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ITwas impossible for me to discover from theAncient Description of the Wards, that the fifthWardstood on the North Side of the second Hill, and in a Plain at the Bottom of it, and that it descended jointly with the fourthWard from the Ridge of thePromontoryto the Bay call’dCeras, although the Author takes Notice that a great part of it fell down in winding Descents into the Bosom of a Plain. For this Description of it is no less agreeable to other Wards. Nor could I find out its Situation from any Buildings remaining in it, or from the Information of the most ancient Inhabitants. All the Light I could get was from the Situation of thePhosphorianor, as some call it, theBosphorianPort, and theStairsofChalcedon, which do not take that Name, because they are built in the Eastern Part of the City facingChalcedon, for they stand full North; and so it is call’d theBosphorianPort, not from the Sea ofBosporus, but from a depraved Custom of the People, who pronounce it so; whereas, according to the Authorities ofStephanusandEustathius, they ought to call it thePhosphorianPort. For these Writers assert, that it took its Name from hence;viz.that whenPhilipofMacedonbesiegedByzantium, and his Soldiers were digging a Passage under Ground into the Town, the Moon, which is call’dPhosphora, shone out in its full Brightness, and discover’d the Stratagem; so that theByzantians, the Siege being raised, call’d it thePhosphorium. But as they give some Reason why it may be thought the same Haven, though under different Names, yet are they silent as to its Situation, whether it stood on the Eastern, Northern, or Southern Side of the City; though it is reasonable to believe, if we consider the Situation of the Stairs ofChalcedon, which theAncient Description of the Wardsplaces in the sameWardwith theBosphorianHaven, thatit stood on the South Side of the City, and not on the East Side, although it directly facesChalcedon. For the Force and Rapidity of theBosporusmakes it very difficult to sail fromChalcedonto the Eastern and Southern Parts ofConstantinople; but ’tis an easy Passage to those who sail between that andChalcedon, to go in or out of Port on the North Side of the City. It is observable farther, that theAncient Description of the Wardsmentions noStairswhich lie over-againstChalcedon; or if the Author had taken Notice of any, he had placed them in the first or secondWards, opposite toChalcedon, or in the thirdWard, which stands Southward, where theNeoriumor the new Dock stood, as I observ’d before. But it would be of little Significancy to enlarge on this Matter, since I shall be very particular in naming and producing such Authorities, as will make it evident, that theBosphorianPort, and theStairsofChalcedonwere not only situate on the North Side of the City, but shall mention the very Place where they stood. The first Historian I shall quote isDionysius, a Native of the City, who places, just without the Walls of OldByzantium, the Temple ofTellusupon the Bay of theBosporus, and a little below it the Temple ofCeresandProserpina, whom he does not callProserpina, but onlyκόρηtheVirgin; yet by the Situation of the Place we may easily understand that Virgin to beHecate, whoseTriposCedrinusmentions to have been in theStrategium, where, or at least not far from it, as appears from the same Author, stood the Temple ofProserpina: ButEvagriusis more clear upon this Occasion, who tells us, that in theReign ofLeothere happen’d a great Fire on the North Side of the City, where the Dock stood, which consumed all before it, from theBosphorianHaven, to the old Temple ofApollo; on the South Side, from the Port ofJulianto the Temple ofConcord, in the Middle of the City, from theForumofConstantine, to theTaurus; andZonarasadds, that the same Fire destroy’d all the Buildings between the North and the South Sea.Cedrinusreports, that the same Fire began at the Dock, and burnt down all before it, as far as the Church of St.John; from whence I observe, that theBosphorianPort and the Dock were near to one another, although the Author of theDescription of the Wards, places the former in the fifth, and the latter in the sixthWard. For since both theseWardsjoin’d together, and descended from the Ridge of thePromontorydown to the Sea, it is not possible that they should stand at any great Distance from one another.Zosimus, an ancient Historian, points out the very Place where the Dock was built in hisDescriptionof OldByzantium. He tells us, that ’twas situate upon a Hill, which made part of theIsthmus, which was enclosed by thePropontis, and the Bay call’dCeras; and adds, that the Wall ofByzantiumstretch’d it self over a Hill, from the Western Side of the City to the Temple ofVenus, and the Sea facingChrysopolis; and that it descended on the North Side of the City to theNeorion, orNew Haven, which I take to stand near the Gate which theGreekscallὩραῖα, and since by a Corruption of LanguagePorta Neoria, or at least not far from it. There is at present between the Seas and thePorta Neoria, a broad Space of Land, a Market of Merchandize and Sea Goods, which theTurkscallSiphont, orTsiphont, because theJewsinhabit it. It adjoins to theStairsorLanding-placeofChalcedon, from whence they daily sail toScutarieum, orScutaricum, anciently call’dChrysopolis, a Mart-Town, and a Port ofChalcedon. Near theStairsofChalcedonis theFerry, whence you cross the Water toGalata. It was formerly called theSycæne Ferry, and is placed in theDescription of the Wards, near theBosphorian Haven, orDock. But the Situation of these Places seems to be somewhat chang’d, by reason of some Granaries built there, (which are removed farther into the City) or for the greater Enlargement of the Precinct of theSeraglio, or because they are fallen to Decay, and filled up with Earth. For at that Time, whenPhilipofMacedonundermin’d the Town, ’tis very probable that there was no Port built in that Place, which by theByzantianswas afterwards call’d thePhosphorion. There was no building a Haven there, because of the Rising of the Springs, but theBosphorianHaven was built afterwards in another Place. And this is no more than what is said of the Dock, or theNeorium, which they tell you was enclosed byConstans, and was made a Market of Merchandize, and other naval Affairs. This Market was afterwards kept near the Port ofJulian. Some Historians write, thatLeontiusthe Emperor, who reign’d afterJustin, order’d the Dock to be cleansed. Others write, that there was erected, at theNeorium, the Figure of a large Ox in Brass, which much resembled theBrazen Bull. This Figurewas set up in the eleventhWard, which, as some modern Writers would persuade you, bellow’d once a Year, which portended great Mischief and Detriment to the City. But this I look upon to be a Fable taken out ofCallimachusandPindar, who tell you, that upon the Mountain ofArtabyrisinRhodes, there are brazen Bulls that used to bellow upon any Calamity impending the City. There is nothing remaining of this Haven, where the Dock was at present. I gather from the Situation of theBosphorianPort, and the Stairs ofChalcedon, that the fifthWardstood on the Side of the second Hill, and in a Plain below it; where were also theBagnio’sofHonorius, thePrytaneum, theBagnio’sofEudoxia, the Granaries ofValentinianandConstantius, theThebeanObelisk, theBosphorianPort, the Stairs ofChalcedon, the Cistern ofTheodosius, and theStrategium, in which was theForumofTheodosius.Justinianin hisConstitutionstakes Notice of theBagnioofAchillesin a Letter, thus:Our Imperial Will and Pleasure is, that the leaden Pipes, conducting the Water to theAchilleanBagnio’s, contrived by your Wisdom, and purchased by your Munificence, be under the same Regulation and Management, as has been appointed byTheodosiusandValentinianin the like Case; and that the said Pipes shall only supply suchBagnio’sandNymphæa,as your Excellency shall think fit, allowing at the same time full Power, Licence and Authority to the Apparitors of your Excellency, to enter without Fear or Molestation, such Houses andBagnio’sin the Suburbs, as they shall judge convenient, to enquire into all Evasions of this Order, and to prevent theStoppage of the Water to the Detriment of the publick. The Law by whichConstantinetheGreatenacts, thatConstantinopleshall be call’dNew Rome, is inscrib’d upon a publick Pillar, near his ownEquestrianStatue in theStrategium. I find in theAncient Description of the Wards, that there were threeFora’sin the City, which took their Name fromTheodosius. One was in the fifthWard, and stood, as I just observ’d, in theStrategium; another stood in the sixth Ward, and a third in the twelfth. The two last of them were Markets for Provision, the first was theForum Prætorianum, a Court of publick Justice, where thePrætorspresided, and this I gather from theTreatisejust mention’d, and which was call’d, both by theLatinsandGreeks,Prætorium. I am not certain, though it seems very probable to me, that this greatPrætoriumwas beautifully finish’d at the Expence and Care of the EmperorJustinandDomninus, as will appear from the following Verses ofPaulus Silentiarius. I shall subjoin them in order to prove, that the WordPrætoriumwas used by theGreeks, as were also very many otherLatinWords.
Some Verses ofPaulus Silentiarius, upon beautifying the greatPrætorium.
When greatJustinushad reform’d the World,This noble Structure consecrate toThemisHe then repair’d with fresh Increase of Beauty;And yet some share of Praise to thee is due,Domninus,skilful Architect, whose HeadLong labour’d nightly in the great Design.
When greatJustinushad reform’d the World,This noble Structure consecrate toThemisHe then repair’d with fresh Increase of Beauty;And yet some share of Praise to thee is due,Domninus,skilful Architect, whose HeadLong labour’d nightly in the great Design.
When greatJustinushad reform’d the World,This noble Structure consecrate toThemisHe then repair’d with fresh Increase of Beauty;And yet some share of Praise to thee is due,Domninus,skilful Architect, whose HeadLong labour’d nightly in the great Design.
When greatJustinushad reform’d the World,
This noble Structure consecrate toThemis
He then repair’d with fresh Increase of Beauty;
And yet some share of Praise to thee is due,
Domninus,skilful Architect, whose Head
Long labour’d nightly in the great Design.
IT had been very difficult to have discover’d, either from the Situation of theForumofConstantine, or the Pillar ofConstantinestill standing atConstantinople, or theDescription of the Wards(although it takes Notice of the Pillar ofConstantine, and tells us, that the sixth Ward enters upon a short Plain, and that ’tis afterwards lengthen’d by a long Descent) whether the sixthWardhad been on the North or the South Side of the City, unless the Author had added, that it reach’d from theForumofConstantinedown to Stairs from whence you sail over theSycæneFerry. It was originally call’d theSycæneFerry fromSyca, but is now call’dGalata, orPera, as will appear more fully, when I come to speak of it in the thirteenthWard. That the fifth and sixthWardsjoin’d together, I observ’d before from the Vicinity of the Dock, the Stairs ofChalcedon, theSycæneStairs, and theBosphorianPort to each other. Having therefore discover’d the Situation ofSyca, I take it for granted, that the Dock stood near a Plain on the Sea Shore, which was below the Foot of the second Hill, and that the Ferry Place from whence you passed over toSyca, is the same with that from whence you sail at present toGalata, andthat thePorphyryPillar now standing, is the same with that mention’d by the Author of theDescription, &c. and placed by him in the sixthWard; though he takes no Notice in his Description of the sixthWard, where he places the Senate-House, how near it stood to theForumor Pillar ofConstantine. But I shall make it plain to the Reader from other Historians, in what follows, that the Senate-House stood on the North Side of theForumofConstantine, and that thisWardstood partly on the Ridge of the second Hill, where thePorphyryPillar is now standing, as is also the Poultry Market, which theTurkscallTaubasor, orTaouck Baser, the Dyers Shops, the House ofÆnobarbus, aTurkishAdmiral, and the Mosque ofHali-Bassa. Part of it spreads itself also over the right Side of the second Valley, and part of it covers a Plain near the Sea, below the Valley, and the Foot of the second Hill, which is much inhabited by theJews.
THOSE Historians who have treated of the Actions ofConstantine the Great, report, that he brought the roundPorphyryPillar fromRome. This Pillar was bound, at the Joints, with circular Wreaths of Laurel made of Brass, and was placed in theForum, call’d thePlacoton,because it was paved with smooth broad Stones, which theGreekscallPlacæ. They add farther, that there was erected upon this Pillar a curious Statue of Brass, surprizing both for its Workmanship and Size. ’Twas an ancient Piece of Statuary, exquisitely finish’d, even to the Life. They tell you that ’twas originally the Image ofApolloofTroy, that the Emperor gave it his own Name, and commanded to be fix’d in the Head of it, some of those Nails which fasten’d our Saviour to the Cross. Upon the Statue was cut the following Inscription:
To thee, O Saviour, Lord of th’ Universe,Who rulest the unmeasurable GlobeWith deepest Knowledge, I this People offer.May they be thine, I conquer’d them for thee.I lay m’ Imperial Sceptre at thy Feet,With all th’ united Force, and Power ofRome.Let thy good Providence, with watchful Eye,Look down, and guard the City from all Ills.
To thee, O Saviour, Lord of th’ Universe,Who rulest the unmeasurable GlobeWith deepest Knowledge, I this People offer.May they be thine, I conquer’d them for thee.I lay m’ Imperial Sceptre at thy Feet,With all th’ united Force, and Power ofRome.Let thy good Providence, with watchful Eye,Look down, and guard the City from all Ills.
To thee, O Saviour, Lord of th’ Universe,Who rulest the unmeasurable GlobeWith deepest Knowledge, I this People offer.May they be thine, I conquer’d them for thee.I lay m’ Imperial Sceptre at thy Feet,With all th’ united Force, and Power ofRome.Let thy good Providence, with watchful Eye,Look down, and guard the City from all Ills.
To thee, O Saviour, Lord of th’ Universe,
Who rulest the unmeasurable Globe
With deepest Knowledge, I this People offer.
May they be thine, I conquer’d them for thee.
I lay m’ Imperial Sceptre at thy Feet,
With all th’ united Force, and Power ofRome.
Let thy good Providence, with watchful Eye,
Look down, and guard the City from all Ills.
Cedrinusrelates, that at the Bottom of the Pillar were carved the twelve Baskets, full of the Fragments which were left, after the Miracle of theLoavesandFishes. This Pillar has no Winding Stairs, but is all solid Marble, and thereforeFulvius, otherwise a goodAntiquary, is visibly in an Error, when he tells us, that it had an ascent within it.Zonarassays, that the Statue ofConstantinewas standing upon the Pillar in his Time, and that in the Spring Time, in the Reign ofAlexius Comnenus, among many other Buildings which were thrown down by a violent Storm of Wind, the Statue ofConstantinetheGreatwasblown down and demolished, and that by the Fall of it, several People who were passing by, were dashed to Pieces. The Author who has wrote the History ofAlexius Comnenus, tells us, that not only the Statue was struck down with Lightning, but also that three of theTores, or round Circles of the Pillar, were also removed. The Pillar is still standing on the Top of the second Hill; ’tis somewhat impair’d, not so much by Time, altho’ it is very ancient, as by Fires and Earthquakes, and Tempests. The Statue and the three upper Wreaths are gone, and in the Room of them there’s a plain round Superstructure, almost of the same Thickness and Size with the other Part of the Shaft. The Pedestal of it is made of squar’d Marble, and is, every Way, eleven Foot nine Inches broad, and eighteen Foot high. Upon this is placed a Cornice, but after theDoricManner, consisting of aPlinth, an upper and a lowerTore, and aScotiabetween them. Upon theCornicestands theShaftof the Pillar, which is about eleven Yards in Circumference. It consists of eight large Pieces of Marble; each of which is encircled at the Joints, with a Wreath of Laurel-Work, which covers the Cement of theFissures. And if it had not been injured by Time, it would look like one entire Stone of Marble, and has therefore been thought so by someHistorians, who have handed it down to Posterity, that it consisted only of one Piece of Marble, and ridicule the Ignorance and Injudiciousness of those, who, they tell you, have been imposed upon by the Wreaths of Brass, which were only added for the sake of Ornament.There’s nothing of these brazen Wreaths orToresto be seen at present, the Pillar, to prevent its falling to pieces, being bound round with Iron Hoops. At the Top of the Pillar is carv’d the Name of the Emperor, who after the Statue was thrown down, lay’d the uppermost Stone of it. This Pillar bore some Resemblance to those mention’d byAthenæus, who writes, that there were some tall round Pillars erected inÆgypt, made after the same Manner. They were cover’d at theFissureswith circular Wreaths, alternately white and black, one below another. TheirCapitalswere also round, about which was a fine Sculpture of Roses just opening. There were noFlutingsin these Pillars, nor any coarseFoliage(according to theGrecianModel) which enfolded it; but it was adorn’d withDates, and the Fruit of youngLote Trees, and a Sculpture of all kind of Flowers. Below these, is an Expression ofÆgyptianBeans, intermix’d with Flowers, and aFoliagewhich projects beyond theFissureof theCapital. Thus it is that theÆgyptiansmake and adorn their Pillars; and in building their Walls, it is their constant Practice to lay alternately a Row of white over a Row of black Bricks. I have seen the same Method in building their Walls among thePersiansandSyrians; the finest of which they built with Bricks, or Stones naturally variegated, the meaner sort they colour’d several ways with Paintings, and other Inventions of Art. The Wreaths orToresbeforemention’d, which were fix’d to the Pillar ofConstantine, were carv’d, as some Writers tell us, to presignify the many YearsConstantineshould live, and the manyVictories he should obtain over his Enemies. I believe the Design of the Sculptor was only to express, that the Laurel was sacred toApollo, and that this ancient Pillar supported the Image of him made in a stupendous Size. However that may be, it is certain thatConstantineorder’d it to be call’d his own Statue, whether on the account of his many Victories, or whether he was better pleased with theHeathenNotion of that God than any other, so that when he demolish’d otherHeathenIdols, he commanded the Statue of aDelphick Apollo, and hisTriposto be set up in theHippodrom, as is observ’d by aGermanOrator, who address’d himself in aPanegyricktoConstantine, after the following Manner:When your Imperial Majesty turn’d down to the Temple ofApollo,the most stately, the most beautiful Building in the World, you saw your favourite God offering to you his Crowns, a happy Presage of Length of Days, and a Life extended beyond that ofNestor.You saw him, you gazed on his Features, and beheld your own Likeness in him; who, as the ancient Poets have sung, deserv’d the Empire of the World. That auspicious Period of Time seems to be now come, since you, like that God, are gay and youthful; like him salutary; like him a personable and a beautiful Prince.
If theTurk, whom I employ’d to climb the Pedestal, had follow’d my Directions, (while I was obliged to appear a mere accidental Spectator) and held his Pearch true, I had discover’d the lowest Stone of theShaft, from a Notch he had cut in it, to have been nine Foot and four Digits high; and theTore, which projected sixDigits beyond it, to have been a Foot and a half broad, I mean theToreat the Foot of theShaft, so that every Stone was ten Foot nine Inches high. The Height therefore of all the eight Stones was about eighty six Foot and nine Inches. The whole Pillar was lengthen’d besides with anAbacusplaced on the uppermost Stone, and below with aPedestaland itsCornice, and four Marble Steps at the Bottom. The lowermost of these Steps is a Foot and six Digits high; the second of the same Height; the third and fourth, each of them a Foot and a half. There is no Discovery can be made, from what has been said, where this prodigious Column, or rather where thisColossusstood. For since neitherProcopius, nor any other Historian of those Times, takes any Notice of theForumcall’dΠλακότον, whereZonaras, and other modern Writers say it was erected, I was in some Suspence, whether or no this was not the same with theForumofConstantine. For it seem’d very probable to me, thatConstantinehad herein follow’d the Example ofTrajan, in setting up his Statue in theForum, which went by his own Name. But I was soon clear’d of this Difficulty, by the Authority ofSocrates, (the Authorof the Dissensions among Christians,) who writes, that they are one and the same Place; and thatArius, when he came near where theForumofConstantinestood, expired with the falling of the Guts. But this is no less evident, if it be consider’d where thePalladiumofMinervastood; which, asZonarassays, was convey’d by the Command ofConstantinefromTroyto thePlacotum, and asProcopiusadds, into theForumofConstantine.TheHirpines, says he,report, thatDiomedesmetÆneascoming out ofTroy,and that in Conformity to the Answer of the Oracle, he gave him the Image ofMinerva,which he, with the Assistance ofUlysses,had formerly brought fromTroy,when they went thither to consult the Oracle, howTroymight be taken. They add farther, thatDiomedesbeing indisposed, and consulting the Oracle concerning his Recovery, it was foretold by it, that he would never be well, till he had given that Image toÆneas. TheRomanspretend that they know nothing of this Image at present, yet they shew you an Image cut in Stone, which to this Day stands in the Eastern Part of the Temple ofFortune, before the Statue ofMinerva. The Statue is carv’d in a War-like Posture, brandishing, as in Battle, a Spear, dress’d in a long Garment, not representing the Statue ofMinerva, as she is figured by theGreeks, but as described by theÆgyptians. The Inhabitants tell you, thatConstantineorder’d this Statue, which was placed in theForum, call’d by his own Name, to be bury’d under Ground. The Authorities that thePlacotonand theForumofConstantineare the same Place ought to be regarded, because it is impossible to come to the Knowledge of four of theWardswithout them; for the thirdWardcontains the Tribunal of theForumofConstantine; the sixth reaches from theForumofConstantine, to the Stairs againstSycæ, where is erected the Pillar ofConstantine. The seventh extends itself with continualPortico’sfrom the Right Hand Side of the Pillar ofConstantineto theForumofTheodosius, and the eighth contains part of theForumofConstantine. When I was ask’d by some Gentlemen who were curious that way, howConstantinecame by thatPalladium, I answer’d, that I was at an Uncertainty as to that. ForZonaras’s Opinion of its being brought fromTroydid not look very probable, sinceTroywas destroy’d so many Ages before it; andStrabois hard put to it to trace out the Place of its Situation. The Story of its being brought from ancientRomeseems very improbable, since it was often destroy’d by Fire, and the Inhabitants were entirely ignorant where it originally stood. Yet theLatinHistorians tell us, thatDiomedespresented it toÆneas, that it was kept for some time atLavinium, and that it was afterwards removed toRome, and set up in the Temple ofVesta. TheGreekHistorians are of another Opinion. Among these,Pausanias, who wrote in the Time ofAdrian, tells us, that it was held the most sacred of any Thing inAthens, that it fell down from Heaven, that it was consecrated by the Advice of all the Senators, and placed in the Citadel ofAthens. There has been some Dispute, whether it was made of Wood or Brass, and whether it was a Figure or a Shield. Some say, that it was a sacred Shield, such as they had atRome.DionandDiodorusthink otherwise, and tell us, that it was an Image made of Wood, three Cubits high, that it fell from Heaven intoPessinus, a City ofPhrygia, holding in her right Hand a Spear, in her left a Spindle and a Distaff. To me it seems to have been the Image ofPallas, whose Statue, whenever it was placed, was call’d thePalladium.Procopiusasserts, that the Statue which theRomansshew in the Temple ofMinerva, is not cut after theGrecianManner. For they carve her, as was mention’d before, in a fighting Posture, with a Spear in her Hand, denoting by the Spear, her Courage; by her Shield, her Wisdom, which repels all Attacks: She is cover’d with a Helmet, to intimate, that the Height of Wisdom is not to be seen and discover’d: She bears an Olive-Tree as affording Matter of Light; and upon her Breast is cut aMedusa, to illustrate the Quickness of Thought, and the surprizing Agility of the Mind. She had also a Breast-Plate, on which was the Figure of a Night-Owl and aGorgon. The Night-Owl was an Emblem of the Depth of Prudence and Conduct; for Wisdom dives into the Secrets and Darknesses of Nature. I wish the divinePalladiummay guard all those, who shall in future Times attempt the same Travels as I have done, and pray that they may be defended, as I have been, by that good Providence, and that heavenly Wisdom, the Wisdom of theFather, which amidst all the Treacheries and Insults of a barbarous People, and the almost incredible Dangers of a long Voyage, did not only support and strengthen, but did animate, enliven, and refresh me.
THEPorphyryPillar, and the Senate-House, is placed by the Author of theAncient Description of the Wards, in the sixthWard, and theNympheumin the fifth; but he does not tell us, how near they stood to one another. That they stood at a very little Distance, is evident both fromZonarasandCedrinus, who write, that the Fire which happen’d in the Reign ofLeo, burnt down the Senate-House on the North Side of theForumofConstantine, which was adorn’d with Statues of Brass andPorphyryMarble, in which was placed thePortaofDianaof theEphesians, a Present ofTrajan, taken from theScythians, containing a Description of the Wars of the Giants, aJupiterarm’d with Thunder,Neptunewith his Trident,Apollowith his Darts and Quiver. In the lower Part of thePortawere figured the Giants attacking the Dragons, tossing large Clods of Earth, and looking in a fierce and a sternManner. Hither it was that the principal Men of the City usually convened freely to debate of the important Affairs of the Government, whither also the Emperor himself came in Procession, when he receiv’d theConsularRobes. It was a very noble and magnificent Building. The same Authors mention another spacious Edifice situate against it, which was consumed by the same Fire, and was call’d theNympheum, because the Marriage Rites were perform’d in this Place, as being capacious enough to hold the numerous Assemblies which attended those Solemnities. They add farther, that on the West Side of the sameForumwas placed a Statue ofMinervaofLyndus. She had a Helmet on her Head, and a Shield in her Hand, on which was figuredMedusawith Snakes and Adders entwin’d round her Neck; for in this Manner the ancient Statuaries usually carv’dMinerva. On the East Side of it was placed the Statue of anAmphitrite, one of theSyrens, having her Temples encircled with Crabs Claws. TheunknownAuthor of the History ofConstantinoplesays, that on the same Side of theForumwere placed the Statues of severalSyrens, which were call’d by some Sea-Horses; three of which, he tells you, were remaining in his Time, at a Place in the Suburbs call’d St.Mamas. On the North Side of theForumwas erected upon a lofty Pillar a Figure of that Cross whichConstantinesaw in the Heavens. This is confirm’d by the Authority of most Historians, but principally byEusebius, who although he is not express as to his setting it up in theForumofConstantine, yet as his Authority is not to be disputed,when he asserts, that he set it up inOld Romein the Heart of the City, ’tis reasonable to believe that he did so atConstantinople, since the same Writer assures us, that he set up a true Representation of the same Cross in all his finest buildings, and in the most remarkable Places ofConstantinople. In Memory of which, asSozomenwrites,Constantinechang’d the most famous and most honourable War-like Standard among theRomans, which was always bore before their Princes, and to which the Soldiers were obliged by Law to pay divine Adoration, into the Ensign of the Cross, to bring them off from their heathenish Rites, and idolatrous Worship.Prudentius, upon this Occasion, has the following Lines:
Christ’s radiant Form upon the Standard rose,Emboss’d with sparkling Gems, and burnish’d Gold,Which o’er the Purple Ground-work cast a Light.No dreadful Shields hung on the blazon’d Flag;Christ’s awful Name alone was there inscrib’d.While on its Top, sure Sign of Victory,The Cross triumphant blaz’d in costly Stones.
Christ’s radiant Form upon the Standard rose,Emboss’d with sparkling Gems, and burnish’d Gold,Which o’er the Purple Ground-work cast a Light.No dreadful Shields hung on the blazon’d Flag;Christ’s awful Name alone was there inscrib’d.While on its Top, sure Sign of Victory,The Cross triumphant blaz’d in costly Stones.
Christ’s radiant Form upon the Standard rose,Emboss’d with sparkling Gems, and burnish’d Gold,Which o’er the Purple Ground-work cast a Light.No dreadful Shields hung on the blazon’d Flag;Christ’s awful Name alone was there inscrib’d.While on its Top, sure Sign of Victory,The Cross triumphant blaz’d in costly Stones.
Christ’s radiant Form upon the Standard rose,
Emboss’d with sparkling Gems, and burnish’d Gold,
Which o’er the Purple Ground-work cast a Light.
No dreadful Shields hung on the blazon’d Flag;
Christ’s awful Name alone was there inscrib’d.
While on its Top, sure Sign of Victory,
The Cross triumphant blaz’d in costly Stones.
Eusebiuswrites, that he saw the same Expression of theChristianStandard in his Time.There was, says he,a tall Spear which was transvers’d near the Top with a short piece of Wood, in the Figure of a Cross at the Top of which was a Crown made of precious Stones, and curiously wrought with Gold, in the Middle of which were embroider’d the two initial Letters ofJesus Christ,with theGreekLetterX,in the Form of a Cross. The Ensign or Standard was fix’d to the transverse Part of the Spear.From this Description ofEusebius, theDifference between what was then called theLabarumandSyparumseems to be this; that theLabarumsignifies only a longer Piece of Wood transversed near the Top with a short Piece, and that theSyparumis the Veil, or Flag, which falls down from the transverse Part. The Religion of the oldRomanswas purely military, they worshipp’d their Standards, and swore by them; which Custom was abolish’d, upon the introducing the Christian Standard.
I hope the Reader will pardon me, if I here go a little out of my way, to vindicate the Story ofConstantine’s seeing the Cross in the Heavens, from the Charge of Fiction and Imposture. There is scarce any Miracle, in my Opinion, which seems to be better attested than this, or which is capable of being confirm’d by more Eye-witnesses; forEusebius, who lived in those Times, writes, that it was not only seen byConstantinehimself, but also by his whole Army, and that too in the Middle of the Day; and adds, that the Truth of the Fact was not only believed by theChristians, but by those who were Enemies to the Cross ofChrist. So prevalent was the Report of this Miracle, that the Inhabitants testify in the triumphal Arch, which they dedicated toConstantine, that he conquer’dMaxentiusby the immediate Direction and Assistance of the Divinity, although but a little before many of them were ofMaxentius’s Party, and Enemies to the Christian Name: So that they did not, in that triumphal Arch, made in Honour ofConstantine, change the Form of the Cross into that of our Saviour’s, but order’d it to be figur’d with such Sculptures and Expressions, as werecarv’d on the Arches ofTrajan,Severus, and otherRomanEmperors, as appears by some such Monuments ofAntiquityas are at present to be seen atRome. I cannot conclude with so much Certainty, thatNazariuswas a Christian, because his DaughterEuphemiawas such, as I can, from his panegyrical Address toConstantine.’Tis the general Discourse among theGauls, says he,that there was an Angelick Host seen in the Air, and that they were sent by God; and although Things of a celestial Nature are imperceptible by human Sight, because a simple and incompounded Substance is not properly the Object of our Senses; yet, as he proceeds,these your auxiliary Forces of Heaven, who are cloath’d with visible Appearances, attended upon you, as Witnesses of your great Merits, and then withdrew into their etherial Mansions. But of what Species of the Creation were these exalted Spirits? Of what Firmness and Vigour of Body; of what Largeness of Limbs? Their glittering Shields blaz’d in an awful Manner, and the Splendour of their celestial Armour was terrible: They march’d in such formidable Array, that they seem’d to wait on you as your Guards. This was the Language which was heard among them: We are flying to the Assistance ofConstantine.Beings of a heavenly Nature may be allow’d to triumph, and there’s an Ambition which becomes them. This noble Army of Spirits who descended from above, were sent down by Omnipotence itself, and gloried that they fought for you.But I shall add nothing farther of our Author, and shall only observe, that some Historians take Notice, that this large Cross was plac’d upon a gilded Column in thePhiladelphium,which was thePoets College, and, as the following Inscription shews, was built near thePorphyryPillar.
Upon thePorphyryPillar in thePhiladelphium.
Muselius’publick Acts aloud proclaim,A firm Attachment to the Emperor’s Service.This fam’dMuseum,sacred Seat of LearningHe rais’d, and plac’d his Prince’s Picture here.
Muselius’publick Acts aloud proclaim,A firm Attachment to the Emperor’s Service.This fam’dMuseum,sacred Seat of LearningHe rais’d, and plac’d his Prince’s Picture here.
Muselius’publick Acts aloud proclaim,A firm Attachment to the Emperor’s Service.This fam’dMuseum,sacred Seat of LearningHe rais’d, and plac’d his Prince’s Picture here.
Muselius’publick Acts aloud proclaim,
A firm Attachment to the Emperor’s Service.
This fam’dMuseum,sacred Seat of Learning
He rais’d, and plac’d his Prince’s Picture here.
And another thus.
This Building is an Honour to the Learn’d,One of the City’s brightest Ornaments,A Spur to laudable and virtuous Actions,A great Encouragement to virtuous Men.
This Building is an Honour to the Learn’d,One of the City’s brightest Ornaments,A Spur to laudable and virtuous Actions,A great Encouragement to virtuous Men.
This Building is an Honour to the Learn’d,One of the City’s brightest Ornaments,A Spur to laudable and virtuous Actions,A great Encouragement to virtuous Men.
This Building is an Honour to the Learn’d,
One of the City’s brightest Ornaments,
A Spur to laudable and virtuous Actions,
A great Encouragement to virtuous Men.
And again.
The goodMuselius,steddily believingThe heavenlyλόγοςto be truly God,This Structure made an Off’ring to his Service.
The goodMuselius,steddily believingThe heavenlyλόγοςto be truly God,This Structure made an Off’ring to his Service.
The goodMuselius,steddily believingThe heavenlyλόγοςto be truly God,This Structure made an Off’ring to his Service.
The goodMuselius,steddily believing
The heavenlyλόγοςto be truly God,
This Structure made an Off’ring to his Service.
Julian, thePrefectof the City, set up a gilded Statue ofAnastasiusbefore theCollegeof the Poets, on which was inscribed a Couple of elegant Verses; yet no Mention is made in them, in what Part of the City this College was built. When a Report was made toManuelthe Emperor, that from antient Times, on the West Side of theForumofConstantine, there had stood in the Nich of the Wall two female Statues made of Brass, one aRoman, the other anHungarianWoman; and that the Statue of theRomanWoman projected, by Reason of its Craziness, beyond its Base, and the Statue of theHungarianWoman stood fixedin its Station; he sent some Workmen to erect theRoman, and demolish theHungarianStatue, thinking by this Means, that the Affairs ofNew-Romewould take a new Turn of Prosperity and Success. In the sameForum, among other elegant Statues of famous Men, was the Statue ofLonginus, who had beenPrefectof the City, on which was cut the following Inscription, made byArabius.
Iberia, Persis,and the distantNile,TheSolymæans, Indians,andArmenians,With all th’ extended Regions of the West,TheColchi,bordering near toCaucasus,Which hides its tow’ring Head amongst the Clouds,And all the flow’ry Plains of fairArabia,Longinus’Expedition can attest;With what Dispatch he flew to treat of Peace,And with what Speed successfully return’d.
Iberia, Persis,and the distantNile,TheSolymæans, Indians,andArmenians,With all th’ extended Regions of the West,TheColchi,bordering near toCaucasus,Which hides its tow’ring Head amongst the Clouds,And all the flow’ry Plains of fairArabia,Longinus’Expedition can attest;With what Dispatch he flew to treat of Peace,And with what Speed successfully return’d.
Iberia, Persis,and the distantNile,TheSolymæans, Indians,andArmenians,With all th’ extended Regions of the West,TheColchi,bordering near toCaucasus,Which hides its tow’ring Head amongst the Clouds,And all the flow’ry Plains of fairArabia,Longinus’Expedition can attest;With what Dispatch he flew to treat of Peace,And with what Speed successfully return’d.
Iberia, Persis,and the distantNile,
TheSolymæans, Indians,andArmenians,
With all th’ extended Regions of the West,
TheColchi,bordering near toCaucasus,
Which hides its tow’ring Head amongst the Clouds,
And all the flow’ry Plains of fairArabia,
Longinus’Expedition can attest;
With what Dispatch he flew to treat of Peace,
And with what Speed successfully return’d.
I shall take no Notice of the Statue ofThemistiusthe Philosopher, plac’d near theForumofConstantine, whomValentinianhad dignified with the Title ofPrefectof the City, and to whom the EmperorValenshad done more Honour by his Writings, than any Statue or high Station whatsoever.Socratesgives us the following Account of the Death ofArius, the Ring-leader of the Sect of theArians.Arius, says he, when he had made his Appearance beforeConstantine the Great, at his coming out of the Palace, attended by the Life-Guards, of whichEusebiuswas Commander, and passing thro’ the City, gaz’d at by Crowds of People; when he came near thePorphyryPillar in theForumofConstantine, and being informedupon Enquiry, where there was a Privy, he repairs thither under a strange Terror and Despondency of Mind, where being oppressed with an uncommon falling of the Bowels, his strait Gut fell from him, which was followed by a large Effusion of Blood, which brought away his small Guts, his Liver, and his Spleen, so that he died instantly. The same Author adds, that this Privy was standing in his Time. There is nothing however remaining at present in theForumofConstantine, but thePorphyryPillar, for the Ground of it is wholly rebuilt upon. Near the Pillar there stands aCaravansera, or a Place built for the Entertainment of Strangers; and near that, aTurkishMosque, built byHali Bassa, theVestibuleor Porch of which is large, made of Marble, and adorned with six shining Pillars, four of white, and two ofThebaickMarble; the Shafts of which measure at the bottom of them seven Foot and four Digits in Circumference. These, tho’ they are very tall Columns, have each of them, according to theTurkishManner, twoBases; the lowermost of which was Marble, and the other Brass. This Way of Building they learned from theGreeks, who generally raised theirPedestalswith a very highCornice. Not far from this Mosque there stands a School, or College, inhabited by the Professors of theMahometanDivinity. There’s a quadrangularPorticoruns round it, which is supported with eighteen Pillars, Part of which consist of green, and Part of white Marble. A little below that ofAli-Bassastands another Mosque. ’Tis seated on the highest Eminence of the second Valley, and has aMarbleVestibule, adorned with six Columns; two of which are made ofPorphyryMarble variegated, two of white Marble with Sky coloured Streaks, and two of a dark green Marble stained with White. From some Things, which, as I remarked before, stood on the second Hill, you discover the Situation of Part of the thirdWard, (in which was built the Tribunal of theForumofConstantine) and almost all the fifth and sixthWard. I would observe also in this Place, thatDionysiusplaces the Temples ofTellus,Ceres,Proserpina,JunoandPluto, partly on the Eminencies of the second Hill, and partly on the Plain on the Sea-Shore below it. He places the Temple ofTellusin particular beyond the Bay, without the Walls ofOld Byzantium. He tells us,That this Temple is open at Top, to shew the Freedom of the Earth in her Productions, and that the Walls of it are built of a fine polished Stone. He adds farther,That above the Temple ofTellus,stood the Temples ofCeresandProserpina,which were beautified with a large Collection of fine Paintings, the curious Reliques of preceding Times, and with Statues no Ways inferior to them, finished in the most elaborate Manner. The Temples ofJunoandPluto, he tells us,were situate where the Sea winds off from the Continent; and that nothing was remaining of them in his Time, but the Names of them only. He continues,ThatCyrusin his Expedition against theScythians,in Return of the Preparations made against him by theByzantians,burnt down the Temple ofJuno;and thatPhilipofMacedon,when he was carrying on the Siege ofByzantium,and wanted some Materials for thatPurpose, demolished the Temple ofPluto;and that the Names of each of these Temples still continued: For the Temple ofPlutowas calledAcra Plutonis,as was the Temple ofJunocalledAcra Heræa;and lastly, that in these Temples, the Youth constantly at the Beginning and End of the Year, offered their Sacrifices. It will appear more probable, that theseAcræwere seated on some Eminencies of the second Hill, rather than in the Plain below it, because there is not the least Appearance of either of them in that Place: So that whenDionysiusrecords it, that theseAcræofPlutoandJuno, were situate very near the Sea-Shore, he must intend only that they were only thePointsof some Dock, or Haven. If this be not his Meaning, theAcræhere mentioned ought to be interpreted theSea-Shores; but I have enlarged more fully on this Matter in myTreatise of theBosporus.
THEAntient Description of the Wardstells us, that the Situation of the seventhWard, in Comparison with the sixth, is more upon the Level, altho’ at the Extremity of one of its Sides, it falls with a greater Declivity into the Sea; and from hence I concluded, that there could be little Difficulty in discovering where thisWardstood. But this Description of it is not peculiar to it, butcommon also to otherWards. For as to what the Author adds, that thisWardstretches it self with very longPortico’sfrom theRight Handof the Pillar ofConstantine, to theForumofTheodosius; as it does also on the other Side of it down to the Sea-Shore, extended in the same Manner: I could make no more Observations from this Account of it, than I could from the Buildings which are mentioned to be contained in it, since the very Remembrance of them is entirely lost. I therefore considered with my self, what the Author might probably be understood to mean by theRight Handof the Pillar ofConstantine. In this Difficulty I had Recourse toLivy, who says, thatRomulushas determined all theWards, which reach from East to West, to be the Right HandWards, and all theWardswhich extended from South to North to be Left HandWards. But I could not explain the Difficulty this Way; for by this Means I had made thisWardto stretch it self Southward; whereas I shall shew plainly in another Place, that it extended it self to the North. Nor could theGeographicalMethod give me any Light into this Matter; for when these Gentlemen take the Altitude of the Pole, they look full North, so that the East lies directly on their Right Hand.Varro, who has defined to an Exactness the four Parts of the Heavens, following theAstrological Scheme, has given me some Insight into this Matter: He tells us, that the South lies directly before us, and the North behind us, so that the East lies to the left Hand, and the West to the Right. I judged by this Division of the Heavens into four Parts, that the seventhWardwas situateWestward of the Pillar ofConstantine; and yet was in Suspence, whether the Authorof the Descriptionfollowed the Division ofRomulus, or that of theAstrologers. I was therefore under greater Hesitation than I was before, till after a diligent Enquiry I made a Discovery where the Column ofTheodosiusstood, and of some Footsteps of the Churches ofAnastasiaandHirena, by which I perceived that the seventhWarddescended from the Top of thePromontorydown to the Bay, and that this Author had described its Situation more distinctly, had he told us, that as you go from East to West, the seventhWardextends it self on the right Hand, from the Pillar ofConstantine, to theForumofTheodosius. In thisWardantiently were erected several fine Buildings, which stood on the same Ground where the most famous Place of Merchandize in the City, by theTurkscalledBezestan, or theirExchange, stands at present, and where the most valuable Goods of all Kinds are kept, as they were in the Reigns of theChristianEmperors, in the Building called theLampterum, which I believe formerly stood in another Place. I am prevailed upon to be of this Opinion, when I consider the Ruines occasioned by the Fire, which happened in the Reign ofJustinian; and which, asCedrinusrelates, destroyed, among other Edifices, the Church of St.Sophia, the Place where they kept theRecordsof it, theOctogon, the Baths ofZeuxippus, and the famous Structure of theLampterum, so called, by reason of theLightsburning there every Night. This Building was roofed with Wood, where the most costly Commodities, suchas Silks, Velvets, and the richestBrocadeswere reposited. In short, this Fire consumed every Thing, which the former Fire had spar’d. I might not improperly have called itλαμπτῆρες, which inLatinsignifiesLucernæ, as ’tis confirmed by the Authorities ofLivyandPliny.
WHEN I was quite out of Heart as to Discovery of the seventhWard, and theTaurus, without which no Discovery could be made of the eighthWard, I made the best Enquiry I could after some other Buildings, which might lead me into the Knowledge of them. And after I had searched for the Situation of the Pillar ofTheodosiusfor a considerable Time, I was informed by some antient Persons, that it stood on the Top of thePromontory, where the Plain of the third Hill extends it self, which is near the NewBagniobuilt byBajazetthe Emperor,who had demolished that Pillar above forty Years before I came toByzantium, that he might build hisBagniowith more Convenience. Beyond that Bath, Northward, there is a broad Way, where there are three Booksellers Shops, and an antient Cistern; more towards the South is theSeraglio. This broad Way widens Eastward into a largeArea, at the farther End of which is the Sepulchre ofBajazetthe Emperor, with a Mosque, and aCaravansera.Cedrinusrelates, that this Pillar ofTheodosiusis, in all Parts, like that which was erected byArcadius, and is still standing in theXerolophum, which I shall have Occasion to describe hereafter.Zonaraswrites, that the Pillar in theTaurus, erected at the Expence ofTheodosius, whereon were expressed the Trophies he took, and his well-fought Battles with theScythians, and barbarous Nations, with his own Statue at the Top of it, was thrown down by an Earthquake, the same Year thatOld Romewas taken.Anastasiusthe Emperor ordered many curious Pieces of Brass Workmanship to be demolished, and new cast into his own Statue. Among these was a famous Statue ofConstantine the Great, which, with other Statues, made a largeEquestrianStatue, which was gilded, dignified with his own Name and Title, and placed on the same Pillar, where before had stood the Statue ofTheodosius. I would observe here by the By, that the Street called theTauruswas the same Place, where the Pillar ofTheodosiusstood; and from hence I would observe farther, that the seventhWardstood on the Top and Sides of the third Hill. And although theseventhWarddoes not contain theForumofTheodosius, yet it is not improbable that it was but at a small Distance from it, not only if we consider how exactlyConstantinopleemulatedOld Rome; but also, if any Dependence may be had on the Authority ofEvagrius, who asserts, that the Fire which happened in the Reign ofLeo, burnt down all the Edifices from theForumofConstantine, to theForumofTaurus.An antient Native ofConstantinopleinformed me, that in his Time theForumofTaurus,and the Pillar ofTheodosiusstood in the same Place, and that it was like theHippodrom,full of wild and uncultivated Trees. And because it was only a Shelter for Thieves and Robbers, the EmperorMahomet,who took the City, voluntarily bestowed the Ground on those who would build upon it. That theForum Pistorium, or Bread-market, stood on Part of the Ground of theForumofTheodosius, or at least was very near to it, I conjecture fromZonaras, who says, that as the EmperorNicephorus Phocaswas coming out of his Palace, situate at theGolden Fountain, and near thePorta Aurea, the People pursued him grievously with Railery and Invective from theForum Pistorium, as far as the Pillar ofConstantine. Theunknown Authorof the History ofConstantinopleis of the same Opinion, as to the Situation of theTaurus, and the Pillar, and tells us,That the Pillar stood in a paved Court, near theForum Pistorium; and adds,that in the same Place there was a square Building, with four Gates, and fourPortico’sround it, which he calls theTetrapylum,which before was calledQuatrivium.Cedrinusplaces theTetrapylumnot farfrom theForumofTaurus, when he tells us, that the Fire inLeo’s Time, destroyed two large Churches, adorned with all Kinds of curious Stones; one not far from theTetrapylum, the other adjoining to theForumofTaurus. The same Author, speaking of another Fire, which happened in the same Emperor’s Reign, writes, that it consumed all the Buildings from theTetrapylum, covered with Plates of Brass, to the Church. The Author of theDescription of the Wardswrites, that there was inConstantinopleone gildedTetrapylum, but does not mention in whatWardit stood.JohannestheRhetorician(as he is cited byEvagrius) tells us, that in the Reign ofZenothe Emperor, oneMamianus, an eminent Senator, built atConstantinoplesome handsomePortico’s, and that between two of them he built aTetrapylum, as a Boundary to both, which he splendidly adorned with Brass and Marble Pillars; and adds, that in his Time thePortico’sbore the Name of some Emperor, and that large Stones ofProconnesianMarble, the Reliques of their antient Beauty and Magnificence, lay on the Ground, but that there was not the least Sign of theTetrapylumremaining. TheunknownAuthor abovementioned says, that in thisTetrapylum, over the Pillars, there was a Chamber, where the Empress, and the Relations of the Emperor deceased, received the News of his Death; and having their Faces veiled, bewailed his Departure till six o’ Clock in the Evening, when meeting the Corpse passing by, they attended it to the Church of theApostles, where they usually buried their Emperors. TheTetrapylumseems to me to have formerlybeen the Temple ofJanus Quadrifrons, and stood near theCapitol. It had, like that ofOld Rome, four Doors, denoting the four Seasons of the Year. ForJanustakes his Nameab eundo, and therefore allPassagesare said to be sacred to him, and the Doors of all Temples are calledJanuæ. Some Authors tell us, that in theForum Pistoriumthere was a quadrilateralPyramid.Cedrinusdefines thisTetrascelesto be a quadrilateral Engine, invented to shew in what Point of the Compass the Wind stood, and adds, thatTheodosius the Greaterected a Machine in the Form of aPyramid, adorned with several Figures of Animals, of Plants, of Fruits, of gilded Bunches of Pomegranates, and nakedCupids, inBasso Relievo. Some of theseCupidswere cut in a gay smiling Humour, some of the Uppermost were wantoning, and playing their little Tricks with those who were below them, while others were dancing. There was carved upon it a Set of young Fellows playing upon brazen Pipes. On the Top of thePyramidwas a Vane, or Weathercock, which shewed in what Corner the Wind sat. The Statues ofArcadiusandHonoriuswere placed near the Statue ofTheodosiustheir Father; that ofArcadiusin an Eastern, and that ofHonoriusin a Western Nich.Socrates, who has wrote theHistory of the Christians, tells us, thatValensthe Emperor built out of the Ruines ofChalcedon, a largeAqueduct, which he brought into the City, and which supplied a very capacious Cistern, built byClearchus, who wasPrefectofConstantinople, and which, in his Time, was called theCistern, or, as the original Word inSocratesseems more properly to signifie, theLakeofTheodosius.ZonarasandCedrinuscall this Lake aNympheum, and add to the Authority ofSocrates, that thePrefectof the City celebrated there a great Festival, and very splendidly entertained all the People. I would remark from these Citations, that the Place whichSocratescalls theForumofTheodosius, is called byZonarasandCedrinus, theTaurus, and that they are both the sameForum, and that theNympheumhere mentioned is different from theNympheumwhich is situate near theForumofConstantine, over against the Senate-House, and where they usually solemnized their Weddings, as has been observed before. The Author of theAntient Description, &c.writes, that theCarosian Bagnio’swere so called fromCarosia, the Daughter of the EmperorValens; but he does not tell us in what Part of the third Hill they stood, nor could I discover when I was atConstantinople, whether they are entirely in Ruines, and others built in the Room of them, (as there are very large ones at present on the Top and the Sides of the third Hill, which theTurkshave built) or not. The same Author places the Churches of St.HirenaandAnastasiain the seventhWard, but does not mention in what Part of it. Nor is it possible to find out their Situation, but from the Historical Accounts we have received of it, which say, that when the City was taken by theFranksand theVenetians, a Fire began at the Synagogue of theSaracens, in that Part of the City which declines towards the Sea Northward, very near to the Church of St.Hirena. That this Church stoodwithin the Precinct of theSeraglio, I was first informed by some antient People of the City; I afterwards took Notice of a lofty Tower which stood without the Precinct of theSeraglio, which was situate on the East Side of the third Hill. It was a square Building, and is still called by the VulgarHirene; but whether it was the Church of St.Hirene, or the EmpressHirena, I cannot tell. I find among the Monuments of antient Learning, that there were three Churches atConstantinoplededicated to St.Hirena. The first was called the Old Church of St.Hirena, which, asSocrateswrites, was built byConstantine the Great, and stood near the Church of St.Sophia. The second, I am now speaking of, stood on the third Hill; and the third, asProcopiussays, was built byJustinian, at the Mouth of the Bay calledCeras, orCornu, and was called the Church of St.Hirenathe Martyr. Some Authors write, that the Church ofAnastasiawas built in that Place, where the newBezestan, or newBasilicanow stands: Others that it was situate near the Cistern, supported with Abundance of Marble Pillars, and stands between theBasilica’sof theForum, and the Tomb, andCaravanseraofBajazetthe Emperor.Sozomenwrites, that when St.Gregorywent fromNazianzumtoConstantinople, he preached in a small Church built by his Auditors, which was afterwards very much enlarged by succeeding Emperors, and was also beautified and adorned in the most expensive Manner, and was called the Church of St.Anastasia. Whether it was so called, because St.Gregoryby his Sermons preached in this Church had revived theConstitutionsandDecreesof the Council ofNice;or whether, as he adds, it went by that Name, because a Woman big with Child, falling from the upper Gallery, and dying upon the Spot, was restored to Life again by the joint Prayers of the Congregation then present, I shall not determine. However ’tis plain from this Passage ofSozomen, that those Historians are grievously in the wrong, who say, that this Church was built in Memory of St.Anastasia, aRomanSaint. In my Treatise of theThracian Bosporus, I have shewn, that on the North Side of the third Hill there rise some Rocks from the lowermost Eminencies of it, which were call’dScironides, by those who first transplanted a Colony fromMegaraandCorinth, toByzantium. These Rocks were so call’d, because of the Resemblance they bear to theScironides, which grow betweenCorinthandMegara. I shall take the Freedom here just to mention what’s worth observing on the third Hill. On the Top of it stands the Tomb ofBajazetthe Emperor, near aCaravansera, and a large Mosque which was built by him, after the Likeness of the Church of St.Sophia, which is roof’d with Brick-work, and cover’d with Lead. It has a large Porch orVestibule, pav’d with white Marble, and is surrounded with fourPortico’s, which are supported with Columns of the choicest Marble. In the Middle of it is a fine Fountain, which falls into a large Bason, which emits the falling Water through several little Cocks. The Mosque andVestibuleis surrounded on three Sides with a largeArea, which is enclosed partly with Walls, and partly with aCaravansera; and on the fourth Side ’tis encompass’d with a Gardenadjoining, in the Middle of which is the Tomb ofBajazet, in a small Edifice built in a cylindrick Form. On the Top of the third Hill stands theSeraglio, where the Emperor’s Concubines constantly reside; ’tis enclos’d with a high Wall, which, at my first Arrival atConstantinople, was more than two Miles in Compass. The present EmperorSolymanhas taken up a Place in the Middle of this Precinct, where he is laying a Foundation for aCaravansera, and his future Sepulchre, which are now building with the most elegant Marble, brought from several Parts of theTurkishDominions, so that you may see infinite Kinds of it lying about the Building, not lately dug out of the Quarry, but such as for many Ages has been used in the Palaces of several Princes and Emperors, not only atByzantium, but inGreece, and allÆgypt. In the seventhWardI saw three ancient Cisterns, not taken Notice of in theDescription of the Wards; one in theForumofTaurus, another between the Tomb ofBajazetand theBezestan, both of which are supported with Marble Pillars. The third was built on a Clift of the third Hill, which faced the North, of which there are yet remaining sixCorinthianPillars, very large and tall, made ofArabianMarble, and curiously wrought. Below theBaseof thePedestalwas lay’d an Earthen Pipe which convey’d Water into a Cistern made of Brick, whose Roof also, which is Brick-work, is supported with twenty square Brick Pillars. A little above the Cistern there was formerly a Court belonging to aChristian Church, which theTurksdemolish’d, to repair and beautify their ownHouses. On that Side of the Hill which extends itself Westward, there stands a Mosque, whoseVestibuleis supported with twelve Pillars, six of which are ofArabianMarble. Above this Mosque there stands another, which is also supported with Pillars, and was formerly a Church dedicated to St.Theodorus. This however is not the same Church whichProcopiussaysJustinianbuilt in a Place call’dRhessium. There is another Christian Church, now a Mosque, standing between theSeraglio, and the Tomb which the EmperorSolymanbuilt for his SonMahomet, which is incrusted with several Kinds of Marble, curiously variegated.
I Cannot find by theAncient Description of the Wards, that the eighthWardwas situate on the South Side of the third Hill, though it says, that the eighthWard, on the Side of theTaurus, is not bounded by the Sea, and may be look’d upon to be rather a narrow than a broad Piece of Ground, though this Defect is sufficiently amended by its great Length. For by this Description of it, I am left altogether in Suspence, whether it lye North or South. But I discover the Situation of the eighthWardfrom hence, that the Authorof the Descriptiontells us, that it containedpart of theForumofConstantine, and aPorticoon the left Side of it, as far as theTaurus, and that the seventhWardstretch’d itself from the right Hand of the Pillar ofConstantine, to theForumofTheodosius. I observe from these Authorities, that part of thePromontory, which reaches from Sea to Sea, situate between thePorphyryPillar and theTaurus, was divided into the North and South Side, and that thePortico’son the right and left extending themselves from the Pillar ofConstantineto theTaurus, parted the seventh and eighthWard, the former of which contain’d the right HandPortico’s, and the latter, the left. There’s nothing to be seen of thesePortico’sat present, but only the broad Way which runs from the Church of St.Sophiato the Land-Wall. ThisWardcontains also theCapitol, and theBasilicaofTheodosiusboth of which, ’tis very probable, stood near the Pillar andForumofTheodosius. It is no less evident fromZonarasandCedrinus, that the Fire inLeo’s Time consumed the Senate-House, built for the Dispatch of publick Business by the great Council of the Empire, and for the Conveniency of the Emperor, whenConsul, to preside over them. This Senate-House, as the same Authors add, had twelve Pillars curiously variegated, made ofTrojanMarble, which were twenty five Foot high, the Roof of it being supported with four Arches. This House, according to these Writers, was about two hundred and forty Foot long, and a hundred and fifty Foot broad. I am inclin’d to believe, from what I have mention’d upon this Occasion, that it was either theCapitol, or theBasilicaofTheodosius.For it is plain from modernHistorians, that these two Structures, by whomsoever they were rebuilt after the Fire, lost their Names, and they tell us, that in theTaurusthere was a Palace, and a Place for the Entertainment of Strangers. And these Authorities are strengthen’d by some ancient People ofConstantinople, who attest, that in their Remembrance, near theMint-House, where they now coin their Money, there stood a spacious Palace, inhabited, as some say, byMahometwho took the City, before he built the great enclosed Palace which stands upon the first Hill, and that some of theSultanshave since beautified their Palaces out of the Ruins of the former. The Place of Entertainment, or rather the Church, which stood to the South-west of theTaurus, I saw entirely demolish’d, and the Pillars of it carried off, to build aCaravansera, which the EmperorSolymanerected in Memory of his Son, whom he dearly lov’d. I leave it to theGreekPriests to make the Enquiry, whether this was not the same with the Church of St.Paul, which stood in the seventhWard, though I could never yet meet with one of them, who could give me Insight into this Matter.