five hundred and three great Houses; four large_ Portico’s; _fourteen private Baths; one publick, and three private Mills; and seven_ Gradus. _It has one_ Curator; _one_ Vernaculus; _thirty seven_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The Church of the_ Apostles.] _Cedrinus_ and _Eusebius_ write, that this Church was rebuilt by _Constantine_. _Eusebius_, _Lib._ IV. _Cap._ 58. _de Vita Const._ says, that to perpetuate the Memory of the _Apostles_, he began to build a Church, in the City called after his own Name. When he had built the Church to a very great Height, he beautify’d it with Stones of all Kinds, and inlay’d it with Variety of the most delicate Marble, from the Pavement to the Top of the Church; and having closed the Roof with Arches of the best Workmanship, he gilded it over. The Top of the Church, on the Outside of it, was cover’d with Brass, to secure it from the Violence of the Weather, part of which was also gilded; so that the amazing Splendour of it, reflected the Rays of the Sun to a very great Distance. The inward part of the Church he cover’d with Net-work, which was artificially made of Brass and Gold. Thus beautifully was the Church adorn’d by the great Care and Application of the Emperor. Before it stood a spacious Court, with an open Gallery round it. The Church and the Gallery were wholly surrounded with _Portico’s_. The Palace, the _Bagnio’s_, the Walks, and many Houses built for the Accommodation of those who look’d after them, had all of them the Conveniency of some _Portico_. In this Church was laid the Body of _Constantine_, in a golden Chest, the twelve _Apostles_ standing round his Tomb. This is attested by _Socrates_. This Church was afterwards rebeautified by _Justinian_. For _Procopius_, _Lib. de Ædif. Just._ speaks of it thus: There was, says he, an ancient Church at _Constantinople_, just sinking with Age. This Church, for the Reverence he bore to it, was repair’d by _Justinian_, where the Masons and Workmen found three wooden Chests or Coffins, which proved by their Inscriptions, that the Bodies of St. _Luke_, St. _Andrew_ and _Timothy_, were interr’d there, and which were viewed by _Justinian_, and the _Christians_ of those Times, with the greatest Admiration.

_The Palace of_ Flacilla.] If we read it _Falcilla_, it is meant of another Daughter of _Arcadius_; if _Placilla_, she was the Wife of _Theodosius the Great_, whom _Paulus Diaconus_ calls _Flacilla_.

_The Brazen Bull._] This Bull, _Cedrinus_ writes, was brought from _Troy_. There was, says he, a Stove in which St. _Antipas_ the Martyr was burnt to Death. Some are of Opinion, that this Stove was the _Brazen Bull_ here mention’d, which was invented by _Perillus_, who was forced to undergo the same Torment by _Phalaris_, a cruel Tyrant of _Agrigentum_. _Zonaras_ relates, that _Phocas_ the Tyrant was burnt in a Bull, _i. e._ in a brazen Stove made in the Shape of a Bull, brought from _Pergamus_, which Place gave its Name to a Place near _Constantinople_.

_The Cistern of_ Modestus.] _Modestus_ was first chief Governour of the East, and was afterwards, _Præfectus Prætorio_, or General of the Life-Guard to _Valens_. As he was an _Arian_, he persecuted the Catholicks. Afterwards he was recovered from a dangerous Illness by the Prayers of St. _Basil_, as ’tis recorded by _Gregory Nazianzen_ in his Funeral Oration upon him. I take this to be the same Person who built the Cistern here mention’d.

The Twelfth _Ward_.

_The twelfth_ Ward, _from the Entrance of the City at the_ Porta Aurea, _is a long way upon the Level. ’Tis extended on the left Side of it by a gentle Descent, and is bounded by the Sea. This_ Ward _is better guarded, and more handsomly beautified than any other, the Walls rising higher here than in any other part of the City. It contains the_ Porta Aurea; _the_ Portico’s _of_ Troas; _the_ Forum _of_ Theodosius; _A Column with winding Stairs in its Inside; the Mint, or Treasury; the Port of_ Theodosius; _eleven Streets; three hundred and sixty three great Houses; three large_ Portico’s; _five private Baths; five private Mills, and nine_ Gradus. _It has one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _thirty four_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The_ Porta Aurea.] The _Greeks_ call it ὡραία both on the account of its own Beautifulness, and that of the neighbouring Buildings; so that it is a palpable Mistake in those who call it _Porta Neoria_ from the Dock, which is near to it. I take this to be the same Gate which _Zonaras_ mentions in his Life of _Leo_ the Philosopher. He calls it the Western Gate of the Golden _Triclinium_, from whence it is call’d the _Porta Aurea_, as is observ’d by _Nicetas_ in his Life of _Alexius Ducas, Marzulfus_, and in the _History_ of their Atchievements, after they had taken the City; as also by _Nicephorus Gregoras_, in his _Treatise_ entituled, _The Entry of_ Michael Palæologus _into the City_. In this Gate it is reported, the Elephants were stabled, which were much like those with which _Theodosius_ made his publick Entry into _Constantinople_, as ’tis mention’d by _Cedrinus_. Some Historians tell us, that they were transported to _Constantinople_ from the Temple of _Mars Atheniensis_. This Gate stood Easterly, facing the Sea, and as _Nicephorus_ observes, overlook’d the Imperial Citadel through the City to a great Distance, and that from thence you might look very far backwards into the Inland Countries. This Gate, in a direct Line, was distant from the Sea-shore fourteen thousand and seventy five Feet, so that the City was about three Miles in Length.

_The_ Portico’s _of_ Troas.] I believe these _Portico’s_ took their Name either from the People of _Troas_, who, while they continued there, built them; or from some Part of the City so call’d, or because some Goods and Merchandize were imported thither from _Troas_, as I observed before of the Granaries of _Troas_.

_A Column with winding Stairs on its Inside._] Upon this Pillar was erected the Statue of _Theodosius_, which, as _Zonaras_ writes, was near the _Porta Aurea_, and fell down in the Reign of _Leo Isaurus_. _Gyllius_ is of Opinion, that this was the Statue of _Arcadius_, that the Shaft of it, with the Pedestal and Capital, consisted of twenty one Stones; and adds, that the Battels of _Theodosius_ were carv’d upon it.

The Thirteenth _Ward_.

_The thirteenth_ Ward _is call’d the_ Sycæne Ward, _which is divided from the City by a narrow Bay of the Sea, and maintains an Intercourse with it by Boats, and small Vessels. It stands wholly upon the Side of it, except a broad Tract of Land, which lies Level, at the Foot of it, near the Sea-shore. It contains one Church, the_ Bagnio’s _and_ Forum _of_ Honorius; _A Theatre; A Dock for Ship-building; four hundred and thirty one great Houses; one large_ Portico; _five private_ Bagnio’s; _one publick, and four private Mills; with eight_ Gradus. _It has one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _thirty four_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The_ Sycene Ward.] This _Ward_ is a _Peninsula_ divided from _Constantinople_ by a small Bay of the City. ’Tis at present call’d _Galata_, or _Pera_. _Stephanus_ (_de Urbibus_) tells us, that _Sycæ_ is a small City over against New _Rome_, which in his Time was called _Justiniana_. But _Justinian_ himself, _Novel._ 59. _Cap._ 5. places it so far within the new Walls of the City, that, as he says, it ought to be looked upon as a Part of it. It was named by the _Greeks_ _Sycæna_, from the great Produce it bears of the best _Figs_, as is observed by _Cedrinus_ and _Dionysius_ a _Byzantian_. ’Tis not inhabited at present by the _Franks_, for so the _Greeks_ call the _Latines_. _Gyllius_ is of Opinion that it was called _Galata_, because _Brennus_, Captain General of the _Gauls_, whom the _Greeks_ call Γαλάται marched thither with his Army. It was also called _Pera_, that is, the _Ferry_, or _Peræa_, and stood on the other Side of the Water; as _Josephus_ relates, that _Judæa_ was on the other Side of _Jordan_; and as _Strabo_ mentions a Place, which he says was on the other Side of _Euphrates_. _Anastasius_ in his _Constitutions_ calls it _Sycæ_, or the _Ferry_ of _Sycæ_, where he commands the Dead to be bury’d without Fee, or Reward. ’Tis divided by a Hill that runs from North to South, and is bounded on each Side by two Vales, of a Mile in Length. Its Walls are four Thousand four Hundred Paces in Compass. Near to it, _Justinian_ in his 159ᵗʰ _Nov._ seems to fix the Suburbs called _Coparium_: And _Socrates_ in his 30ᵗʰ _Chap._ of his _Eccles. Hist._ tells us, that there’s a Place just against the City, which is called _Sycæ_. The Church of the _Novatians_ was translated hither in the Reign of _Constantine_.

_It maintained an Intercourse with_ Constantinople, _by Boats and small Vessels_.] There were in the Bay here many Thousands of small Boats, far exceeding the Number of those which are at _Venice_ to carry Passengers from one Shore to the other, so that this _Peninsula_ might reasonably be looked upon as a Part of the City. ’Tis almost surrounded with Mountains, at the Foot of which, towards the Sea, it lies all upon a Level to the opposite Shore. It contained a Church, the _Forum_, and Theatre of _Honorius_, and many other Ornaments and Curiosities in common with other _Wards_. There stood here a magnificent Church dedicated to St. _Irene_, which was built by _Pertinax_, who had pass’d the Consular Dignity, and was then _Patriarch_ of _Constantinople_: And _Constantine_, when he had beautified the _Ward_ with many stately Buildings, enclosed it with a Wall, as ’tis recorded by _Cardinal Baronius_ in his _Annals_ of the Year 314.

_The Dock._] There was also a Place in this _Ward_ where they built their Ships.

The Author has taken no Notice of two Streets which belonged to this _Ward_, and which would complete the Number of three hundred and twenty two Streets, mentioned in the Conclusion of his _Treatise_; but without the Addition of them, we can reckon them three hundred and twenty and no more.

The Fourteenth _Ward_.

_Although this_ Ward _is look’d upon to be a fourteenth Part of the City, yet because it is divided from the other_ Wards _by an intermediate Space of Land, and enclosed within its own Walls, it makes the Figure of a small City by it self. The Entrance of it at the Gate is somewhat upon the Level; but the right Side of it, rising into an Ascent, almost to the Middle of the broad Way, falls into a deep Descent, and ends afterwards near the Sea in a Plain. It contains a Church; the Palace; a_ Nympheum; _some Baths; a Theatre; a_ Lusorium; _a Wooden Bridge; eleven Streets; a hundred and sixty seven great Houses; two large_ Portico’s; _five private Baths; one publick, and one private Mill; with five_ Gradus.

NOTES.

_The fourteenth_ Ward, _which is enclosed within its own Walls, makes the Figure of a kind of small City by it self_.] It was antiently looked upon to be a small City, because one of the Emperors had built there an Imperial Citadel. ’Tis very mountainous about it, and it descends towards the Sea, into the Bosom of a Plain. The Name of the Church in this _Ward_ is not known at present.

_A Palace._] This is the Place of Imperial Residence, which was antiently called _Palatium_, because _Augustus_ dwelt in Mount _Palatine_ at _Rome_. The Dwelling-House of _Romulus_ was also called by the same Name. Wherefore, says _Dion_, speaking of _Augustus_, let the Emperor be where he pleases, yet the Place where he constantly dwells, is always called his Palace.

_A_ Lusorium.] This probably was the same Place with the _Ludus Venatorius_, in which the Combatants exercised themselves before they engaged with wild Beasts; yet is it more probable, that it was so called from the _Naves Lusoriæ_, which were built there, of which _Marcellinus_ takes Notice in his _sixth Book_, as also the _Code_ of _Theodosius de Lusoriis Danubii_.

_A Wooden Bridge._] _Suidas_ writes, that near the Church of St. _Mamas_, there was a Bridge which consisted of twelve Arches, for there was a great Flood of Waters there. I believe this was after chang’d into a Stone Bridge.

_Five_ Gradus, _or Stairs_.] At the End of this _Ward_, after the five _Gradus_, I would correct the Omission of my Author, by comparing this with the other _Wards_, and adding one _Curator_, one _Vernaculus_, thirty seven _Collegiati_, and five _Vico-Magistri_.

The Author, in his following summary View of the City, mentions five hundred and sixty _Collegiati_, but to complete the Number of them, there are wanting seven. _Theodosius_ the _Less_ has added three in _Lib. de Commer. & Mercat._ and makes the Number of them to be five hundred and sixty three.

_A Summary View of the whole City._

_Having taken a particular View of the City, as divided into_ Wards, _I shall now_, continues my Author, _give the Reader a more large and general Description of it, to shew that its Beauty and Magnificence is not only to be ascribed to Art and good Workmanship, but that Nature herself by the Mediation of the Elements, has happily contributed to its Security and Defence. The divine Providence has with so much Wisdom consulted the Preservation of its Inhabitants, even to future Ages, that a long Tract of Land, in the Nature of a_ Promontory, _full of Windings and Harbours in its Sides, facing the Chaps of the_ Black-Sea, _narrow in Breadth, is strongly fortified by the Sea. The_ Isthmus, _the only Part of the City not bounded by the Sea, is at the same Time strengthened with a double Wall with numerous Towers on its Ramparts. The City thus enclosed and defended, contains in the Whole the following Buildings. Five Palaces; fourteen Churches; five divine Houses of the_ Augustæ; _three of the most illustrious Ladies_; _eight_ Bagnio’s; _two_ Basilica’s; _four_ Fora’s; _two Senate-Houses; five Granaries, or Store-Houses; two Theatres; two_ Lusoria; _four Havens; one_ Circo; _four Cisterns; four_ Nymphea; _three hundred and twenty two Streets; four Thousand three hundred and eight large Houses; fifty two_ Portico’s; _a hundred and fifty three private Baths; twenty publick, and a hundred and twenty private Mills; a hundred and seventeen_ Gradus; _five Flesh Markets; one_ Porphyry _Pillar; two Pillars with winding Stairs; one_ Colossus; _one Golden_ Tetrapylum; _the_ Forum _of_ Augustus; _the Capitol; the Mint, or Treasury; and three_ Gradus _by the Sea-Shore. It was under the Care and Government of fourteen_ Curators, _fourteen_ Vernaculi, _five hundred and sixty_ Collegiati, _and sixty five_ Vico-Magistri. _The Length of the City from the_ Porta Aurea _in a direct Line to the Sea-Shore, is fourteen Thousand and seventy five Feet; the Breadth of it, six Thousand one Hundred and fifty_. Thus concludes the Author of the Description, I shall now go on with my

NOTES.

_It has five Palaces._] Old _Rome_, instead of these, has one Thousand one hundred and eighty Houses.

_Fourteen Churches._] _Rome_ had four Hundred and twenty four Temples.

_Five divine Houses of the_ Augustæ, _and of those who bore the Title of the Most Illustrious three_.] The Houses of those Ladies, who bore the Title of _Augustæ_ were called Divine. They had also other Marks of Imperiality and Honour conferr’d upon them. By the Mistake of the Writer these Houses were reckoned six, though they were no more in Number than five only, _viz._ two of _Placidia_, two of _Pulcheria_, and one of _Eudocia_, the Wife of _Theodosius_. As to the Houses belonging to the Ladies, entitled the _Most Illustrious_, one of them belonged to _Marina_, and the other two to _Arcadia_, and bore the same Title with themselves.

_Eight_ Bagnio’s.] _Victor_ writes, that at _Rome_ there were eleven.

_Two_ Basilica’s.] There were ten of them at _Rome_.

_Four_ Fora’s.] At _Rome_ there were eleven; _Victor_ says nineteen.

_Two Senate-Houses._] At _Rome_, as _Victor_ says, there were three; one stood between the _Capitol_, and the _Forum Romanum_, where was the Temple of _Concord_; another by the _Porta Capena_, and a third in the Temple of _Bellona_, which stood in the _Circo_ of _Flaminius_, where the Foreign Ambassadors resided, because they would not allow them Admittance into the City.

_Five Granaries._] At _Rome_ there were two hundred and ninety two.

_Two Theatres._] At _Rome_ there were three.

_Two_ Lusoria.] At _Rome_, according to _Victor_, there were sixteen.

_Four Havens._] At _Rome_ there was but one.

_One_ Circo.] At _Rome_ there were two.

_Four Cisterns._] At _Rome_ there were none.

_Four_ Nymphea.] At _Rome_ there were fifteen.

_Three hundred and twenty two Streets._] At _Rome_ four Hundred and twenty four.

_Four Thousand three hundred and eighteen large Houses._] At _Rome_ there were forty six Thousand six hundred and two _Insulæ_, and one Thousand seven hundred and eighty large Houses. The Houses here mentioned were large roof’d Buildings, tyl’d at Top four Ways; the _Insulæ_ were roof’d Buildings, tyl’d only before and behind.

_Forty two_ Portico’s.] At _Rome_ there were six only.

_A hundred and fifty three private Baths._] At _Rome_ there were eight hundred and fifty six.

_Twenty publick, and a hundred and twenty private Mills._] At _Rome_ two hundred and fifty four.

_A hundred and seventeen_ Gradus.] At _Rome_ none.

_Five Flesh-Markets._] At _Rome_ two only.

_Five hundred and sixty_ Collegiati.] It is apparent that thirty seven of them are omitted in the last _Ward_. There was no such Office at _Rome_, yet there were, instead of them, Watchmen divided into seven Companies, whose Business, according to _Dion_ and _Suetonius_, was much the same with that of the _Collegiati_.

_Sixty five_ Vico-magistri.] It should be read seventy; for five of them are omitted in the last _Ward_. At _Rome_ the Number of _Collegiati_ was six hundred and seventy two.

_A Porphyry Pillar._] There was no such Pillar, as _Cedrinus_ says, at _Rome_, tho’ this was brought from thence. _Gyllius_ writes, that this Pillar was made of square marble Stones, and that it stood in the _Hippodrom_.

_Two Pillars with Winding-Stairs in the Inside of them._] There was the same Number at _Rome_.

_One_ Colossus.] At _Rome_ there were two. ’Tis omitted in the _Description of the Wards_, as many other Things of Note are.

_The Golden_ Tetrapylum.] _Gyllius_ quotes an unknown Author who will have this _Tetrapylum_ to have been a Quadrangle with _Portico’s_ round it, having Four Gates, and was formerly call’d _Quadrivium_. The _Latines_ call it a _Stadium_. But there’s no such Place to be found in the _Wards_ of the City, unless it be the _Stadium_ in the Fourth _Ward_, which is omitted in the _Summary View_ of the City. _Cedrinus_, in his Life of _Leo Magnus_, mentions this _Tetrapylum_. _Evagrius_ in the _twenty eighth Chapter_ of his _third Book_ tells us, that it was built by the Senator _Mammianus_, in the Reign of _Zeno_. He built, says he, two stately _Portico’s_ of exquisite Workmanship, and beautify’d them with a neat glossy Marble. As to the _Tetrapylum_ built by _Mammianus_, there are not, as _Gyllius_ tells us, the least Remains of it. _Victor_ writes, that there was a _Pentapylum_ in the tenth _Ward_ of _Rome_.

_The_ Augusteum.] This was the _Forum_ of _Augustus_.

_The Capitol._] At _Rome_, as _Victor_ writes, there were two; the old and the new _Capitol_.

_The Mint, or Treasury._] There was no such Place at _Rome_.

_Three_ Gradus _by the Sea-Shore_.] There were no such _Stairs_ at _Rome_, yet they had their _Lakes_, their _Naval Fights_, &c.

The City is reported to have had twenty three Gates. _Laonicus Chalcondylus_, in his History of the _Ottomans_, tells us, that _Constantinople_ contains in compass a hundred and eleven Furlongs, which is more than thirteen _Italian_ Miles. ’Tis generally thought to be eighteen Miles in Circumference. Besides the foremention’d Curiosities, _Constantinople_ has been famous for the _Aqueduct_ of _Hadrian_, which furnish’d the Palace, the _Nymphea_, and the _Bagnio’s_ with a Sufficiency of Waters, as _Theodosius_ mentions in a Letter to _Cyrus_, _Prefect_ of the City. The _Bagnio’s_ of _Achilles_ are also mention’d by him, where he says, that these _Bagnio’s_ were supply’d with Water convey’d into them from the said _Aqueduct_ by leaden Pipes. _Cedrinus_ says, that these _Bagnio’s_ were built near the _Strategium_, and took their Name from an Altar, which was dedicated to _Ajax_ and _Achilles:_ And _Cassiodorus_ relates, that the Fire, which happen’d in the Reign of _Constantine_ the _Great_, burnt down the City, as far as the _Bagnio’s_ of _Achilles_.

_Some Account of the_ Suburbs _as they are mention’d in the_ Codes _and_ Law-Books.

_Procopius_ tells us, in his first Book _de Ædif. Justin._ that the _Hepdomum_ was one Part of the Suburbs of _Constantinople_. _Justinian_, says he, built another Church dedicate to St. _Theodora_ in a Place call’d the _Hepdomum_, which in the _Greek_ signifies the _Seventh_. _Zonaras_, in the Life of _Phocas_, mentions the same Thing, as does also _Cedrinus_ in the Life of _Arcadius_ and _Justin_, with many others. In this Place were many Laws enacted; and _Zonaras_ writes, that _Theodosius_ the _Great_ built a Church there, in Honour of St. _John Baptist_. _Gyllius_ says, that ’tis at present enclos’d within the Walls of the City, that it stands upon the sixth Hill, and that ’tis call’d _Hepdomum_, or _Seventh_, as denoting the Number of the Suburbs of the City.

_The_ Blachernæ.] This is another Part of the Suburbs, mention’d by _Justinian_ in his 151ˢᵗ _Nov._ where he says, that _Hierius_ bequeath’d by Will to his Son _Anthemius_ the Suburbs in the _Blachernæ_. _Zonaras_ writes, that _Pulcheria_, the Sister of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, built a Church to the _Blessed Virgin_ in this Place, which, as _Procopius_ tells us, was repair’d by _Justinian_. _Cedrinus_ observes, that the Emperor _Justin_, Nephew of _Justinian_, enlarg’d it with two Arches. _Suidas_ reports, that _Anastasius_ the Emperor built there a large _Triclinium_ and _Tiberius_ a _Bagnio_, as _Zonaras_ writes. It took its Name of the _Blachernæ_, as _Gyllius_ believes, upon the Authority of _Dionysius_ a _Byzantian_ Writer, from some Person, who was formerly a kind of a petty King there. It was situate near the Sea, in the Place, as _Nicephorus_ observes in his 15ᵗʰ _Book_ _Chap._ 25ᵗʰ _of his Eccl. Hist._ where _Leo_ the _Great_ built a Church to the Virgin _Mary_.

The _Monastery_ of _Studius_ was another Part of the Suburbs of _Constantinople_, in which, as _Justinian_ observes, in his 6ᵗʰ _Chap._ _Novel_ 59ᵗʰ. was kept a large Bier, for the Burial of the Dead. The following Account is given of _Studius_ by _Nicephorus_, in his 15ᵗʰ _Book_, _Chap._ 25ᵗʰ _of his Eccles. Hist._ An eminent Citizen of _Rome_, says he, nam’d _Studius_, came from thence to _Constantinople_, where he built a Church to the Memory of St. _John Baptist_, and that divine Service might be celebrated there with more Decency and Solemnity, he took some Monks out of the Monastery of the Ἀκοίμητοι, who were so call’d, because some of them were always _waking_ to attend divine Worship. The heavenly-minded _Marcellinus_ built them a Monastery, in which they continually sang Hymns to God, their Society being divided into three Tribes for that Purpose. Thus far _Nicephorus_. Upon this Occasion _Studius_ was made _Consul_, as appears by an Inscription over the Gate of his own Monastery, which runs thus:

_This Pyle was rais’d by_ Studius’ _bounteous Hand: Great Actions greatest Honours should command. In just Acknowledgment, the grateful Town, Repay’d the Founder with a_ Consul’s _Gown_.

This happen’d in the Reign of _Leo_ the Emperor.

The _Coparia_, as is plain from the 159ᵗʰ _Nov. of Justinian_, was another Part of the Suburbs, and was bequeath’d, as appears by the Codicil of _Hierius_’s Will to his Niece.

There was also another Part of the Suburbs in the _Promontory_ of the Creek of _Sosthenium_, which was formerly in the Possession of _Ardaburus_, General of the Army to _Theodosius_ the _Less_. The Right of it afterwards came to _Hierius_, who was _Præfectus Prætorio_, or General of the Life-Guard to the Emperor _Zeno_. _Nicephorus_ in the 50ᵗʰ _Chap. of his_ 7ᵗʰ _Book of Eccl. Hist._ gives this Reason why it was call’d _Sosthenium_, ’Tis recorded, says he, that the _Argonauts_ of _Greece_, when they arriv’d here, began to plunder the Countrey, but were defeated by _Amycus_, who was then Governor of the Place, and being dispers’d, they wander’d about till they came to a woody unhospitable Place, where they took shelter in a large Thicket of Trees; that in this Calamity _Virtue_ came down to them from Heaven in a human Shape, having Wings like an Eagle, and by her Oracle foretold, that if they would venture another Battle, they should conquer _Amycus_. Directed by this Advice, they engag’d them again, obtain’d an entire Victory over them, slew him, and all his Forces; and that to express their Gratitude to the _Vision_, they built a Temple, and erected a Statue to her, in the Shape she appear’d to them, which gave the Place the Name of _Sosthenium_, because they _secur’d_ themselves by the second Battle.

Bytharium, _or_ Philotheum.] This was also another Part of the _Suburbs_, and is mention’d as such in 159ᵗʰ _Nov. of Justinian_.

The _Porta Veneta_ is mentioned by _Procopius_ in his _History of the_ Persian _War_; who, speaking of some military Officer, tells us, that when he came to the _Porta Veneta_, which stands on the Right Hand of the Palace, he halted and determin’d to march to _Hypalium_. This Gate seems to take its Name from the _Suburbs_ call’d _in Venetis_, probably because the _Venetian Faction_, a Company of Chariot-Racers dress’d in _Sky-colour’d_ Cloths, dwelt there.

_Procopius_ also takes Notice of the _Pontichium_ by the Ferry, and also of the _Rusiniana_, as two other Parts of the _Suburbs_. These Places he mentions in his 1ˢᵗ _Book of the_ Persian _War_; as does also _Sozomen_ in the 21ˢᵗ _Chap._ _Book_ the 8ᵗʰ.

_Of the present Buildings of_ Constantinople.

_Gyllius_ assures us, that the whole City, at present, is under a visible Decay, as to its Buildings; that the Houses are low and mean, and that there’s little or nothing to be seen of its ancient Beauty and Magnificence, except in a few of their _Basha’s_ Houses, their _Mosques_, their _Bagnio’s_, and their _Caravansera’s_, which are all very noble Buildings, and are as follows.

There are at least three hundred _Mosques_ built with Marble, cover’d with Lead, and shining with glossy marble Pillars.

There are above a hundred publick _Bagnio’s_, both for Men and Women, which are very spacious.

There are also about the same Number of _Caravansera’s_; the most eminent of which are adorn’d with Fountains, which are constantly supply’d with Water from the Fields adjoining the _Suburbs_, and which also supply the whole City.

* * * * * *

Transcriber’s note:

The original spelling, hyphenation, punctuation has been retained except for apparent typographical errors.

The chapter headings and page numbers have been added to the CONTENTS, by the transcriber, for the following:

A DESCRIPTION Of the CITY of CONSTANTINOPLE, As it stood in the REIGNS of ARCADIUS and HONORIUS.

In the Preface of the Translator the author’s birthplace is given as “Abi”. This has been corrected to read “Albi” (in South-West France).