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THE firstWardcontains in it, the House ofPlacidia Augusta;the House of the most illustriousMarina;theBagnio’sofArcadius;twenty nine Streets; an Hundred and eighteen large Houses; twoPortico’sof a great Length; fifteen privateBagnio’s;four publick, and fifteen private Mills; and fourGradus.It was governed by oneCurator,who had under his Charge, the wholeWard.There was also oneVernaculus,who was Messenger of theWard,was also Assistant to him, and entirely at his Command. It had also twenty fiveCollegiati,chosen out of the several Bodies of Tradesmen, whose Office it was to direct and assist in Cases of Fire. There were also fiveVico-Magistri,whose Business it was to watch the City by Night.
Thus far my Author. I shall here add a Remark made byGyllius, it not being foreign to our Purpose,viz.That those whomP. VictorandS. Rufus, believed to have been called theDenunciatoresin antientRome, here in newRome, he callsVernaculi. Neither of them mention theCollegiati, tho’ all Historians take Notice of theVico-Magistri, who with more Propriety of theLatinTongue, should rather have been calledVicorum Magistri, as appears, he tells us, by an Inscription yet remaining in the Capitol ofOld 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.
The first Ward.] ’Tis evident fromPliny, and also fromTacitus, in that Part of his History, where he mentions the Burning of the City byNero, that antientRomewas divided into fourteenRegions, orWards.Sex. Rufus, andP. Victor, who had pass’d theConsularDignity, have given us some short Descriptions of them. As to theWardsofNew Rome, they are here described as I found them placed before theNotitia Utriusque Imperii.Constantinople, which was a kind of Representation ofOld Rome, was likewise after her Example, asJustinianobserves in his 43ᵈNovel, divided into fourteenWards; and he calls themRegionsorWards. There were many Monuments of Antiquity carried thither fromOld 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 someAnnotationsof my own; and have also taken Notice, as they fell in my Way, of some Observations made in myCommentson theNotitia,&c.The Author of theDescriptionobserves 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 everyWard; as the Streets, Houses,Bagnio’s, Mills, theGradus, then theCurator,Vernaculus, theCollegiati, and last of all, theVico-Magistri. In the thirteenthWard, througha Mistake, the Streets are omitted, which Error I have taken Care to correct, as I have also another in the fourteenthWard, where he has left out theCurator, theVernaculus, theCollegiati, and theVico-Magistri. He mentions only fourteen Churches, in sevenWards; whereas atRome, there was not a Street without some Temple or other, and some had two. I shall make myAnnotationsupon every Monument of Antiquity, in the sameWard, and in the same Place, that I find it.
The House ofPlacidia Augusta.] This Lady was the Daughter ofTheodosiustheGreat, and Sister ofArcadiusandHonorius. WhenNew Romewas taken byAlaric, King of theGothsandVandals, he carried her away into Captivity, who afterward married his Kinsman and SuccessorAthaulfus. Upon his Death, she was restored to her Countrey, and being married again toConstantius, she had by him two Sons,ValentinianandHonoriades; asEutropius,Zonaras,Cedrinus, and other Historians tell us.
The House of the most illustriousMarina.]Marinawas the Daughter ofArcadius, who being honoured with the Title of theMost Illustrious, asCedrinuswrites, continued a Virgin. The Title of theMost Illustrious, is discovered by an antient Inscription to have been first given toValerianusthe Younger, about the Year of our Lord 260. Afterwards it was given toSeverinus, andMaximinus 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, wasallowed to wear a Purple Habit, laced round with Gold, and took Place of thePræfecti, (the Mayors or Chief Magistrates of the City) asZosimusobserves, who will have it, that this Honour was first instituted byConstantine; tho’ ’tis very evident, that this Dignity was conferred long before his Time.
The Bagnio’s ofArcadius.] They were so called, because they were built by him, asProcopiuswrites in his 1stOrat.concerning the Buildings ofJustinian. As you sail, says he, out of thePropontis, to the Eastern Coast, you see a PublickBagnio, call’d theArcadian Bagnio, which is a great Ornament to the City. In this PlaceJustinianbuilt 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 farProcopius. TheBagnio’shere mentioned are probably the same with those which are called theXerolophus, whichCedrinustells us were built byArcadius. TheXerolophus, says he, was built byArcadius, the Pillars of which are all like that Pillar, whichTheodosiuserected in theTaurus.Socratesin hisSeventhBook,Chap.1. attests, that thisBuilding stood in theForumofArcadius. For speaking of oneSabbatiusa Heretick, he says, that the People rais’d a Tax to opposeSesonnicustheir Bishop, in a Place of the City which is calledΞηρόλοφος, in theForumofArcadius. ThusSocrates. This was certainly a Building which consisted of several Apartments, which induces me to believe it was theBagnio’shere mentioned. ForNicephorus Gregoras, in hisSeventh Book,Chap.1. writes, ThatAthanasius, Patriarch ofConstantinople, resided some Time in the Apartments of theXerolophus. The WordXerolophus, saysSuidas, signifies aDry 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 aTripos. There were also in the same Place sixteen private Apartments, with Winding-Stairs. I have seen it in an antientGreekAuthor, that there were here twelve Buildings with Winding-Stairs, as also the Columns ofDiana,Severus,Marcianus, and the Statues ofValentinian, andTheodosiustheLess.Justinianalso quotes an Inscription there, taken out of theFifth BookofXenophon’sAnabasis.Zonarasalso writes, that whenLeo Isauruswas Emperor ofConstantinople, the Statue ofArcadius, placed upon a Pillar in theXerolophus, was thrown down by an Earthquake. TheBagnio’shere mentioned were called Publick, or ImperialBagnio’s; whereas those which were built by private Persons were calledThermæ, orBaths.
A Hundred and eighteen Houses.] I take the WordHousesin this Place, to signifie the Dwelling Houses of some of the principal Men of the City, as the Great Mens Houses atRomewere distinguished by standing by themselves, and having no other Houses adjoining to them.
TwoPortico’sof a great Length.] ThesePortico’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, thatStrabo,Lib.V.de Geogra.where he is describing the Parts ofRome, calls thePorticoofLiviatheπερίπατον, or Walk.Plinyis of the same Opinion in hisFourth Book,Chap.1.Strabotells us in another Place, that theCumaniofÆolisborrowed Money to build aPortico, 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 thePortico, it passed into a Proverb,That the Cumanidared not to enter theirPorticowithout the Leave of the Cryer. These are the same Kind ofPortico’swhichUlpianmeans, where he mentions thePortico’s, which had no Houses adjoining to them.Tacitus,Lib.XV. speaking of the Burning ofRomebyNero, takes Notice of these AmbulatoryPortico’s, when he tells us, that thePortico’swhich were dedicated to Pleasure, were most of them destroyed by Fire. There was aPorticoof this Sort atAthens, Part of which, asPlinyrecords,Lib.XXXV.Cap.3. was painted byMyco, who was paid for it; andthe other Part was finishedgratisbyPolygnotus, an eminent Painter. It was for this Reason, that ’twas call’dPorticus varia, orποικίλη. This is the samePorticoin whichZenotaught, and for which he was called the Father of theStoicks.Suidassays, that it was customary to adorn suchPortico’swith Silver and Marble Statues, as appears by a Will mentioned byMarcellus, which runs thus,My Will and Pleasure is, that my Heir, at his own Expence, build in my native Countrey a PublickPortico,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 ofPortico’swith those I now comment upon, which were of so considerable a Length, that they reached from the Imperial Palace, to theForumofConstantine. ForProcopiuswrites, in hisFirst Orat. de Ædif. Justin.That in the Reign ofJustinian, the Church of St.Sophia, and both the longPortico’s, stretching themselves as far as theForumofConstantine, were burnt down. The same Fact is testified byCedrinus, who says, that both thesePortico’swere consumed by Fire, in the Reign ofBasiliscus, altho’ after these Casualities, they were always rebuilt. I would observe, that everyWardatConstantinoplehad in it somePortico’s, though someWardsat Rome had none.
Four Gradus.] The Word, which is here calledGradus, 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.Valentiniantells us, that the carrying thePanisGradilisfrom one Tribunal to another, is strictly forbidden. He also commands inCod. Theod.that every one receive thePanis Gradilisfrom the Tribunal. From which Passages it is plain, that thisGraduswas a famous Tribunal, from whence they used to distribute Bread. ForConstantine, asMetaphrasteswrites, 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, asSuidasadds, Wine, and Flesh, and Oil. These were thereforeGradus, or Tribunals, erected in thisWardfor that Purpose.
It was governed by oneCurator,who had under his Charge the wholeWard.] TheCurators(who seem something like our Aldermen) were first instituted byAugustus, and bySuetonius,Cap.XXX. are calledMagistratus. He divided, says he, meaningAugustus, the City into Streets andWards, and commanded that theWardsshould 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 Augustusappointed fourteenCurators.Lampridiustells us, thatRomechose fourteenCurators, out of the most eminent Citizens, and obliged them to assist thePrefectof 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 oneVernaculuswho was Messenger of theWard,he assisted theCurator,and wasentirely at his Command.] The Business of this Officer was to be subservient to theCurator, and give Notice to, and summon the Citizens to meet in all Matters, which more immediately related to theWard. Their Office was the same, mentioned byS. Rufus, andP. Victor, who give them atOld Rome, the Name ofDenunciatores. Two of which were appointed to assist in everyWard.
It had also twenty fiveCollegiati,chosen out of the several Bodies of Tradesmen, whose Business it was, to direct and assist in Cases of Fire.] AtRomethePræfectus Vigilumcommanded in Chief the seven Companies of Freemen appointed for a constant Watch to the City. This Office was instituted byAugustus, who placed a single Company over twoWards, as is observed bySuetonius, andDion.Lib.LV. and byPaullus,Lib. de Offi. præ. Vigil.These Men were chosen out of the several Bodies of the Tradesmen, whose Business was the same with those atRome; and were calledCollegiati.The Number of them was always stated, and unalterable so that when one of them died, thePrefectof the City filled up the Vacancy with one of his own Body.HonoriusandTheodosius, in theirLetters MandatorytoÆstius Prefectof 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 Corporateof which he was a Member: TheseCollegiatiare chosen out of thirty five Corporations of Tradesmen, which are particularly specified in a Letter sent byConstantinetoMaximus, and are discharged upon their Election from all other Offices whatsoever. In this firstWard, 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 ofZeno de Collegiat.Thirty seven or forty, are wanting in the lastWard. The WordCollegiati, in other Places, sometimes signifies theDeaconswho buried the Dead; and sometimes it is taken forFreemen, as inLib.XLI.Co. Theod. de Op. Pub.
There were also fiveVico-Magistri,whose Business it was to watch the City by Night.] These were originally instituted byAugustus.Suetonius, in the Life ofAugustus,Chap.XXX. writes, that the City was divided into Streets andWards, and adds, thatAugustuscommanded, that the Magistrates of theWardsshould be annually chosen by Lot. The Streets were governed by theVico-Magistri, who were elected out of the Commons, in the Neighbourhood of the Streets, over which they presided; so that as those who governed theWardswere calledCuratores, so they who governed the Streets were calledVico-Magistri. ’Tis very probable, that these Magistrates had some Soldiers under their Command to prevent Robberies, and other Outrages committed in the Night, asOld Romehad itsVigils, or Watchmen, who were all Soldiers. There were two, three,or fourVico-Magistriappointed over every Street atRome: AtConstantinopleeveryWardhad but five, so that the whole Number of them is Seventy; although my Author in hisSummary View of the City, which follows hereafter, reckons no more than sixty five.
THEsecondWard,after an easy, and almost imperceptible Ascent above its Level from the lesser Theatre, falls with a deep Precipice down to the Sea. ThisWardcontains in it, the Great Church of St.Sophia;the Old Church; the Senate-House; a Tribunal withPorphyrySteps; theBagnio’sofZeuxippus;a Theatre; an Amphitheatre; thirty four Streets; ninety eight large Houses; four greatPortico’s;thirteen private Baths; four private Mills, and fourGradus.It has also oneCurator,oneVernaculus,thirty fiveCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
The great Church of St.Sophia.] This Church, some say, was built byConstantine, others byConstantius. It was afterwards burnt down, and rebuilt byJustinian, 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.Evagriuswrites, 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 theCupola, it was an Hundred and eighty Foot high.
The Old Church.] I suppose the Author here means one of those Churches which were built byConstantine, some of which are mentioned byProcopius, inLib. de Ædif. Justinian.
The Senate-House.] In this Place they held their Senate, which, asSozomenaffirms, was built byConstantinetheGreat, where he commanded the same yearly Solemnity to be celebrated on theCalendsofJan.as was done atRome. It was burnt down, upon a Sedition occasioned by an Attempt to banish St.Chrysostomout of the City, and was rebuilt, asProcopiustells us, with greater Splendor.
A Tribunal withPorphyrySteps.] This Tribunal was made ofPorphyryMarble, which Word inLatin, signifiesPurple, becausePorphyryMarble is of aPurpleColour.
TheBagnio’sofZeuxippus.] TheseBagnio’swere famous for aPortico, which run round the Houses and Shops adjoining to them. There was a yearly Revenue assigned for lighting the Lamps of thisBagnio, and repairing them.TheodosiusinLib. de Op. Pub.writes thus;Because there are many Houses and Shops adjoining thePortico’sofZeuxippus,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 ImperialBagnio,for purchasing Lights, and for the Repairs of the saidBagnio’s.This Passage is part of a Letter which he wrote toSeverinus,Prefectof the City, (notPrætor) as it stands in theCodex Theodos. de Op. Pub.TheseBagnio’sformerly stood near the Imperial Palace, and were afterwards called theBagnio’sof theNumeri, asNicephoruswrites,Lib.IX.Cap.9.SozomenandSocratestake Notice of the sameBagnio’s. I believe they were first built byZeuxippus, who persecuted theChristiansatByzantium, much about the Time ofNero; and who among other of his Severities, forced St.Andrewto fly toArgyropolis. If I mistake not, he was at that Time Lieutenant ofMacedoniaandThrace. TheseBagnio’swere enlarged and beautified bySeverusthe Emperor, for which Reason they were afterwards called theBagnio’sofSeverus. After this they were calledBalnea Numerorum, because great Numbers of Soldiers use to bath there.Zosimus, in his second Book writes, that theseBagnio’sformerly stood in aPeninsula. In antient Times, says he,Constantinoplehad a Port at the End of theBagnio’s, which were built bySeverusthe Emperor, when he was reconciled to theByzantians, for opening the Gates of the City toNiger, his Enemy.Suidassays, that a Poet namedChristodorus, celebrated the Statues and Images ofZeuxippusin Verse, among which he is very particular in the Praises of the Statue ofHesiod.Procopius, in his First Book,de Ædif. Justinian.tells us, that theseBagnio’swere rebuilt byJustinian, but were called theZeuxippum, because in this Place they used to run theirHorses in Pairs, as the WordZeuxippussignifies in theGreek. St.Gregory Nazianzentakes Noticeof them in his Oration to theArians, and in another which he madeconcerning himself. I am not, says he, taking a Journey to a newJerusalem, that is to theZeuxippum; for that Place was laid in Ashes in the Reign ofJustinian. TheBagnio’sofSeverus, asCedrinusrelates, which were call’d theZeuxippum, 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 oldHomer. 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 ofJulian, between which Places there were formerly Lime Kilns, which were commanded to be filled up byTheodosiustheLess, as the Reader may see inLib. 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 magnificentCity, andby 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.
THEthirdWard,at the Entrance of it, is a Level Ground, and stands, in Part, where theCircusis built; but descends, at the End of it, with a very great Declivity down to the Sea, and contains, the sameCircus Maximus;the House ofPulcheria Augusta;the new Port; aPorticoof a Semi-circular Figure, made after the Likeness of theGreekLetterSigma,which was formerly wrote thus, C;the Tribunal of theForumofConstantine;seven Streets; ninety four great Houses; five largePortico’s;eleven privateBagnio’s;and nine private Mills. It had oneCurator,oneVernaculus,twenty oneCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
The House ofPulcheria Augusta.] This Lady was the Sister ofTheodosiustheLess, who continued for some Time unmarried. When her Brother was dead, she marriedMartian, and made him Emperor.Zonaras,Cedrinus,Zosimus,Nicephorus, and other Historians have mentioned many Things of her. She had also another House in the eleventhWard.
The New Port.] This probably is the same Port that was built byJulianthe Apostate. There was another Port in the sixthWardcalledPortus Neorius, because there was a Dock there for building Ships.
APorticoof a Semi-circular Figure.] TheGreekLetterΣ, as ’tis now wrote, was formerly wrote C.ZonarasandCedrinusoften take Notice of thisPortico.
THEfourthWardextends itself in a long Vale, the Hills rising on the Right and Left from theMiliarium Aureumthrough a Vale, to a plain level Ground. It contains, theMiliarium Aureum;theAugusteum;aBasilica;aNympheum;thePorticoofPhanio;a Marble Galley, the Monument of a naval Victory; the Church of St.Menna;aStadium;The Stairs ofTimasius;thirty two Streets; three hundred and seventy five great Houses; four largePortico’s;seven private Baths; five private Mills; and sevenGradus.It is presided by oneCurator,assisted by oneVernaculus,fortyCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
TheMiliarium Aureum.]Cedrinus, speaking of theMiliarium Aureum, writes thus: Under the Roof of theMiliarium Aureumwere placed the Statues ofConstantinetheGreat, and his Mother,with a Cross between them. Behind him standsTrajan, and near his Mother is the Statue ofÆlius Hadrianuson Horseback. There is a Clock here, which was set up byJustinian. There was also aMiliarium AureumatRome, erected in theForumbyAugustus, from whence they used to adjust the Distances of Places, and the Mensuration of Miles, all the Roads ofItalymeeting at the Foot of it, as ’tis observed byPlutarch,Dion,P. Victor, and others. YetÆmilius Maceris of another Opinion. A Mile, says he, is not to be computed from theMiliarium, but from the Houses, upon the Skirts of the City, to the Place to which you measure. As then there was aMiliarium AureumatRome, so there was atConstantinople, which imitatedOld Romeas near as it could; tho’ atRomeit was built in the Figure of a Pillar, atConstantinopleit was another kind of Building, as is evident from what is above-mentioned byCedrinus; and is also attested bySuidas, who writes, that under the Roof of theMiliarium, stood the Cross, the Figures ofConstantineandHelena, the Image ofFortune, and many other Statues. He calls it not theMiliarium, but theMilium.
TheAugusteum.] This was a large Pillar of Brass, erected byJustinian, asCedrinusrelates, who tells us, that in the fifteenth Year of the Reign ofJustinian, was finished the great brazen Pillar, which is called theAugusteum. Upon it was placed the Statue ofJustinianon 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 hisRight Hand stretched out, pointing to thePersiansto 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 theAugusteum.Procopiusspeaks largely of it in his Orationde Ædif. Justin.where he writes, that not the Pillar, but the Place where the Pillar stood, was called theAugusteum, as it was also theMacellum. 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 callAchilles, 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 thePersians. In his leftHand 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 theForumcalledAugustum. ThisForumstands before the Imperial Palace; ’tis surrounded with Pillars, and the Inhabitants call itAugustum. Eastward from hence stands theCuria, orPrætorium, which was built byJustinian, where the oldRomans, in the Beginning of the new Year used, asSuidasobserves, to perform a solemn Festival.Phavorinusrelates, that the Flesh-Market was the same with theAugusteum. It was so called, saysSuidas, because theCuratores, andSenastophoriof theWards, used every Year, on theIdesofOctober, to dance in Honour ofAugustus, or because the Statues ofConstantine, andHelenahis Mother, were erected there.
ABasilica.] This was one of the most magnificentBasilica’sin the World, whichCedrinustakes Notice of, when he tells us, that a Fire began at the Middle of theChalcopratia, which consumed both thePortico’sbefore mentioned, all the neighbouring Buildings, and theBasilica, which contained a Collection of a Hundred and twenty Thousand Books. There was a Curiosity very particular in this Library, which was the Gut ofa Dragon, on which were inscribed in Golden Characters, theIliadsandOdyssesofHomer, with theHistoryof the Atchievements of otherHeroes. The Roof of thisBasilicawas 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 theBasilica’s. One of theseBasilica’sis described byVirgil, in his seventhÆneid.
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 regalFascestook.Trapp’sVirg.
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 regalFascestook.Trapp’sVirg.
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 regalFascestook.Trapp’sVirg.
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 regalFascestook.
Trapp’sVirg.
In theseBasilica’sthey 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 toCyrus,Prefectof the City, means thisBasilica, in the following Words:We will and command, that theBasilicagilt with Gold, and shining with Marble, be no Ways shaded or darkened with Statues, or Pictures placed before it. I believeZonarasunderstands the same Building in hisLeo Magnus, where he says, that the Building called theDomus 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 ConsularDignity. It was a Work of surprising Beauty and Splendor.Justiniantells us in his 81stNovel, that the inferior Judges used to sit there in small Apartments.Suidaswrites, that thisBasilicastood behind theMiliarium, 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 ofSeverus, 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 ofJulian, were carried toConstantinople, and placed in theBasilica.
ANympheum.] This, asZonarasandCedrinustell us, was a spacious Building, in which they used to celebrate Marriage, when they had not Houses large enough for that Purpose.Suidasmentions, that in theForumof thisWard, there was a Spring continually running, which filled theBagnioof theNympheum.Theodosius, in another Letter toCyrusabove-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 ImperialBagnio’s,and what Quantity may be sufficient for theBagnio’sof theNympheum.
ThePorticoofPhanio.]Suidastells us, thatPhaniois a Place where they carried the Filth of the City. This, probably, is the samePortico, which the EmperorZenotells us, reached from theMiliarium, as far as theCapitol, and is supportedwith four Ranges of Pillars, between which he allows, in hisCod. de Priv. Ædif.a Privilege to build little Shops.
A Marble Galley.] This was set up in Memory of a Victory, whichZosimus, in his fifth Book tells us,Trajutus, Admiral ofArcadius’s Fleet, obtain’d overGaina, nearChersonesus.
The Church of St.Menna.] This Person was anEgyptian Soldier, who suffer’d Martyrdom underDioclesian, inPhrygia: This Church was built byConstantine, who, asEusebiusreports inhis Life, BookIII.Chap.4. built also other Churches in honour of theMartyrs.
AStadium.] This was a squareArea, design’d, asSuidasobserves, for Martial Exercises. TheGreciansgenerally made them two hundred Foot long, and sometimes more. ThisAreawas surrounded with aPortico, and Pillars. TheGreciansused them sometimes in Merriment, and Dancing, and sometimes in more manly Diversions, as Wrestling, fighting at Gauntlets,&c.ThePortico, on the South Side of it, was double Wall’d, to secure it from the Violence of the Northern Storms. In theStadium, stood anEphebeum, 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 theEphebeum, there wereBagnio’s, in which the Combatants anointed themselves, before they enter’d the Lifts. TheStadiumfac’d the Sea, asProcopiusobservesin his Bookde Ædif Justin.In a Place, says he, near the Sea, at present call’d theStadium, (a Place formerly appropriated to Games, and Martial Exercises)Justinian, and his ConsortTheodora, built some large Hospitals.
The Stairs ofTimasius.] These were three Steps, at the Foot of a Hill, leading down to the Sea, which were built byTimasius. ’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 CityAqueduct; as appears from theCod. Theod. Aquæduc.We will, says he,that all the Customs, which are, or may be collected at the Stairs of this our City ofConstantinople,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.Justinianin his 159ᵗʰNoveltakes notice of a Clause in the Codicil of the Will ofHierius, where he bequeaths to his KinsmanHieriusthe SuburbsCoparium, with all the Stairs thereunto belonging.Cedrinuswrites, That in the Reign ofCopronymusthe 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 atConstantinople.Timasius, who built these Stairs, was General of the Infantry toTheodosiustheGreat, and was train’d up in the Art of War from the Time ofValensthe Emperor. At last being falsely, and injuriously accused byEutropius, the Chamberlain ofArcadius, hewas banish’d intoOasis.Zosimus, speaking of him in hisfifth Book, says, that he was the Father ofSyagrius, who was entitledPater Patriæ.
THEfifthWard,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 thisWard,which contains theBagnio’sofHonorius;the Cistern ofTheodosius;thePrytaneum;theBagnio’sofEudocia;theStrategium,in which stands theForumofTheodosius,and theThebean Obelisk;the Store-houses for Oil; aNympheum;the Granaries ofTroas;the Granaries ofValens,andConstantius:It contains also theProsphorianPort; theStairsofChalcedon;twenty three Streets; a hundred and eighty four great Houses; seven largePortico’s;eleven private Baths; seven publick, and two private Mills; nineGradus,and two Flesh-Markets: It had oneCurator,oneVernaculus,fortyCollegiati,and fiveVice-Magistri.
The Cistern ofTheodosius.] This Cistern was a subterraneous Cavern, arched at top, which was supply’d, not with Spring, but with Rain Water only.Petrus Gylliusin hisAntiquitiesofConstantinople, tells us, that when he resided at that City, he discover’d a subterraneous Cistern there; which he shewed to the Proprietors of theLand 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 theAque-ductpours 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.
APrytaneum.] There was atAthensa Tower call’d thePrytaneum, 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 byCicero,Lib. primo de Orat.In Conformity toAthens, there was also atConstantinoplea 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.Cedrinusin his History ofLeo 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 Emperorsthemselves 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 byLeo.Zonarasis more express, and large upon this Occasion; there was, says he, a House in theBasilica, near theForum Ærarium, large enough for a Palace, in which were reported many ancientManuscriptsof Human, and Divine Learning, and where a sufficient Maintenance was allow’d for a Person of distinguish’d Knowledge whom they call’d theOecumenical Doctor. He had under him twelveFellows, 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. ButLeothe 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 thePrytaneumatConstantinopletook its Name from that ofAthens, so was it originally instituted for Purposes, much of the same Nature.
TheBagnio’sofEudocia.] TheseBagnio’swere so call’d, because they were built byEudociathe Wife ofTheodosiustheLess. Before she was converted to the Christian Faith, she was calledAthenais.Zonaras,Nicephorus, and others have wrote much concerning her. She had some Houses in the tenthWard; where I shall speak more of her.
TheStrategium.] This, I look upon, to be the Place, where the General’s Troops liv’d, and pitch’d their Tents. Here was theForumofTheodosius, and theThebean Obeliskwhich was brought fromThebesinÆgypttoConstantinople, and there squat’d.
The Granaries ofTroas.] These Granaries contain’d the Corn, and other Commodities which were brought fromTroas; as those Granaries were call’d the Granaries ofAlexandria, in which the Corn was laid up, that was brought fromAlexandria.Troasis a Countrey ofPhrygia, situate near theHellespont, not far fromConstantinople.
The Granary ofValens.] This was built byValens. It is probably the same Granary, in which was placed the Statue ofManaim, who march’d his Army against theScythians. There was kept here a brazen Bushel, which was the common Standard, by which Corn was bought, and sold.Valenscommanded that twelve Bushels of Wheat should be sold at the Price of anAureus, (inEnglishCoin 17s.1d.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 atConstantinopleStore-houses where they reposited their Gold, and Silver, and Jewels. ForPaulusa Lawyer informs us, that ’twas customary to lay up in Store-houses the most valuable Part of their Estates.Lampridiusalso mentions some Store-houses built byAlexander, 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.
TheProsphorianPort.] Here they used to unlade all kinds of Provisions; for the Wordπροσφορὸνin theGreeksignifies any thing that is brought to Market.
The Stairs ofChalcedon.] These were a convenient Descent by Steps, where they went on Board, when they sail’d forChalcedon, which lay over againstConstantinople.
Two Flesh-Markets.] All kind of Provisions were sold here.
THEsixthWard,upon the Entrance of it, is a short Piece of level Ground, all the rest is upon the Descent; for it extends itself from theForumofConstantineto the Stairs, where you ferry over toSycæna.It contains thePorphyryPillar ofConstantine;the Senate-house in the same Place; theNeorianPort; the Stairs ofSycæna;twenty two Streets; four hundred and eighty four great Houses; one largePortico;nine private Baths; one publick, and seventeen private Mills; it has also oneCurator,oneVernaculus;forty nineCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
ThePorphyryPillar ofConstantine.] This Pillar stood in theForumofConstantine, whichwas pav’d with square Stones.Zonaras, speaking ofNicephorus Phocasthe Emperor, has this Passage: The People curseNicephoruseven to the pav’dForum, in which is erected the roundPorphyryPillar.Cedrinusin his History tells us, thatConstantinein the twenty fourth Year of his Reign, built aForumwith twoRostrums, or Pleading Desks made in the form of Pulpits, and that he plac’d in theForum, a Pillar which he brought fromRome. It was one solid Piece ofPorphyryMarble, and was bound with threeFasciæ, 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 famousPhidias, and was brought fromAthens. Upon the Pedestal of the Pillar were carved inBasso Relievo, the seven and twelve Baskets of Fragments, which were taken up in the Miracles of theLoavesandFishes, and beneath were inscribed the following Verses.