I am the Palace of fam’dAnastasiusThe Scourge of Tyrants; none surpasses me,In Beauty, and in wonderful Contrivance.When the Surveyors view’d my mighty Bulk,My Height, my Length, and my extensive Breadth;’Twas thought beyond the Reach of human PowerTo roof at Top my widely gaping Walls.But youngÆtherius,ancient in his Art,This Building finish’d, and an Offering madeTo our good Emperor.NotItaly,with all its Glory shewsA Structure so magnificent and great;Not the proudCapitolof ancientRomeWith all its gilded Roofs can rival me.The costly Galleries ofPergamus,Ruffinus’Walks, and statelyPortico’sCrowded with Art, and marbled ImagesSubmit to my superior Workmanship.Not the fam’d Temple, which atCyzico,ByAdrianbuilt, stands on a lofty Rock,NorÆgypt’scostlyPyramids,nor atRhodesThe mightyColosseequal me in Greatness.When my good Emperor, in hostile Manner,Quell’d theIsaurianFaction, thus he rais’d meIn Honour ofAurora,and the Winds.
I am the Palace of fam’dAnastasiusThe Scourge of Tyrants; none surpasses me,In Beauty, and in wonderful Contrivance.When the Surveyors view’d my mighty Bulk,My Height, my Length, and my extensive Breadth;’Twas thought beyond the Reach of human PowerTo roof at Top my widely gaping Walls.But youngÆtherius,ancient in his Art,This Building finish’d, and an Offering madeTo our good Emperor.NotItaly,with all its Glory shewsA Structure so magnificent and great;Not the proudCapitolof ancientRomeWith all its gilded Roofs can rival me.The costly Galleries ofPergamus,Ruffinus’Walks, and statelyPortico’sCrowded with Art, and marbled ImagesSubmit to my superior Workmanship.Not the fam’d Temple, which atCyzico,ByAdrianbuilt, stands on a lofty Rock,NorÆgypt’scostlyPyramids,nor atRhodesThe mightyColosseequal me in Greatness.When my good Emperor, in hostile Manner,Quell’d theIsaurianFaction, thus he rais’d meIn Honour ofAurora,and the Winds.
I am the Palace of fam’dAnastasiusThe Scourge of Tyrants; none surpasses me,In Beauty, and in wonderful Contrivance.When the Surveyors view’d my mighty Bulk,My Height, my Length, and my extensive Breadth;’Twas thought beyond the Reach of human PowerTo roof at Top my widely gaping Walls.But youngÆtherius,ancient in his Art,This Building finish’d, and an Offering madeTo our good Emperor.NotItaly,with all its Glory shewsA Structure so magnificent and great;Not the proudCapitolof ancientRomeWith all its gilded Roofs can rival me.The costly Galleries ofPergamus,Ruffinus’Walks, and statelyPortico’sCrowded with Art, and marbled ImagesSubmit to my superior Workmanship.Not the fam’d Temple, which atCyzico,ByAdrianbuilt, stands on a lofty Rock,NorÆgypt’scostlyPyramids,nor atRhodesThe mightyColosseequal me in Greatness.When my good Emperor, in hostile Manner,Quell’d theIsaurianFaction, thus he rais’d meIn Honour ofAurora,and the Winds.
I am the Palace of fam’dAnastasius
The Scourge of Tyrants; none surpasses me,
In Beauty, and in wonderful Contrivance.
When the Surveyors view’d my mighty Bulk,
My Height, my Length, and my extensive Breadth;
’Twas thought beyond the Reach of human Power
To roof at Top my widely gaping Walls.
But youngÆtherius,ancient in his Art,
This Building finish’d, and an Offering made
To our good Emperor.
NotItaly,with all its Glory shews
A Structure so magnificent and great;
Not the proudCapitolof ancientRome
With all its gilded Roofs can rival me.
The costly Galleries ofPergamus,
Ruffinus’Walks, and statelyPortico’s
Crowded with Art, and marbled Images
Submit to my superior Workmanship.
Not the fam’d Temple, which atCyzico,
ByAdrianbuilt, stands on a lofty Rock,
NorÆgypt’scostlyPyramids,nor atRhodes
The mightyColosseequal me in Greatness.
When my good Emperor, in hostile Manner,
Quell’d theIsaurianFaction, thus he rais’d me
In Honour ofAurora,and the Winds.
Some modern Historians will have it, thatConstantine the Greatfirst built the Palace ofChalca. I should be inclinable to disbelieve them, but that I am induced to think it was so, when I observ’d the brazen Tyles gilded with Gold, resembling those of theCapitol, and aForumofOld Rome, whose BuildingsConstantinewas proud to imitate, as near as he could. I could never learn, who it was who remov’d the Tyles of theChalca; though it is not improbable, but that they were spoiled by the Fire. ’Tis related byProcopius, thatGensericplunder’d half theRomanCapitol of the gilded Plates of Brass that cover’d it, and thatConstantinetheThird, the Nephew ofHeraclius, carry’d off the Silver Plates which were laid over thePantheon. At a small Distance (on the South-west Side of the Church of St.Sophia) from the Water-Pipes of anAqueductrunning from a Conduit situate in theForum Augusteum, where was erected the Pillar ofJustinian, are still remaining sevenCorinthianPillars, on theShaftof one of which is cut the Name ofConstantine, with theSignalof the Cross he saw in the Heavens, with this Inscription,ἐν τούτῳ νίκα. TheBasisandShaftof these Pillars are buried, at the Bottom of them, under Ground, to the Depth of six Foot, which I discover’d, when I casually fell into the Foundation of the Walls, which were built between them. I could not see thePlinthof theBaseof any of them, because it was cover’d with Earth; yet I perceiv’d the lowermostTore, which waseight Digits in Thickness, and seven in Height. The Stone at the Bottom of theShaftwas nine Inches broad. Every Pillar is thirty Foot and six Digits high: In short, the wholePillar,CapitalandPedestal, is about forty six Foot and a half in Height. The Bottom of theShaft, which I measured just above the Stone it bears upon, is eighteen Foot in Circumference. The Pillars stand at the Distance of twenty Foot and ten Digits from each other. The Inhabitants say, that these Pillars stood within the Palace ofConstantine; others say, that they formerly supported a Bridge, over which you passed, as you went from the Palace to the Church of St.Sophia. But there is nothing of Truth in either of these Opinions; for ’tis plain from what I observed before, that they stood in theForum Augusteum. So that I am inclined to believe, that they supported the Arches of thePortico’s, in which the Statues ofConstantine the Great, his MotherHelena, and other Statues were placed. From what I have said, the Reader may trace the Beauty and Grandeur of the Palaces atConstantinople, as well as fromZosimus, who says, thatConstantinebuilt some Palaces atConstantinople, little inferior to those ofRome.Eusebiusreports, that he illustrated and adorn’dNew Rome, and the Imperial Palace, in other respects, besides those I have mention’d, but that in the finest Buildings of his Palace, and in the Middle of all his gilded Roofs, he fix’d a Cross set with several Kinds of the richest Jewels, shining with massy Gold; intimating thereby, that he look’d upon the Cross as the Defence and Bulwark of his Government. St.Jerometells us,That he stripp’dalmost every City of its Curiosities and Ornaments, to adorn his NewRome.Eusebiusalso mentions the Statues of theMuses, which he caused to be fix’d up in his Palace.Sozomenwrites, that by the Command ofConstantine, all that was valuable in the Temples of the Ancients under his Government, and all the brazen Statues of the nicest Workmanship were brought toConstantinople, to beautify the City; which, he tells us, remain’d in the publickWays, in theHippodrom, and in the Palace, down to his Time. But not onlyConstantine the Great, but many other Emperors ofConstantinopleravaged the whole World for the Decoration of this City. Among these wasConstantine the Third, the Nephew ofHeraclius, who plunder’dancient Romeof all its brazen and Marble Statues, ship’d off all the costly Furniture of their Temples, and made more Havock there in the Space of seven Days, than thebarbarousNations did in the Space of two hundred and fifty Years; for so many Years was theRomanEmpire in its Declension before that general Pillage.Iornandes, no indifferent Writer of theGetickHistory, reports, ThatTheodorick PrefectofConstantinoplewas adopted, and made Consul by the EmperorZeno, who honour’d him with anEquestrianStatue, which was erected before the Palace.Tzetzes, in hisvarious History, tells us, that even in his Time, the Head ofApollo, made byPhidiasin the Likeness of the Sun, remain’d in the Palace.Suidasrelates, that the Statue ofPulcheria, the Daughter ofArcadius, was placed in theChalca, near the Walks ofAriadnethe first Wife ofZeno, and that the Statues ofZenohimselfwere set up in the Imperial Gate-house ofChalca; as were also two other Statues on foot, erected upon a small Pillar, with Elegies inscrib’d upon them, composed bySecundusthe Philosopher. I have seen in the History of no creditable Author, tho’ well known to the People ofConstantinople, thatJustinianerected on the left Side of theChalca, seven Statues in Honour of his Relations, some of Brass, and some of Marble, and that he had also set up two Horses in the Nich before theChalca, as also some gilded Heads of Women, in the frightful Likeness ofMedusa; I could mention others, but that I do not much depend upon the Authority of the History.Suidassays, that in theTribunalof the Palace stood the Statues ofEudoxia, and her EmperorTheodosius; ofMarcianandConstantine, till the Time ofHeraclius.
THEBasilica, which, as I observed before, stood in theForum Augusteum, had four Arches, as appears from the ancient following Inscriptions on them.
Upon an Arch in theBasilicaofByzantium.
GreatTheodore,who beautify’d the CityWith four extensive Arches, highly meritsThe Government of four Imperial Cities.
GreatTheodore,who beautify’d the CityWith four extensive Arches, highly meritsThe Government of four Imperial Cities.
GreatTheodore,who beautify’d the CityWith four extensive Arches, highly meritsThe Government of four Imperial Cities.
GreatTheodore,who beautify’d the City
With four extensive Arches, highly merits
The Government of four Imperial Cities.
And on another Part of the same Arch:
You, Theodorus,with surprizing Art,OnceConsul,and thricePrefectof the City,Adorn’d this shining Fane with lofty Pillars,Sacred toFortune,Goddess of the City.
You, Theodorus,with surprizing Art,OnceConsul,and thricePrefectof the City,Adorn’d this shining Fane with lofty Pillars,Sacred toFortune,Goddess of the City.
You, Theodorus,with surprizing Art,OnceConsul,and thricePrefectof the City,Adorn’d this shining Fane with lofty Pillars,Sacred toFortune,Goddess of the City.
You, Theodorus,with surprizing Art,
OnceConsul,and thricePrefectof the City,
Adorn’d this shining Fane with lofty Pillars,
Sacred toFortune,Goddess of the City.
Calliades, General of theByzantianArmy, plac’d the Statues ofByzasandPhidaliain theBasilica, with this Inscription upon them:
Calliadeserected here the StatuesOfByzas,and his lov’dPhidalia.
Calliadeserected here the StatuesOfByzas,and his lov’dPhidalia.
Calliadeserected here the StatuesOfByzas,and his lov’dPhidalia.
Calliadeserected here the Statues
OfByzas,and his lov’dPhidalia.
And on the Statue ofPhidalia:
This is the Statue of the fairPhidaliaYoungByzas’Wife, the Work ofBupalus.
This is the Statue of the fairPhidaliaYoungByzas’Wife, the Work ofBupalus.
This is the Statue of the fairPhidaliaYoungByzas’Wife, the Work ofBupalus.
This is the Statue of the fairPhidalia
YoungByzas’Wife, the Work ofBupalus.
Pliny, among other Statuaries, mentionsAnthermusofChios, and his SonsBiopalusandAnthermus.Dionysius, a Native ofByzantiumwrites, thatByzas, from whomByzantiumtook its Name, was the Husband ofPhidalia, from whom the Port of theBosporustook the Name of the Port ofPhidalia, of which I have wrote more largely in myTreatise of the Bosporus.Suidas, and some modern Writers say, that in theBasilica, behind theMiliarium Aureum, there was a gilded Statue in the Likeness of a Man, where was also theExammonofHeraclius, and the Statue ofJustinthe Emperor in a kneeling Posture.Terbelisis said to have preached in the same Place. Here was also placed by the Order ofSeverus, the Figure of a large Elephant, upon the following Occasion:That an Elephant being stabled near it, and the House of a Silver-Smith, who worked in Plate, being robbed, he suspecting the Keeper of the Elephant to be the Thief, threatned him with Death, unless he would move his Station; and the Fellow bidding him Defiance, he slew him, and threw him to the Elephant, at which the Beast being enraged, killed his Keeper’s Murderer.Severusbeing acquainted with the Fact, offered Sacrifices to the Elephant, commanded him and his Keeper to be cast in Brass, and set up here; where also, asSuidasrelates, was the Statue ofHercules, to which theByzantianspaid divine Adoration, and offered Sacrifice. Afterwards, in theConsulshipofJulian, it was moved into theHippodrom; but was originally, with ten other Statues, brought fromOld Rome, partly by Sea, and partly by Land Carriage. Thus it was thatHercules, living and dead, travelled the greatest Part of the World.Suidaswrites, that in the Imperial Walks were placed theEquestrianStatues ofTrajan,Theodosius,Valentinian,Gibbus, andFirmillianusthe Buffoon. There were many other Statues of Emperors and Eunuchs set up in this Place, the most famous of which was the Statue ofEutropius, who was Chamberlain to the EmperorArcadius. The Honour and Opulency of this Eunuch appeared in numberless gilded Statues, erected to him in every Part of the City, and the Magnificence and Superiority of the Houses he built, almost in every Street. This so far encouraged and increased the Number of the Eunuchs, that even the Boys affected to be so, that they might become as rich and ashonourable asEutropius. TheBasilicawas so near to theMiliarium, and theAugusteum, that the Clock made by the Command of the EmperorJustin,Cedrinusplaces in theMiliarium, others in theForum Augusteum, and others in theBasilica, as is evident from the following Inscription.
On theBasisof the Dial over the Arch in theBasilica.
This Dial was erected at the CostOf PrinceJustinus,and the fairSophia.The Scourge of execrable Tyrants he,She the bright Patroness of Liberty.Behold theGnomoncast in shining Brass,The certainIndexof the flying Hours.This was the Invention of the learnedJulianAn honest, upright, and impartial Lawyer.
This Dial was erected at the CostOf PrinceJustinus,and the fairSophia.The Scourge of execrable Tyrants he,She the bright Patroness of Liberty.Behold theGnomoncast in shining Brass,The certainIndexof the flying Hours.This was the Invention of the learnedJulianAn honest, upright, and impartial Lawyer.
This Dial was erected at the CostOf PrinceJustinus,and the fairSophia.The Scourge of execrable Tyrants he,She the bright Patroness of Liberty.Behold theGnomoncast in shining Brass,The certainIndexof the flying Hours.This was the Invention of the learnedJulianAn honest, upright, and impartial Lawyer.
This Dial was erected at the Cost
Of PrinceJustinus,and the fairSophia.
The Scourge of execrable Tyrants he,
She the bright Patroness of Liberty.
Behold theGnomoncast in shining Brass,
The certainIndexof the flying Hours.
This was the Invention of the learnedJulian
An honest, upright, and impartial Lawyer.
THE Imperial Palace, saysZonaras, stood near theBasilica, hard by the Brasiers Shops. TheBasilicawas furnished with many Volumes, both of human and divine Learning. It was anciently the Mansion House of some Person of distinguished Knowledge, whom they called the President or Master. He had under himtwelve Assistants, excellently well skilled in the Art of Reasoning, who were maintained at the publick Charge. They had each of them several Pupils under them, who were instructed in the Methods of Argumentation, and were had in such high Estimation, that upon all important Affairs of State, the Emperors summoned them to Council. In the Reign ofBasilicus, there happened atConstantinoplea great Fire, which begun at, and consumed the Brasiers Shops, with all the adjacent Buildings, burnt down whole Streets; and among other fine Edifices, destroyed the famousBasilica, which contained a Library of six hundred thousand Volumes. Among other Curiosities of this Place, was the Gut of a Dragon, a hundred and twenty Foot long, on which were inscribed in Golden Characters theIliadsandOdyssesofHomer.Malchus, a learnedByzantian, wrote the History ofConstantinople, which he brought down from the Reign ofConstantine, to the Time ofAnastasiusthe Emperor, in which he very passionately laments the burning of the publick Library, and the Statues of theForum Augusteum.Cedrinusspeaking of the same Library, gives the same Account of it withZonaras, almost word for word, and adds,That this Library contain’d the Histories of the Atchievements of the greatest Heroes, in the several Ages of the World. Many Years after thisBasilicawas burn’d down, the EmperorLeo Conon, the Students vigorously opposing his Heresy, order’d the Palace to be fired, and burnt them, and the Library; which was afterwards rebuilt, and furnished with a most curious Collection of the best Authors.TheBasilicæatOld Rome, were the Places where they used to plead, to hold their Councils andSenates, and to carry on the Business of Merchandize and Commerce: AtConstantinoplethey were used as Libraries and Schools of Learning, as appears by what I have already observ’d, as also from the following Inscription.
Upon the publick School inByzantium.
This Place was built for all th’ unletter’d YouthWhoseGeniusleads ’em to theRomanLaw.In Pleading skill’d, and fraught with Eloquence,They leave these Walls, and plead their Countrey’s Cause.
This Place was built for all th’ unletter’d YouthWhoseGeniusleads ’em to theRomanLaw.In Pleading skill’d, and fraught with Eloquence,They leave these Walls, and plead their Countrey’s Cause.
This Place was built for all th’ unletter’d YouthWhoseGeniusleads ’em to theRomanLaw.In Pleading skill’d, and fraught with Eloquence,They leave these Walls, and plead their Countrey’s Cause.
This Place was built for all th’ unletter’d Youth
WhoseGeniusleads ’em to theRomanLaw.
In Pleading skill’d, and fraught with Eloquence,
They leave these Walls, and plead their Countrey’s Cause.
Modern Writers tell us, that the Place where the Library stood was of an Octogonal Figure, where there were arch’dPortico’s, and a large Room, where the head Master used to converse with his Assistants.Cedrinusaffirms, that the great Church, the Hospital ofSampson, the Gate-house of theBasilica, theAugusteum, theChalca, the two longPortico’s, as far as theForumofConstantine, theOctogon, and theBagnio’sofZeuxippus, were destroy’d by a Fire, which happen’d in the Reign ofJustinian. I would observe from this Passage, that there must of Necessity be twoOctogonsnear one another. For if theOctogon, asCedrinusreports, had been the same with that where the Library stood, he would not have omitted to take Notice that the Library was burnt down also in the Reign ofJustinian. It is my Opinion, that the Place where the Library stood, was of a quadrangular Figure, and seems to bethe same Building whichProcopiussays was encompassed with Pillars erected in a square Manner.Zonarasmentions nothing of the Form of theBasilica, which contain’d the Library, but only says, that it adjoin’d to theChalcopratia, or Braziers Shops.Cedrinuscalls theBasilica,Cisterna, which some Writers erroneously tell us, was built byConstantine the Great. I am confirm’d in this Opinion fromProcopius, who says, that near the ImperialPortico, where the Lawyers used to plead, there was a spacious Building of a great Length and Breadth, encompassed with Pillars in a quadrangular Manner, situate on a rocky Ground, which was built byJustinianto a great Height, for preserving the Water in Summer, which was brought into it by subterraneous Pipes, and in the Winter from theAqueducts, for the Use of the Poor.Menander, surnam’d theProtector, says of himself, that it was once against his Inclinations to enter into the Litigations of the Law in the ImperialPortico, and by the Force of Pleading, to attempt to reconcile the Jarrings and Contentions of Men.Agathiusplays handsomly upon oneUraniusa Native ofSyria, who set up for a Physician, although he was entirely ignorant of theAristotelianDiscipline. This Fellow was blustering, noisy, an impudent Pretender to infallible Cures, and very talkative, among other Places, in the ImperialPortico; and speaking of himself, he tells us, that he has often from Morning to Night read over many Law Books, and Discourses of Trade and Commerce in the ImperialPortico’s. From these Passages it is observable, that the ImperialPortico, and the ImperialCistern, stood in the same Place. The ImperialPorticois not to be seen, though theCisternis still remaining. Through the Carelesness and Contempt of every thing that is curious in the Inhabitants, it was never discover’d, but by me, who was a Stranger among them, after a long and diligent Search after it. The whole Ground was built upon, which made it less suspected there was aCisternthere. The People had not the least Suspicion of it, although they daily drew their Water out of the Wells which were sunk into it. I went by Chance into a House, where there was a Descent into it, and went aboard a little Skiff. The Master of the House, after having lighted some Torches, rowing me here and there across, through the Pillars, which lay very deep in Water, I made a Discovery of it. He was very intent upon catching his Fish, with which theCisternabounds, and spear’d some of them by the Light of the Torches. There is also a small Light which descends from the Mouth of the Well, and reflects upon the Water, where the Fish usually come for Air. ThisCisternis three hundred and thirty six Foot long, a hundred and eighty two Foot broad, and two hundred and twenty fourRomanPaces in Compass. The Roof, and Arches, and Sides, are all Brick-work, and cover’d with Terrass, which is not the least impair’d by Time. The Roof is supported with three hundred and thirty six Marble Pillars. The Space ofIntercolumniationis twelve Foot. Each Pillar is above forty Foot nine Inches high. They stand lengthways in twelve Ranges, broad-ways in twenty eight. TheCapitalsof them arepartly finish’d after theCorinthianModel, and part of them not finish’d. Over theAbacusof every Pillar is placed a large Stone, which seems to be anotherAbacus, and supports four Arches. There are abundance of Wells which fall into theCistern. I have seen, when it was filling in the Winter-time, a large Stream of Water falling from a great Pipe with a mighty Noise, till the Pillars, up to the Middle of theCapitals, have been cover’d with Water. ThisCisternstands Westward of the Church of St.Sophia, at the Distance of eightyRomanPaces from it.
IT is plain from what has been observed, that theChalcopratia, or Places where they work’d their Brass, stood near theBasilica.Cedrinusreports, ThatTheodosius the Lessbuilt the Church of theChalcopratia, and dedicated it to the VirginMary. Others say, that theJews, who had lived there from the Time ofConstantine the Great, had obligedTheodosius the Lessto retire from thence, and built that Church; and that afterwards, when it had been shatter’d by an Earthquake, it was rebuilt byJustin Curopalatos, tho’Zonarasis of another Opinion.Theodosius the Great, says he,marching into the Western Parts, theJewstook the Opportunity, and madeHonoratusthe Prefect of the City, their Friend, and obtain’dof him the Freedom to build a Synagogue in theChalcopratia:The People being enraged at this, set it on fire, and burnt it down. WhenTheodosiuswas made acquainted with the Fact, he lay’d a Fine upon those who were concern’d in it, and gave them a fresh Licence to build another. St.Ambrose,who was then Bishop ofMilan,being inform’d of the Matter, lay’d beforeTheodosiusthe Greatness of the Crime, in suffering theJewsto build a Synagogue in the very Centre of the Queen of Cities, upon which he remitted the Fine, and stopp’d their Proceedings. There are no Braziers Shops in this Place at present, they being removed into another part of the City, tho’ I was inform’d by some of the Inhabitants, that not many Years since they follow’d their Trade near theChalcopratia. Theunknown Authorof the History ofConstantinople, describing the Boundaries ofOld Byzantium, tells us,That theChalcopratiawere not far from theMiliarium. Others say, that they were near the Church of St.Sophia.Strabospeaking of the Palace ofAlexandria, relates, that in Conformity to this atConstantinople, it had a Library, aPortico, a Convocation-House, or Place of Assembly upon publick Affairs, and a large publick Foundation for the Encouragement of Persons of Literature and Science.
BESIDES the ImperialPortico, which stood near the Library, there were also otherPortico’sat a little Distance from it, which reach’d from the Palace to theForumofConstantine. The first Fire, which happen’d in the Reign ofJustinian, consumed the Palace and the Church of St.Sophia, both the longPortico’s, as far as theForum of Constantine.Cedrinussays, that besides these, it destroy’d also theChalcaand theAugusteum. The Fire that happen’d afterwards in the Reign ofBasiliscus, began at theChalcopratia, burnt down the two adjoiningPortico’s, all the neighbouring Buildings, theBasilica, in which was the Library, twoPortico’swhich stood between the Palaces, and all the fine Ornaments of theLausus. ThesePortico’shave been often burnt, and as often rebuilt; first of all byJustinian, then by others, and last byDomninus, which is confirm’d by a modern Historian, who says, That whenConstantinoplewas taken by theGaulsand theVenetians, the cover’dPortico’s ofDomninusreaching on both Sides of the Way, from theMiliariumto the Forum ofConstantine, were burnt to the Ground. Some say, That in the Time ofConstantine the Great,Eubulusbuilt four doublePortico’s, which were arch’d at Top, andreach’d from the Palace to the Land Wall of the City; one of which stretch’d as far as the Church of St.Anthony, at the End of the City, another from the Port ofSophia, to the Church namedRabdon; the other two extended themselves from theChalca, and theMiliariumto theForumofConstantine, the Street call’dTaurus, and theBrazen Bull. All of them were paved with square Marble, and adorn’d with infinite Numbers of Statues. These Relations, though they come from unknown Authors, who, as I have sometimes observed, have not so strictly adhered to Truth, yet seem to carry with them a good Face of Probability, since it is evident from Historians of more Veracity, how industriousConstantinewas in adorning the City; and ’tis no less evident from theTreatise of the ancient Description of the Wards, thatConstantinople, in the Reigns ofArcadiusandHonorius, had no less than fifty two publickPortico’s, five of which the Author places in the fourthWard, in which stood theBasilica, the ImperialPortico, and thePorticoofFannio; besides which, he places four largePortico’sin the sixthWard. In the sameWardhe places another largePortico. He adds, that the seventhWardabounds withPortico’s, and that the eighthWardhad sixPortico’smore. In the ninthWardwere two largePortico’s. The tenth had six, the eleventh four. From which it is credible, that thePortico’sstood very thick from theChalcato the Land Wall, but I cannot say they were contiguous beyond theTaurus.
THEMiliarium Aureumwas a gilded Pillar, from whence they used to adjust the Mensuration of their Miles, and the Distances from the City.Plinytells us, that it was set up atRomein the highest Ground of the publickForum; but whether theMiliariumatConstantinoplewas like that ofRome, theGreekHistorians have been so far from declaring their Opinions concerning it, that in all their Writings they have not so much as mention’d the Name of it. Yet it seems very probable to me, that it was like it, and was also seated in theForum, or near it. For theAncient Description of the Wardsplaces it in theWardwhere theForum Augusteumand theBasilicastood, to which it adjoin’d. They who have written the History of the Atchievements ofAlexius Comnenusthe Emperor, tell us, that at Break of Day, the Forces ofAlexius, marching out of the great Palace, under the Command ofSabatiustheir General, enter’d the Church of St.JohntheDivine, and when they had got to the Top of the Church, they express’d themselves in a provoking manner, so that a Battle began about three in the Morning, and that many People in theForumwere wounded, who fought from theRoof of theMiliarium, and the Top of St.John’s Church. The Inhabitants say, that this was the Church where the Elephants of theGrand Seignorare now stabled. ’Tis near theHippodrom, and theForum Cupedinis, famous for Niceties, situate near the Church of St.Sophia, and was formerly called theForum Augusteum. But to come closer to the Point:Suidassays,That in theBasilica,behind theMiliarium,were placed a gilded Statue of a Man, as also of an Elephant and his Keeper; others, with more Probability, say, that these Statues were erected behind theBasilica, near theMiliarium.Suidasadds, that the Statue ofTheodosiuswas placed in theMiliarium, and that upon the setting it up, he distributed large Donations of Corn among the People. Upon theEquestrianStatue ofTheodosius, not remaining at present, were inscrib’d these Verses.
Not the bright Sun, which gilds the Eastern Sky,With greater Lustre shines, thanTheodosius.See how he sits aloft in radiant Arms,And with mild Aspect views his loving People!The fiery Steed, pleas’d with the Royal Burthen,In warlike Posture seems to move, and live.
Not the bright Sun, which gilds the Eastern Sky,With greater Lustre shines, thanTheodosius.See how he sits aloft in radiant Arms,And with mild Aspect views his loving People!The fiery Steed, pleas’d with the Royal Burthen,In warlike Posture seems to move, and live.
Not the bright Sun, which gilds the Eastern Sky,With greater Lustre shines, thanTheodosius.See how he sits aloft in radiant Arms,And with mild Aspect views his loving People!The fiery Steed, pleas’d with the Royal Burthen,In warlike Posture seems to move, and live.
Not the bright Sun, which gilds the Eastern Sky,
With greater Lustre shines, thanTheodosius.
See how he sits aloft in radiant Arms,
And with mild Aspect views his loving People!
The fiery Steed, pleas’d with the Royal Burthen,
In warlike Posture seems to move, and live.
Suidasproceeds farther, and tells us, that the Statues ofSophia, the Consort ofJustintheThracian, of his DaughterArabia, and his NieceHelena; as also theEquestrianStatues ofArcadiusandTheodosiushis Son, were placed in theMiliarium, near the Statue ofTheodosiustheGreat.Cedrinuswrites, that there stood two Statues above the Nich of theMiliarium, one ofConstantinetheGreat, the other of his MotherHelena, with a Cross betweenthem: Behind them was placed the Statue ofTrajanon Horse-back, and that near him was placed the Statue ofÆlius Hadrianus.Suidasadds, that the Cross which was placed betweenConstantineandHelena, had this Inscription;una sancta, & duo celeres Cursores. From whence it is evident, that theForum, theMiliarium, and theBasilicastood so near together, that they are not only placed by different Authors in different Places, but sometimes by one and the same Historian. The same Writer says, that there was also in theMiliariuma great Piece of Antiquity, which was a Chariot drawn by four Fallow Horses, supported by two square Pillars, in the Place whereConstantinewas received by his Army with joyful Congratulations, after he had conqueredAzotium; but originally, becauseByzas, the Founder ofByzantium, had there been highly applauded by the People. The Chariot of the Sun was carried into theHippodrom, in which was seated a small Statue, made by the Order ofConstantine. This Statue was theFortuneof the City, which on great Festivals, and the Day of the Celebration of the Foundation of the City, was set up with a Cross on her Head, in theSenate-House.Julianthe Apostate demolished it in the same Place, whereAriusdied in a miserable Manner, which was at a small Distance from theSenate-House. In the same Place, the pious EmperorTheodosiushad ordered the Statues ofArius,Macedonius,Sabellius, andEunomius, which were cut in Marble, to be placed in a sitting Posture on the Ground, to be polluted with the Excrements, and receive the Curses of thePeople, in Token of their flagrant Perfidiousness. Other Historians say, that the Statue of theFortuneof the City was brought fromRomebyConstantinetheGreat, and placed in a Nich in the Palace.Zosimuswrites, thatConstantineplaced theFortuneofRome, on the Side of one of the fourPortico’sthat surrounded the greatForum. ’Tis very probable, that the People ofConstantinoplecelebrated a Festival in Honour of her, as was customary atOld Rome, both by Natives and Foreigners, the same Day, in which thePalilia, (the Festivals ofPales) were celebrated.Socratestells us, thatJulian, when he was publickly sacrificing to theFortuneofConstantinople, in theBasilica, where her Statue was set up;Mares, the Bishop ofChalcedon, being led thither by the Hand, for he was blind with Age, sharply reprimanded him, and called him an Apostate from the Christian Religion.Julianin Return, called him a blind old Fellow, adding sarcastically this Question;Is your God, the Galilean, able to cure you?For thus, by Way of Contempt, he used to call our Saviour. Upon which the good old Bishop replied,I thank my God, who has taken my Sight from me, so that I cannot behold the Man who is fallen into so great an Apostacy; upon whichJulianwas silent.Zonaras, and some Historians who lived before him, have recorded, That in the Time ofAnastasius, the Statue ofFortune, made in Brass, stood with one Foot in a brazen Ship, and was placed in some Part of the City; but that when this Ship began to decay with Age, or some Parts of it were stolen, or shattered by Treachery, it happened, that no Ships of Burthencame into the Port ofConstantinople, but that upon their Arrival near the City, a Storm prevented their coming into Harbour; and if their Cargo was taken aboard the Long-boats, and brought into the City, they tell you it was soon consumed, by Reason of the Scarcity, which then prevailed. Upon this, theCuratoresof the City were obliged to enquire into the Reason of it. When the Magistrates of the City, upon Information, began to suspect the Cause, they found, upon Enquiry, the Fragments of the Ship, which were fitted to their proper Places, when on a sudden, Navigation was open and free, and the Sea was constantly full of Vessels sailing into the Port. And that they might fully discover the real Cause of this Calamity, they repeated the Experiment, by stripping the Ship again of some Pieces of it, and the Ships coming into Harbour, were prevented as before; so they repaired the brazen Vessel she stood in, and took a particular Care of it.Eunapius, who wrote theHistory of the Lives of the Philosophers and wise Men, says, that in the Reign ofConstantine, the Inhabitants attributed this Difficulty of coming into Harbour to another Cause.There was no entring the Port atConstantinople, says he,unless the Wind stood full South. When this had frequently happened, the People, oppressed with Famine, assembled in the Theatre, enraged atConstantine.The Chief of the Courtiers having conceived a Resentment againstSopatrusthe Philosopher, brought him before the Emperor, and impeached him in the following Manner: ThisSopatrus,Sir, who is so high in your Favour, has by his excessive Wisdom chainedup the Winds, for which you so far admire him, as to admit him too near your Imperial Person.Constantine, believing the Allegations, ordered him to be beheaded.
I Cannot omit taking Notice of the Church of St.Mina, because it shews in what Part of the City the fourthWardstood, which contained theBasilica, theAugusteum, and the Church of St.Mina. The History of an unknown Author reports, thatByzasformerly built a Temple toNeptune, near theAcropolis, by the Sea, where, he says, that in his Time stood the Church of St.Minathe Martyr; though he seems to contradict himself, where he says, that the Church of St.Minawas formerly the Temple ofJupiter, and that the Roof of it, which was arched with Marble, was supported with two large Pillars. So that I can conclude nothing from the Uncertainty of this Writer, but that it seems more probable to me, that the Church of St.Minastood in those Parts of theAcropolis, in which formerly stood the Temple ofNeptune, as appears fromDionysiusan antient Writer ofByzantium, who says, that a little above thePromontoryof theBosporus,was erected an Altar toMinerva Egressoria, and the Temple ofNeptune; and that below the Temple ofNeptunewere theStadia, and theGymnasia, where they diverted themselves with martial Sports and Exercises, as I have shewn more at large in my Treatise of theBosporus. I am confirmed in this Opinion from the Information of some of the Inhabitants now living, who told me, that within the Imperial Precinct, formerly called theAcropolis, stood the Church of St.Mina. TheAntient Description of the Wards of the Citytells us, that the Church of St.Minastood in the same Ward with theStadia, and the Stairs ofTimasius.Procopiuswrites,That at the Place called theStadium,near the Sea, where they exercised themselves in martial Sports, the EmperorJustinian,and his EmpressTheodora,built some large Inns for the Entertainment of Strangers.
THELaususis a Place celebrated in the Writings of many Historians, some of whom write, that it was the House ofLaususa Patrician, who bore many Offices in the Reign ofArcadius, the Son ofTheodosiustheGreat, and that he adorned his House with many famous Monuments of Antiquity. There is a Book still extant, under the Title ofLausaicus, which was wrote byHeraclidas, Bishop ofCappadocia, and inscribed toLausus. In what Part of the City this Place was, no Authors mention; but ’tis very probable that it was between the Palace, and theForumofConstantine, from the Authorities both ofZonaras, andCedrinus; who having described the Ruines of the Fire, which happened in the Reign ofLeo, both on the North, and South Side of the City tell us, that in the Middle of the City, itburnt from theLausus, to the Street calledTaurus. AndEvagrius, speaking of the same Fire, says, that it destroyed all the Buildings from theForumofConstantineto theTaurus. The Reader may observe from hence, that theLaususwas not far from theForumofConstantine.Cedrinusalso in his Description of that Fire which happened in the Reign ofBasiliscus, makes it plain, that it stood Eastward, between the Palace, and theForumofConstantine. This Fire, says he, consumed theChalcopratia, the most beautiful Part of the City, theBasilica, with its eminent Library, and all the surprizing Ornaments of theLausus, to theForumofConstantine. There was in theLausus, continues our Historian, an infinite Number of Statues, the most remarkable of which was, the Statue ofMinervaofLindia, which was four Cubits long, and made of anEmeraldStone. ’Twas cut byScyllisandDipœnus, two eminent Statuaries, and presented bySesostrisKing ofEgypt, toCleobulusKing ofLindia, a Prince of incomparable Wisdom. From hence it is probable the Place is calledLaousos; forMinervasometimes goes under the Name ofLaossos.Theophrastuswrites, that theEgyptianCommentators mention, that the King ofBabylonmade a Present to their King of anEmerald, which was four Cubits long, and three in Breadth. IfSesostris,Scyllis, andDipœnuswere living at the same Time,Plinyshould rather have called it theEmeraldofMinerva. But these were no less antient, than eminent Statuaries, born in the Island ofCrete, when under the Government of theMedes, beforeCyruswas King ofPersia, that is,about the fifteenthOlympiad. They carved the Statues ofApollo,Diana,Hercules, as also ofMinerva, which was blasted with Lightning.Plinytakes Notice, thatAmbracia,Argos, andCleonewere full of Statues made byDipœnus, tho’ he says nothing of the Statue ofMinervaofLindia.Cedrinusadds, that there was placed in theLausus, the Statue ofVenusofCnidos, which was looked upon every where as a celebrated Piece of Sculpture. It was finished byPraxiteles, is made of white Marble, and appears in a naked Posture. There is also aJunoofSamos, the Workmanship ofLysippusandBupalus, and a wingedCupid, with his Quiver. This Statue was brought fromMyndus. There was also aJupiterriding upon an Elephant, which was carved byPhidias, and placed in his Temple byPericles. There was also another Statue made byLysippus, which was bald behind, tho’ not before, which was taken for the Statue ofSaturn. There were also erected here many Statues of Unicorns, Tygers, Beasts that were half Camels, and half Panthers; others that were half Bulls, and half Harts, besides several Statues of Vultures. The unknown Author of the History ofConstantinoplesays, That in his Time there were standing in theLausussome Eagles that were cut in Stone. I am induced to think, that there were some Figures of Birds standing there at that Time, but believe them to be the Vultures mentioned byCedrinus. This Author tells us, that there stood in theLaususseveral fine Buildings, some Hospitals, a Place for the Entertainment of Strangers, which had very good Spring-water, and was call’dPhiloxenon.Some Writers affirm, that thePhiloxenonwas aCistern, built by one of that Name. I look upon it to be the sameCistern, which was situate between theTricliniumand theLausiacum, and was filled up by the Order ofHeraclius.Menander, surnamed the Protector, tells us, ThatPhilipofMacedoncleansed most of theCisternsof the City, whichHeracliuscommanded to be replenished with Earth. If that Prince gave Orders for the cleansing of thatCistern, among others, ’tis the same which lies under Ground, on the North Side ofAbrahamtheBasha’s House, between theLausiacum, and theTriclinium; whose Roof is supported with four Hundred and twenty four marble Pillars, two hundred and twelve supporting the same Number of Pillars above them. I measured one of them, for they all seem to be of a Bigness, and I found it to be six Foot and nine Inches in Circumference. There is anotherCisternon the West Side of the same House, whose Arches are supported with thirty twoCorinthianPillars, standing in four Ranges, each Range consisting of eight Pillars, whoseShaftsare nine Foot in Compass. As to theTriclinium, between which and theLaususwas built thePhiloxenon; I suppose it to be the same whichJustiniantheThirdbuilt near the Palace, and called it after his own Name, theTricliniumofJustinian. ’Tis reported byCedrinus, that thisTricliniumwas finely beautified by the EmperorTiberius. The Western Gate of thisTricliniumis taken Notice of byLeotheFifth, when he foretold that the Head of the Man which should be cut off in theHippodromfor his Tyranny,should be brought before him through the Western Gate of theTriclinium. Frequent Mention is made of thisChrysotricliniumby Historians, who wrote just before the taking ofConstantinopleby theTurks, and all the Inhabitants both knew the Name, and the Place where it stood. But the People are since fallen into such an Aversion to Learning, and a Disrelish of what is ingenious and Polite, that they rather chuse to embrace a voluntary Ignorance, and treat every Thing that is curious with Indignity and Contempt.
The End of the Second Book.