To raise this Four-square Pillar to its Height,And fix it steddy on its solid Base,GreatTheodosiustry’d, but try’d d in vain.In two and thirty Days, byProclus’Skill,The toilsome Work, with great Applause, was finish’d.
To raise this Four-square Pillar to its Height,And fix it steddy on its solid Base,GreatTheodosiustry’d, but try’d d in vain.In two and thirty Days, byProclus’Skill,The toilsome Work, with great Applause, was finish’d.
To raise this Four-square Pillar to its Height,And fix it steddy on its solid Base,GreatTheodosiustry’d, but try’d d in vain.In two and thirty Days, byProclus’Skill,The toilsome Work, with great Applause, was finish’d.
To raise this Four-square Pillar to its Height,
And fix it steddy on its solid Base,
GreatTheodosiustry’d, but try’d d in vain.
In two and thirty Days, byProclus’Skill,
The toilsome Work, with great Applause, was finish’d.
And on the other Side was this Inscription inLatin, which was somewhat defac’d, but I could read it, and is as follows:
Difficilis quondam dominis parere serenisJussus, & extinctis palmam portare Tyrannis.OmniaTheodosiocedunt, sobolique perenni:Ter denis sic victus, duobusque diebus,Judice subProclo,sublime elatus ad auras.
Difficilis quondam dominis parere serenisJussus, & extinctis palmam portare Tyrannis.OmniaTheodosiocedunt, sobolique perenni:Ter denis sic victus, duobusque diebus,Judice subProclo,sublime elatus ad auras.
Difficilis quondam dominis parere serenisJussus, & extinctis palmam portare Tyrannis.OmniaTheodosiocedunt, sobolique perenni:Ter denis sic victus, duobusque diebus,Judice subProclo,sublime elatus ad auras.
Difficilis quondam dominis parere serenis
Jussus, & extinctis palmam portare Tyrannis.
OmniaTheodosiocedunt, sobolique perenni:
Ter denis sic victus, duobusque diebus,
Judice subProclo,sublime elatus ad auras.
On the South Side of it there are two Ranges of Statues, the lowermost of which has engrav’d upon it four Chariots, two of which are drawn by a Pair, and the other by four Horses, with a Driver to each of them. In the upper Range are twoEquestrianStatues, three Footmen, threeTogati, twoObelisks, and four square Pillars. On the North Side of theBasisare engrav’d four Ranges of Figures, which contain thirty five Statues in Gowns. On the West Side there aretwo Ranges, the lowest of which has nine Statues in a suppliant Posture, making Presents to the Emperor, who stands in the upper Range, with sixteen Statues about him. The South Side has two Ranges; upon the lowest are cut ten Statues in Gowns, in a petitioning manner; the upper contains twenty Statues, all in Gowns, except four in a fighting Posture, arm’d with Bucklers. The East Side, on the lowest part of it, has three Ranges; the lowest Range contains sixteen Statues of Men and Women, dancing and playing upon Instruments of Musick; above which are two Ranges more, in which appear little more than the Heads, which I look upon to be the Spectators. The highest Range has twenty Statues, six of which are divided from the rest by Pillars. The middle Figure holds a Crown in his Hand. Upon theBasisare four square Pieces of Brass carv’d, which being plac’d in a quadrilateral Figure, the wholeObeliskbears upon them. ’Tis engrav’d from Top to Bottom withÆgyptianCharacters.
THERE is yet standing, in the Middle of theHippodrom, aColossusmade of square Stones, which was formerly (as an injudicious Author writes) incrusted with Marble; but, as appears by an Inscription carv’d upon itsBasis,’twas cover’d with Plates of Brass, cramp’d together with Iron, as appears not only by the Holes made in the Shaft, but by those which still remain in theBase; where the Iron Pins were fasten’d, and strengthen’d with melted Lead. ’Tis now despoil’d of its outward beauteous Appearance; and discovers only the Workmanship of its Inside, as having felt the Effects of the Avarice and Rapine of theBarbarians. This was also the Fate of theColossusatRhodes, which was demolish’d by theHagarensin the Reign ofConstans, Nephew ofHeraclius, thirteen hundred Years after it was erected. ’Twas purchas’d afterwards by oneEmesenusaJew, and the Brass, when strip’d off, was of so considerable a Weight, that it was carried off by Nine hundred Camels. Upon theBaseof theColossusatConstantinople, are inscrib’d the following Verses;
Fam’dConstantine, Romanus’Princely Son,(Who wore with Honour the Imperial Crown)This lofty Pile, by Time decay’d, repair’d;And join’d fresh Beauty to her Builder’s Art.
Fam’dConstantine, Romanus’Princely Son,(Who wore with Honour the Imperial Crown)This lofty Pile, by Time decay’d, repair’d;And join’d fresh Beauty to her Builder’s Art.
Fam’dConstantine, Romanus’Princely Son,(Who wore with Honour the Imperial Crown)This lofty Pile, by Time decay’d, repair’d;And join’d fresh Beauty to her Builder’s Art.
Fam’dConstantine, Romanus’Princely Son,
(Who wore with Honour the Imperial Crown)
This lofty Pile, by Time decay’d, repair’d;
And join’d fresh Beauty to her Builder’s Art.
ThisColossusat theBaseof it, has three Steps. The lowest is two Foot high, the next a Foot and two Digits, and the uppermost of the same Height. TheBasisis a square Marble, seven Foot and three Digits high, each Side of which is ten Foot and nine Inches broad. ThisColossusis taller than theObelisk. One Day, being theFestivalof the Circumcision of the Prince ofBoldania, I saw an ingenious Fellow of a Mountebank climb to the Top of it, and come down safe. The same Attempt was immediately madeby another, who made a Shift to reach the Top of it, but the Height so dazzled and confounded him, that, despairing of getting down without Hurt, he threw himself, with all his Might, as far as he could from theColossus, to avoid the Danger of being dash’d to pieces upon the Foundation; so that falling down right upon his Feet, he stuck deep in the Earth, and dy’d upon the Spot.
ABOUT the Middle of theHippodrom, among a strait Range of smallObelisks, there stand seven Pillars. One of which, made ofArabianMarble, is seventeen Foot and eight Digits in Circumference. There was erected upon the Top of it, by oneAbrahama Basha, the Statue ofHercules. It was cast in Brass, and made of the Spoils which he had taken inHungary; but upon the Death ofAbraham,Hercules, who was reported to have travell’d so many Countries, and tam’d so many Monsters, was at last forced to submit, and be torn to pieces by theTurks, the most inveterate Enemies toStatuary, and the wholeVitruvianArt; so that they treated him in as barbarous a manner as he was byDiagoras, who going into an Inn, and wanting Wood to boil his Lentils, finding a wooden Statue ofHercules, well-finish’d, cut it to pieces,and threw it into the Fire, saying these Words;O Hercules, who hast pass’d with so much Courage through thy twelve Labours, try how thou canst struggle with the thirteenth.
In the same Range ofObelisksthere stands another Pillar. ’Tis made of Brass, but not fluted, but wreath’d round with the Foldings of three Serpents, like those we see in great Ropes. The Heads of these Serpents are placed in a triangular Form, and rise very high upon the Shaft of the Pillar. There are many fabulous and trifling Reports among the Inhabitants, concerning the Erection of this Pillar, which is occasion’d by their Ignorance of the History of their Ancestors.Zosimus, among other Historians, writes, thatConstantinetheGreatplac’d in theHippodromtheTriposofApollo, which was brought fromDelphos, and which had on it the Image of that God.Sozomentells us, thatConstantinedid not only place theDelphick Triposin theHippodrom, but also that celebratedTripos, whichPausaniastheLacedæmonianGeneral, and the Cities ofGreece, upon the Conclusion of the War with theMedes, consecrated toApollo.Eusebiusis more clear upon this Occasion, and says, thatConstantine, in some part ofConstantinople, see up the Image ofSminthius Apollo, which was a Title given to him; but that in theHippodromhe placed thePythian Tripos, round which was wreathed the Figure of the SerpentPython; so that it seems to me very probable, that this was the sameTriposwhich was plac’d upon the brazen Pillar I am speaking of atConstantinople.Herodotuswrites, that thegoldenTriposwhich was atDelphos, was made out of a tenth Part of the Spoils taken from thePersians, and erected upon this Pillar; and adds farther, that when thePersianswere routed at the Battle ofPlatææ, there was found a goldenTripos, which was restor’d toApollo, and set upon a brazen Pillar, encircled with three Serpents entwin’d, near an Altar. ’Tis a Mistake in those who imagine, that this Pillar was formerly overlaid with Gold, but was plunder’d of it by theTurks; sincePausaniasmakes it appear, that it was stripp’d of its Gold long before theTurkstookConstantinople.After the Battle of Platææ, says he,theGreeksmade a common Offering toApollo,which was a goldenTripos,supported by a brazen Serpent. The Brass, he tells us, remain’d whole in his Time, but the Gold was carry’d off by thePhoceanGenerals. There are five other Pillars in the same Range. In the Front of theHippodrom, facing thePropontis, there was a Range of seventeen Pillars of white Marble standing, when first I came toConstantinople. They stood on the South-west Side of theHippodrom. ThePedestalof each of them is two Foot and ten Digits high, and are all of them supported by arch’d Foundations, which lye Level with the Plain of theHippodrom, but rise above Ground to the Height of fifty Foot. They are all placed upon a little Wall, which projects two Steps, or square Plinths, the lowermost of which is a Foot and a Digit high; the upper is a Foot and six Digits high, and projects beyond the Pedestal eight Digits. The Pedestals of them are every way five Feet, andseven Inches broad. The lowest Projectures of them, which are placed there forToresand otherModules, are six Digits and a half high, the upper Projectures of the same Height; thePlinthof theCorniceis eleven Digits in Thickness; the lowerToreseven Digits and a half; theScotiafour Digits; the upperToresix Digits; the Stone which supports the Shaft is five Digits high, and the Shafts themselves three Foot five Digits in Diameter, and twenty eight Foot in Height. These Pillars were lately taken down, and theBasesof them removed by Order ofSolymanthe Emperor, to build an Hospital. I was concern’d to see them thus demolish’d, not so much for the Use they were intended, but that some of them were squared out for paving aBagnio, and that theCapitals, made after the most exact Plans of ancientArchitecture, were cut into Rude and ill-shapen Models for covering a Bake-house, and that thePedestals, and all theEntablaturewere hewn out, it may be only to build a Wall. TheShaftsof the Pillars stood at eleven Foot Distance. I observ’d theCapitalswere impair’d by reason of the great Space of Intercolumniation. TheCapitalswere finish’d after theCorinthianOrder, and theTrabeationwas beautifully wrought, but was not adorn’d with anOvolo. There were Iron Rings fix’d to theArchitraves, upon which were hung Curtains. Beyond this was another Range of Pillars, which were remaining some time after the Taking of the City by theTurks. Before it was taken by theGaulsand theVenetians, there were in theHippodromabundance of Figures of Horses, both in Stone and Brass. There werefour in particular of surprizing Skill, which were gilded, equal in Beauty and Workmanship to those which now stand before the Church of St.MarcianatVenice, which, some say, were brought thither fromConstantinople. I shall omit the Statues of great Numbers of Emperors and Princes, which were set up in theCirco. Among these stood the Statue of the EmperorJustinian, which has been celebrated in Verse. There were also the Statutes of some Eunuchs, who were most in the Interest and Favour with their Masters. Among others, there was the Statue ofPlatothe Eunuch, the Emperor’s Chamberlain, who was burnt to Death in the Reign ofBasiliscus. There was an Inscription, according toSuidas, fix’d upon the Breast of this Statue, which ran thus;Whosoever shall remove this Statue into another Place, let him be hang’d. Yet was it taken out of the Church ofProcopius, and carry’d into theHippodrom. I have not time to take Notice of the numberless Statues of all the Combatants, Wrestlers, Charioteers, formerly placed in theHippodrom; of which, though there is nothing remaining at present, yet the Memory of them is still preserved in a small Poem of three hundred Verses, in which some Chariot-Racers are mention’d with particular Honours, though no Notice be there taken of a Person namedThomas, a Man of surprizing Agility and Speed, in that kind of Exercise. I have seen the Fragment of a Stone atConstantinoplewith this Inscription,Θομᾶ Ἡνιόχου. This probably is the same Person mention’d by the EmperorTheodoric, in a Letter toFaustusaRoman Prætor, in the following Words:Of ourImperial Bounty and Consideration we have given and granted toThomas,the famous Chariot-Racer, a present Stipend to be continued to him, till we have farther experienced, and been fully satisfied of his wonderful Skill in that Exercise; but having now received ample Testimony of his Superiority in that Performance, and that having left his Countrey, he hath chosen voluntarily to settle himself within our Dominions, we, out of our Imperial Munificence, have encouraged him by a monthly Salary to continue among us. He has, by his frequent Successes, received the repeated Applauses, and stood high in the Favour of the People, whom he has sometimes, though unfortunately, vindicated, and at other times has eminently distinguish’d himself in the Race of the Chariot. Victory so often attended him, that he was look’d upon as a Sorcerer by a Set of People, who would have accounted it the highest Commendation to have been thought so themselves, for the same Reasons. And ’tis no Wonder that Men should ascribe those Excellencies to the Power of Sorcery and Enchantment, which they cannot arrive to themselves, the Sight of a Chariot-Race, in ancient Times, was had in the highest Honour and Esteem, though at present ’tis little better than the Occasion of Buffoonry, an Incentive to trifling Disputes, an Encouragement to Roguery and Sharping, and the constant Source of Broils and Quarrels.Thus far the Emperor: From whose Words I would observe, that the Chariot-Racer here mention’d, who had leftConstantinople, probably upon some Party Quarrels among the Chariot-Racers (who were therefore call’dFactions) was also in Danger atRome, uponthe like Account. The Commonwealth both ofRomeandConstantinoplehave not only been often harrass’d with such Commotions, but the Emperors themselves have often fallen into the greatest Danger of losing their Government by them. But all the Diversions of theCircoare now ceased. I was concern’d to see it despoil’d of all its Ornaments, though theTurksof late have begun to build there again. I was the more concern’d, because, by looking casually upon a Medal I had then in my Hand, it put me in mind ofBelisariustriumphing in theHippodrom, after his Victory over the King of theVandals, as also of the Disgrace and Poverty, notwithstanding his Bravery and Courage, he afterwards fell into by the Jealousy of the Emperor. On one Side of it was stamp’d the triumphant Reception ofBelisarius, and on the other this Image, with this Inscription,Gloria Romanorum Belisarius.Procopiuswrites, That there was a Gate in theHippodromcall’d theCochlia, because it had winding Stairs within it. There was also a Passage, through which they went to their Burial-Ground. The same Writer tells us, that in the same Place there was aPorticocall’dVenetia, from theCompaniesorFactionsof Chariot-Racers who used to assemble there, and who distinguish’d themselves from otherFactionsorCompanies, by aSky-colour’dGarment, which was called so from theVenetians, a People that particularly affected that Colour. ’Tis very probable, that thePrasin Factionhad also aPorticohere. These were another Company of Charioteers, and distinguish’d themselves by agreenLivery. The WordPrasinabeingderived fromπράσονin theGreek, which signifies aLeek. Nor is it unlikely, that there were other Companies with Liveries of other Colours, who were not promiscuously crowded together, but seated in their own Apartments in thePortico’s, to see the Races.
IT is observable from the Situation of the Church ofBacchusandSergius, now standing on the Plain between thePropontisand theHippodrom, that the Imperial Palace, and the HouseJustinianlived in, before he was Emperor, stood near it.Procopiuswrites, thatJustinianbuilt a Church, and dedicated it to St.Peterand St.Paul. It stood near the Imperial Court, where formerly had stood a Palace built byHormisda. This,Justinianmade a Mansion-house for himself, that the Beauty and Elegancy of its Building might be an Ornament to the Palace.
After he had arrived to the Imperial Dignity, he built other fine Palaces about it, and near it built another Church in honour of two illustrious Saints,SergiusandBacchus. These Churches which are both of them equally beautiful, stood on the same Compass of Ground, nor is there any material Difference between them. They shine alike with the most glossy Marble; both arecuriously gilded, and adorn’d with the richest Offerings, nor is there any thing wherein they do not resemble each other, but that one is built lengthways, and the other in a semicircular manner. They are both wonderful in their kind, and are a great Ornament not only to the Palace, but to the whole City:Procopiusadds a little farther, thatJustinianchang’d the House, which was call’d the House ofHormisda, into a more magnificent Figure, and join’d it to the Palace. I am of Opinion, that thisHormisda, whom he dignifies with the Title of Prince, was the Son of a King ofPersia, who, asMarcellinusreports, whenConstansthe Son ofConstantinecame toRome, and glorying how far he would transcendHormisdain his immoderate Schemes of Building, being unable to accomplish his Designs, he was content, he said, in an humble manner, only to have such another Horse made as stood in theForumofTrajan. The Story coming afterwards toHormisda’s Ear, he reply’d in a jocular manner,Let him try first, if he can build a Stable for him.Cedrinusexplains more at large how near the House ofJustinianwas to the Church ofBacchus:Justinian, says he,built the Church ofSergiusandBacchus,which on the Sea-side of it, is near the Palace, and built also another Church by it, on the same piece of Ground, on which had stood his own House: In building these two Churches, and in founding a Monastery, which he fill’d with Men of sound Learning, and exemplary Conversation, he laid out his whole Estate, and all he was worth, till he arrived to the Imperial Dignity. There is nothing remaining at present of the Church of St.Peterand St.Paul,but the Church ofSergiusandBacchusare yet standing. It goes still under its ancient Name, though theTurkshave changed it into a Mosque. ’Tis covered at top with a Brick Roof, and bears upon eight Pilasters; between the Pilasters there are two Ranges of Pillars of theIonick Order. In the lowest Range, there are sixteen Pillars which bear upon the Pavement: Six of these Pillars are of Green Marble, and ten of white streak’d with Red Veins. The upper Range consists of eighteen Pillars, eight of which are Green, ten White Marble, and are vein’d as the other. TheCapitalsof the lower are adorn’d withOvolo’sat the Bottom of them. The upper part of them is cover’d with aFoliage. TheVolutæof the upper Range of Pillars project from the four Angles of theCapitals, but theOvolo’sproject from the Sides of them, which are also cover’d with aFoliageof fine Workmanship. TheArchitravesover theCapitalsof the lower Range are finished with the nicest Art. There is a noble Piece of Sculpture in this Church. ’Twas done byZoophorus, who has carved round the Church someGreekVerses, in the largest Characters. The Tops of thePilastersare shaded with aVineal Foliage, intermixed with cluster’d Grapes, which denote, that the Church was dedicated toBacchus.
NEAR the Church ofBacchus, stood the Port ofJulian. This is plain from the Account we have of the Fire, which happen’d in the Reign ofLeotheGreat, and asEvagriustells us, began on the North-side of the City, and destroy’d all before it, from theBosporianPort, to the old Temple ofApollo; and that on the South-side of the City, it made the same Havock from the Port ofJulian, to the Houses near the Temple ofConcord.Zonaraswrites, who has described the Devastations of that Fire, that it burnt with great Fury from theBosporiumto the Church of St.JohntheCalybite, and on the South from the Church of St.Thomasto the Church of the renowned Martyrs,SergiusandBacchus. The Church of St.Thomasstood near the Temple ofConcord. The Account whichCedrinusgives of this Fire is, that it took its Course round the City quite from the Northern to the Southern Shore, as far as the Church ofSergiusandBacchus. The EmperorAnastasiusfortified the Port ofJulian, and secured it by a strong Wall. It was afterwards called the Port ofSophia, according toCedrinus, who writes,ThatJustinthe Nephew ofJustinian,built a Palace in thePort ofJulian,which he ordered to be cleansed, and that he commanded his own, and the Statue ofSophiahis Consort to be erected there, and from thence gave it the Name of the Portof Sophia. The Inscription on the Statue ofJustinplaced here is as follows:
ITheodorus,Prefect of the City,Here, on the Shore, erect this lofty Statue;It represents the EmperorJustinus.May his kind Presence guard, and ever shedIts peaceful Influence o’er the neighbouring Ports.
ITheodorus,Prefect of the City,Here, on the Shore, erect this lofty Statue;It represents the EmperorJustinus.May his kind Presence guard, and ever shedIts peaceful Influence o’er the neighbouring Ports.
ITheodorus,Prefect of the City,Here, on the Shore, erect this lofty Statue;It represents the EmperorJustinus.May his kind Presence guard, and ever shedIts peaceful Influence o’er the neighbouring Ports.
ITheodorus,Prefect of the City,
Here, on the Shore, erect this lofty Statue;
It represents the EmperorJustinus.
May his kind Presence guard, and ever shed
Its peaceful Influence o’er the neighbouring Ports.
Procopiuswrites, that the Church of the MartyrTheclastood near this Port. Some modern Historians tell us, thatBelisariusset Sail from this Port, when he went to Battel against theVandals. But I cannot conceive what Reason they have for that Opinion, unless it be from some Words ofProcopius, who says, thatJustiniancommanded the Ship, in which the General sail’d, to be brought near the Palace, and that thereEpiphaniusBishop ofConstantinople, as was customary upon such Occasions, put up a Prayer for his Success, and that thenBelisariuswent off with his WifeAntonina. There were indeed some Palaces near this Port, but there were also other Palaces near the Bay, which was full of Havens, from whence, at a little Distance, stood the House ofBelisarius.Suidasconfirms it, thatAnastasiusfortify’d this Harbour, and made a Pier there; andZonarasattests, thatJustinbuilt there some Palaces, and call’d them the Palaces ofSophia, from the Name of his Consort, whom he passionately loved. ManyHistoriansare of Opinion,that these Palaces stood near the Port ofSophia; but I am induced to think, both from Reason and the Authority of learned Men, that it was not so. ForZonaras, among others, writes, thatJustinbuilt these Palaces against the City, andAgathius, a much ancienter Writer, and who was living at the Time they were built, wrote the following Inscription, which was fix’d upon them. From whence the Reader may observe, that they were not seated near thePropontis, adjoining to which was the Port ofSophia, but opposite to the City, near the Shore of theBosporus, where the Continent is divided into two Parts.
Agathius Scholasticusupon the Palaces ofSophia.
Where the streight Sea divides the Continents,These gilded Palaces the Emperor builtFor his dear Consort, fairSophia’s Use.The Wonders of thy Beauty, potentRome,Europe,andAsia,half th’ extended WorldWith Pleasure view, and silently admire.
Where the streight Sea divides the Continents,These gilded Palaces the Emperor builtFor his dear Consort, fairSophia’s Use.The Wonders of thy Beauty, potentRome,Europe,andAsia,half th’ extended WorldWith Pleasure view, and silently admire.
Where the streight Sea divides the Continents,These gilded Palaces the Emperor builtFor his dear Consort, fairSophia’s Use.The Wonders of thy Beauty, potentRome,Europe,andAsia,half th’ extended WorldWith Pleasure view, and silently admire.
Where the streight Sea divides the Continents,
These gilded Palaces the Emperor built
For his dear Consort, fairSophia’s Use.
The Wonders of thy Beauty, potentRome,
Europe,andAsia,half th’ extended World
With Pleasure view, and silently admire.
The Word which in the Original Inscription is wroteδέρκεαι,Zonaraswritesδέρκεται. ’Tis easy to discover from these Verses, that the Palace ofSophiawas not seated near theBosporus, but without the Walls of the City, waich is attested byCedrinus, and many other Historians, in their Descriptions of thehard Frost, which happen’d in the Reign ofLeo Copronymus, by which theBosporuswas frozen so hard, that whosoever had a mind to pass over from the Palace ofSophiato the City, or fromChrysopolisto the Church of St.Mamas,or repass toGalataon the Shore of theBosporus, might cross over the Ice without the least Danger. The Port ofSophia, before it was call’d the Port ofJulian, seems to me to be the same, which was formerly called theNeorium, and which theancient Description of the Wardsplaces in the sameWardwith theHippodrom; but whether it be one, or either of these, it is now fill’d up; or if it was that Port which stands West of the Church ofBacchus, ’tis now almost demolish’d, and enclosed with a Wall. There is only a small Part of it remaining, which is a standing Water, where the Women wash their Linnen. The People tell you, that they have seen some Three-Oar’d Gallies which have been sunk there. ’Tis call’d at present by the InhabitantsCaterga limena, or the Port of the Three-Oar’d Gallies; whether it be the same Port, which is standing on the East of the Church ofBacchus, near the Gate of the City call’dPorta Leonis, which Name it took either from a Lion near it, which was carved in Stone, or from the EmperorLeo, who, they tell you, had a Palace there, I shall not determine.Nicephorus, an Historian of modern Date, tells us, that an Emperor ofConstantinople, when besieged by the People ofItaly, summoned a Multitude of Smiths into theMorion, which ran round theHippodrom. I could never discover atConstantinoplethe Place which was called thePyctacia; yet I cannot but take Notice fromCedrinus, and other modern Historians, that in the Place which they called thePyctacia, there was a Pillar which supported the Statue ofLeothe Emperor, the Consort ofVerina. This Statue, as some write, was erected by his SisterEuphemia,a Lady of great Wisdom and Continency, near her own House, whereLeoevery Week, used to pay her a Visit. All Persons who laboured under Afflictions of any Kind, laid their Petitions to the Emperor, upon the Steps of this Pillar. The Apparitors took them up, and when the Emperor waited upon his Sister, they presented them to him.Budæussays, that thePyctacia, or as he calls them, thePystacia, were Briefs; though I see no Reason why they may not also be called Petitions. For asPyctiumsignifies a Book, I do not see whyPyctaciummay not signify any smaller Writing. TheGreeksat present generally call their LettersPyctacia. In an History written by an unknown Author, I have read, thatEudoxiahad set up her own Statue, made of massy Silver, in a Place called thePyctacium. If the Author be not mistaken, I should take this to be the same Statue which stood near the Church of St.Sophia, by which, as I have shewn before, stood the Statue ofEudoxia. I have seen a smallTreatiseofConstantinople, which says, thatConstantinetheGreatbuilt a Church to St.Euphemia, near theHippodrom, which was afterwards turned into an Armory byConstantine, surnamedCopronymus, a professed Adversary to Images in Churches, and who cast the Reliques of St.Euphemiainto the Sea.Suidaswrites, that the Statue ofEuphemia(the Consort of the EmperorJustin, who was aThracian) was placed in the Church of St.Euphemia, which she her self had built. Some modern Writers say, that in the Time ofBasiliusthe Emperor, there was a great Earthquake which overturned the Church of St.Polyclete,and killed all that were in it; and that from that Time it was calledSigma. I am more inclined to believe, that it took its Name from aPorticoso called, many Ages before this Earthquake, because it was built after the Similitude of the LetterSigma, and is placed in theantient DescriptionofConstantinople, in the sameWardwith theHippodrom.Cedrinusseems to take Notice of this Place.They dragged, says he, Michaelthe Emperor in his Monks Habit, by the Heels, out of the Monastery ofStudius,through the Market, and leading him beyond the Monastery calledPeriblepton,in a Place calledSigma,they put out both his Eyes. The same Author tells us, thatBasiliusthe Emperor, a Native ofMacedon, rebuilt from the Foundations, a Church to the Honour of theBlessed Virgin, which was calledSigma.Chrysaphius Zomas, an Eunuch, set up the Statue ofTheodosiustheLess, in a Place calledSigma. Some Writers affirm, thatConstantinetheGreatbuilt a Church to St.Stephen, in a Place calledSigma. TheSigmatherefore here intended, must needs be another Place in the City, distinct from that which I observed was in the thirdWard, and ought to be written with the Lettere, asSegma; by Reason, as I hinted just now, that the Fall of the Church of St.Polycleteby an Earthquake, crushed to Death all that were in it.
IF theMiliarium Aureumhad been now in Being, or the People ofConstantinoplehad preserved the Memory of its Situation, we might easily discover, from theantient Description of the Wards, (which tells us, that the fourthWardextended it self, the Hills rising on the Right and Left, from theMiliarium Aureumto a plain level Ground) that it was in the first Valley, or on the Ridge of the Hill that arises just above it. Nor could we have failed to make the like Discovery from the Remains of theAugustæum, theBasilica, theNymphæum, and other fine Buildings, had they not been entirely buried in their own Ruins. But since no Observations at present can be made that Way, I was in Suspense, whether or no the Valley, where the fourthWardstood, was not the same Valley which I had described at the first; because it is common to other Vales, to have Hills rising on the right and left. And when I had sufficiently instructed my self from the Writings and Histories of learned Men, what Monuments of Antiquity had formerly been in the fourthWard, and where they had stood, I was soon sensible that the fourthWardstood in the first Valley, and on the Sides of it, and on the Hill near to the Church of St.Sophia, as theReader will perceive from the following History.
Procopiuswrites, that theForumwhich was formerly called theAugustæum, was surrounded with Pillars, and was situate before the Imperial Palace. Not only theForumis at present quite defaced, but the very Name of it is lost, and the whole Ground where it stood is built upon. The Palace is entirely in Ruines, yet I collect from thePedestalof a Pillar ofJustinianlately standing, but now removed by theTurks, whichProcopiussays was built byJustinianin theAugustæum, andZonarasin the Court before the Church ofSophia, that theAugustæumstood where there is now a Fountain, at the West End of the Church of St.Sophia.Suidassays, thatJustinian, after he had built the Church of St.Sophia, cleansed the Court, and paved it with Marble, and that it was formerly called theForum Augustæum; and adds, that he erected his own Statue there.Procopiuswrites,That there was a certainForumfacing the Senate House, which was called by the Citizens theAugustæum;where are seven Stones, so cemented together in aquadrangular Manner, and are so contracted one within another the upper within the lower Stone, that a Man may conveniently sit down upon every Projecture of them. I was more induced to give this Account fromProcopius, of the Pedestal, because I do not find it in hisprinted Works. Upon the Top of it, says he, there’s erected a large Pillar, composed of many Stones covered with Brass, which did at once both strengthen and adorn them. The Plates of Brass did not reflect so strong a Lustre as pure Gold, yet was it, in Value, little inferior to Silver. On the Top of the Statue was set a large Horse in Brass, facing the East, which indeed afforded a noble Prospect. He seemed to be in a marching Posture, and struggling for Speed. His near Foot before was curvated, as though he would paw the Ground; his off Foot was fixed to thePedestal, and his hind Feet were so contracted, as though he was prepared to be gone. Upon the Horse was placed the Statue of the Emperor. ’Twas made of Brass, large like aColossus, dress’d in a warlike Habit likeAchilles, with Sandals on his Feet, and armed with a Coat of Mail, and a shining Helmet. He looked Eastward, and seemed to be marching against thePersians. In his left Hand he bore a Globe, devised to signify his universal Power over the whole World. On the Top of it was fixed a Cross, to which he attributed all his Successes in War, and his Accession to the Imperial Dignity. His right Hand was stretched to the East, and by pointing with his Fingers, he seemed to forbid the barbarous Nations to approach nearer, but to stand off at their Peril.Tzetzes, in hisVarious History, describes what kind of Helmet he had upon his Head.ThePersians, says he,generally wore a Turbant upon the Head. When theRomansobtained any Victory over them, they plundered them of these Turbants, which they placed upon their own Heads. They are, says he,of the same Shape with that, with which the Statue ofJustinian,erected upon a large Pillar, is crowned.Cedrinusrelates, thatJustinianheld the Globe in his Silver Hand.Zonaraswrites, thatJustinian, in the seventeenth Year of his Reign, set up this Pillar, in the same Place, where formerly had stood another Pillar ofTheodosiustheGreat, bearing his Statue in Silver, made at the Expence of his SonArcadius, which weighed seven Thousand four Hundred Pounds. WhenJustinianhad demolished the Statue and the Pillar, he stripped it of a vast Quantity of Lead, of which he made Pipes forAqueducts, which brought the Water into the City. This ill Treatment ofTheodosiusbyJustinian, was revenged upon him by theBarbarians; for they used his Pillar in the same Manner, and stripped it of the Statue, the Horse, and the Brass wherewith it was covered, so that it was only a bare Column for some Years. About thirty Years ago the wholeShaftwas taken down to thePedestal, and that, about a Year since, was demolished down to theBasis, from whence I observed a Spring to spout up with Pipes, into a large Cistern. At present there stands in the same Place a Water-House, and the Pipes are enlarged. I lately saw theEquestrianStatue ofJustinian, erected upon the Pillar which stood here, andwhich had been preserved a long Time in the Imperial Precinct, carried into the melting Houses, where they cast their Ordnance. Among the Fragments were the Leg ofJustinian, which exceeded my Height, and his Nose, which was above nine Inches long. I dared not publickly measure the Horse’s Legs, as they lay upon the Ground, but privately measured one of the Hoofs, and found it to be nine Inches in Height.Suidas, and some modern Historians allure us, that it was called theForum Augustæum, because theCuratores, andSebastophori, on the fifteenth Day ofOctober, used to dance in the Market Place there, in Honour ofAugustus; or because the Statues ofConstantine, and his MotherHelena, were set up in an arched Gallery which stood here.Zosimus, a more antient Historian thanProcopius, asserts, thatConstantinebuilt a round Market, with fourPortico’s, two in a Row, above each other; and that he roofed two of them withProconnesianMarble, that you might pass from them unto the Portico ofSeverus, and from thence beyond the Bounds of the antient City; and adds, that this Market stood in a Place, to which there was a Passage thro’ a Landgate adjacent. This is the same Market which is intended by theunknown Authorof theHistory of Constantinople, where he tells us, thatConstantinebuilt a Market in a circular Manner. The same Author tells us in another Place, that when he was atConstantinople,Constantinehad surrounded the greatForumwith fourPortico’s and placed at both Ends of one of them, which you ascend by many Steps, two Statues: At one Endwas placed the Statue ofRhea, the Mother of the Gods, (the same Statue, which those who sailed withJason, placed on MountDindymus) rising above the City ofCyzicus. They tell you, that for her Neglect in paying divine Worship to the Gods, the Statue was defaced; and that her Hands, which before held the Reins of two Lyons which stood before her, were changed into a petitioning Posture. This Statue at the same Time faced and adorned the City. At the other End of thePorticohe placed theFortuneof the City, thoughSuidasrelates, that theFortuneof the City stood in a Nich of theMiliarium. If this Statue was set up here byConstantine, I should think, that both the Markets mentioned byZosimusare one and the same. But to me they seem to be different; becauseZosimustells us in one Place, thatConstantinebuilt a Market with twoPortico’sround it, and afterwards, that he built a Market with fourPortico’s round it; unless he reckons in the Account, thePortico’sofSeverusandConstantine, from whence there was a free Entrance into otherPortico’s. On the East Side of theForum Augusteum,Procopiuswrites, thatJustinianbuilt a large Court, where the Senate used to assemble, and celebrate an Anniversary Festival every new Year. Before the Senate-House stand six Columns, two of which support the Western Wall, in the Middle of it. The other four stand at a little Distance from it. These Pillars are all of white Marble, and I look upon them to be the largest in the World. The other six support aPortico, which runs round the Top of a large Building. The upper Part of thePorticois adorned with Marble elegantly variegated, and equal to that of the Columns, and is furnished with an infinite Variety of curious Statues. I am of Opinion, thatJustiniandid not build thisSenate-House, but that he rebuilt the oldSenate-House, which was burnt down by the Fire, which consumed the Church of St.Sophia, and the Baths ofZeuxippus. ForSozomenwrites, thatConstantinetheGreatbuilt the Great Council-Hall, which was called theSenate-House, and ordered it to be held in equal Dignity, and honoured it with the same publick Celebration of the Feast of theCalends, with that of antientRome. He tells us where this great Court stood, when he writes, that the silver Statue ofEudoxia Augustawas placed upon aPorphyryPillar, on the South Side of the Church of St.Sophia, beyond the high Pulpit, which faces theSenate-House.Socratestells us, that it was neither erected near, nor at any considerable Distance from the Church of St.Sophia; but beyond the broad Way, asSuidasobserves, which runs between them both.In the Tribunal of the Palace, says he,stood the Pillar ofEudoxia,the Wife ofTheodosius. The Treatiseof the antient Description of the Wardsplaces the Senate-House, theTribunalwithPorphyrySteps, and theBasilica, all in the sameWard.Sozomenclearly points out the Situation of theSenate-House, where he says, that when a Tumult arose concerning the Expulsion of St.Chrysostom, the great Church was all on a sudden in a Blaze, which burnt down the Buildings upon the Walks, and the GreatSenate-House, lying to the South of them. There aresome Remains of the Walls of theSenate-Housestill standing, southerly of the Church of St.Sophia, beyond the Way that leads from the Imperial Gate to theForumofConstantine.
NOT far from theForum Augusteum, asProcopiuswrites, stood a Palace, the Statelyness and Magnificence of which the Reader may easily guess at from the Description he gives of theVestibulum, or the House of Entrance into it. ThisVestibulumis call’d theChalca, which is made after this Manner. There are four strait Walls carried up to a great Height in a quadrangular Figure, from each Angle of which there projects a Stone Building curiously finish’d, which rises with the Wall from Top to Bottom, no ways intercepting the beauteous Prospect before you, but seeming rather to add to the Pleasure and Agreeableness of it. Above this Building are raised eight Arches, supporting the Roof, which rises into a globular Height most beautifully adorn’d. The Roof of it is not furnish’d with fine Paintings, but shines withMosaickWork of all sorts of Colours, in the several Figures of Men, and other Kinds of Creatures. The Historian at largehas explain’d the Designs, which are the Scenes of War, of Battles, and the Surrender of many Towns, both inAfricaandItaly. Among other Curiosities are describ’d the Victories ofJustinianunder his GeneralBelisarius, and his triumphant Return to the Emperor. The Courage and Chearfulness of his Army is expressed in a lively Manner. The General is figured in an humble Posture, as making an Offering to him of all the Kings, the Kingdoms, and other rich Spoils he had taken from the Enemy. In the Middle of the Work is represented the Emperor and his EmpressTheodorain a pleasant gay Humour, celebrating a Festival in Honour of his Victory over theGothsandVandals, and bringing great Numbers of Captives before him. The whole Senate is described round them, joining in the Celebration. They all look chearful and merry, smiling, and highly pleased with the Honour they have to attend the Emperor on so important an Occasion. I would here observe, that asPapiniusin hisSylvæcalls theBasilicaofPaulus, the Palace ofPaulus, so the House, whichProcopiuscallsΒασιλεῖονwent by the Name both of theBasilicaand the Palace. And I am confirm’d in this Opinion fromCedrinus, who says, That the Fire which happen’d in the Reign ofJustinian, burnt down the Porch, or House of Entrance into theBasilica, theBasilicaitself, and the brazen Covering of the Palace ofConstantine the Great, which from that Time to this Day, is call’d theChalca, because it is cover’d with Plates of Brass gilded. WhatCedrinuscalls theBasilica,Procopius, in his BookDe Ædif. Justiniani, callsτὰ Βασιλεῖα, whenspeaking of the Fire above-mention’d, he tells us, That it consumed the Gate-housesτῶν Βασιλείων, and that in particular which was call’dChalca: The same Writer adds a little lower, that the Emperor commandedBelisariusto go to theChalca, and the other Houses of Entrance seated by it. From which Words it is observable, thatProcopiusseems to believe, that there were other Houses of Entrance into the Palace, though in the Beginning of this Chapter he mentions only theChalca. It is my Opinion, that the House where the Emperor dwelt was first call’d theBasilica; that afterwards, when the great Houses, where the Merchants assembled for Trade and Commerce, were call’dBasilica, the Emperor’s House was call’dΒασιλεῖον; and, at last, the Palace. If there was any Difference between theBasilicaand the Palace, yet theBasilicawas either a part of the Palace, or built near to it, as the Reader may see in theAncient Description of the Wards, which places theAugusteumand theBasilicain the sameWard. As thisTreatisetakes no Notice in thisWardeither of a Palace or a Court, but only of aBasilica, it seems to intimate, that theBasilicawas the Palace itself. But whether theBasilicawas within or without the Palace, it is certain it was near it, because they were both destroy’d by Fire, by reason of their Vicinity to one another; and the Rules ofArchitectureprescribe, that it be built near a Market, which is always near the Palace; and that it be built warm, that the Merchants may manage their Business there in Winter Time, without any Molestation from the Severity of the Weather.JuliusPolluxis of the same Opinion, who says, That theStadia, theHippodrom, theSenate-House, theForum, the Court, the ImperialPortico, and theTribunal, ought to stand near the Theatre.Cedrinuswrites, that the beautiful Structure of theChalcawas built by oneÆtheriusa famous Architect, by the Command of the wife of EmperorAnastasius, as appears from aGreekInscription upon it, which runs thus:
Upon a Building in the Palace, call’dChalca.