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Ihad been at a Loss to discover the eleventhWard, (which, tho’ theancient Descriptionof theWardsmentions to have been wider in Compass than the Tenth, and in no Part of it bounded by the Sea; as also that it partly consistedof a Level, and partly of a rising Ground) unless the Author had subjoin’d, that it contain’d also the Church of theApostles, And tho’ at present there’s nothing remaining of that Church, yet I was inform’d by some ancient People ofConstantinople, who told me, that they remembred it stood upon the Back of the fourth Hill; which fell upon a Hill of the third Valley, near theSadlers Shops, and the Sepulchre ofMahometthe Emperor. I observe from hence, that the eleventhWardwas Part on the Top of the same Hill, and Part on the North Side of it. I shall shew by what follows, that thisWardreach’d to theLand-Wallof the City, which divided the Eleventh, from the fourteenthWard, and which was also itself divided from the City by an intermediate Space of Land. I shall convince the Reader presently, that thisWardwas situate on the sixth Hill, without the Walls of the City, and was afterwards wall’d round byTheodosiustheLess. The Walls built byConstantineare said to have reach’d as far as the Churches of St.Anthony, and St.Mary, who was call’dRabdos, and from thence to have risen to aLand-Wallcall’dExacionion, which took its Name from hence,viz.That without theLand-Wallthere stood a Pillar, on which was erected the Statue ofConstantinetheGreat. Some modern Writers will have it, that he built a Church which he dedicated to theHoly Trinityin a Place call’d theExacionion, now call’d the Church of theApostles; for, if I am not mistaken, the Walls ofConstantinewere built upon the Borders of the fourth and fifth Hill, near theExacionion,Cedrinuswrites, that the Walls of the City, the beautiful Churches, the fine Houses seated in theExacionionwere thrown down by a dreadful Earthquake. They tell us in other Places, tho’ not consistently with themselves, that there werePortico’swhich reach’d from theMiliariumto the Street call’dTaurus, and to the Gates of St.JohntheBaptist’sChurch near theHippodrom, which are more than a thousandRomanPaces distant from the Church of theApostles, and as far from the Walls of the City which were built byConstantine, as may be gather’d from the following Passage ofSozomen.Theodosius, says this Author,leading his Army againstEugenius,went a Mile out of the City to the Church of St.John,which he had built in theHepdomum. ThisHepdomumwas a Part of the Suburbs of the City, but is now enclos’d within the Walls, as will appear when I come to speak of it. If the Pillar from whence theExacioniontook its Name, was the same with that high Pillar which stood on the Top of the fifth Hill, and was seen not long since at a great Distance from the City, above all the Houses, we might easily discover, that the Walls built byConstantinedid not reach beyond this Pillar, which stood about half a Mile’s distance from theChurchof theApostles. I saw this Pillar took to Pieces, and remov’d for building a Mosque, by Order ofSolymanthe Emperor. TheBase, thePedestaland the Foundation of it were of white Marble. The Foundation-Stone alone was so high, that I could not climb it without a Ladder. ThePedestalwas four Foot and nine Digits high, and thePlinthone Foot, and six Digits. TheGreeksand theTurks, each in their Dialect, call’d it thePillarof theVirgin, which I take to be that celebrated by our modern Writers, which they say was erected upon a Hill, and supported the Statue ofVenus, carv’d in Stone. When theAncient Description of the Wardstells us, that the eleventhWardis no Ways bounded by the Sea, it must be so understood as to mean, that the Plain situated between the Bay ofCeras, and the Foot of the fourth Hill, was not within the Walls, since the sameTreatisementions, that the City was six thousand one hundred and fifty Foot broad; that is, a Mile and two hundred and thirty Paces; for the Latitude of theIsthmus, which stretches itself over the fourth and seventh Hill, thro’ which the old Wall extended itself, exceeds the Breadth abovemention’d. ButZosimus, an ancient Historian, says, thatConstantinetheGreatso wholly surrounded the City with a Wall, that it cut off theIsthmusfrom Sea to Sea. So that upon the whole, there is a Necessity to place the Plain, situate between the Bay, and the Bottom of the fourth Hill, in the tenthWard.
’TIS attested byEusebius, ThatConstantinetheGreatbuilt the Church of theApostlesto a great Heighth, that he incrusted it with all Sorts of variegated Marble, which cast a beautiful Lustre from Top to Bottom; that he adorn’d it with small gilded Roofs, and cover’d it with Plates of Brass deeply gilt, which cast a blazing Reflexion to a great Distance. The upper Part of this venerable Structure, was curiously wrought all round it with Brass and Gold, and was enlightned with Abundance of Lattices and Windows. Round the Church there was a fine Court lying open to the Air. ThePortico’swhich enclos’d it, stood in a Quadrangular Manner. Near thePortico’sstood the Palace, theBagnio’s, the Cloysters, and many other Houses and Buildings belonging to the Ecclesiasticks, and other Ministers of the Church. These bountiful Benefactions has the pious Emperor handed down to Posterity in Memory of theApostlesof the blessed Saviour of Mankind, to whom also he consecrated twelve Purses of Gold. The Coffinin which he intended to be buried after he was dead, was plac’d by his Order in the Body of the Church, and guarded with the twelveApostlesin Effigy. ’Tis added bySocrates, that the Body ofConstantinelying in a golden Coffin, was brought into the City by his intimate Friends, and buried in the Church of theApostles. I am inclin’d to believe, thatZonarasnever readEusebius, when he tells us, that ’twas buried in the Cloyster of the Church of theApostles, which, he says, was built byConstantiusfor the Interrment of his Father. Near the broad Way which stretches itself along the Top of thePromontory, from the Church of St.Sophia, to the Gate ofAdrianople, (hard by the Place where stood the Church of theApostles,) there is shewn to this Day, a Coffin made ofPorphyryMarble, empty; and without a Cover, ten Foot long, and five Foot and a half broad, which theGreeksandTurkssay, was the Coffin ofConstantinetheGreat; but I cannot vouch for the Truth of it: Yet the Authorities ofSocratesandEusebiusseem to be somewhat doubtful, who tell us, that he was buried in a golden Coffin, unless perhaps the golden Coffin was inclos’d in that of thePorphyryMarble.Zonarasis of Opinion, thatTheodora, the Wife ofJustinian, built the Church of theApostles; and adds, that there was anciently in the same Place aChurchof theApostles, but much Inferior in Beauty and Magnificence to that which stands at present, on the same Ground.Procopiussays, that there had been for some Ages, a Church atConstantinoplewhich was much impair’d by Time, and likely to fall,whichJustinianorder’d to be taken down, rebuilt, and enlarg’d, and made in the Figure of a Cross, the Body of the Church pointing East, and West, and the Part crossing it, North, and South. This Church is well wall’d, and adorn’d within with Ranges of Pillars standing one above another:Evagriustherefore seems to be mistaken, in attributing the Building of this Church toJustinian, when it is evident it was built byConstantinetheGreat; andProcopiustoo grosly flattersJustinianin ascribing to him the Building of many fine Structures, whereas, in reality, he only repair’d them when they were old, or rebuilt them when fall’n too much to decay, or destroy’d by Fire. There’s nothing remaining of this Church at present, no, not even of its Foundation. You see only the Ruines of an oldCistern, which supply’d the Church, and the Clergy with Water. There are now standing upon the same Spot of Ground about two hundredSadlers Shops, andWork-houses, where they make and sell not only all kinds of Horse-Geer, but also Leathern Bucketts, Quivers, and Trunks. A little above thisCistern, stands a Mosque, with aCaravanseraadjoining to it, situate on a Plain, which was built with square Stone, after the Form of the Church of St.Sophia, out of the Ruins and Sacrilege of the Church of theApostles, and other Christian Churches byMahomet, who took the City. The Roof is of a Semicircular Figure, made of Brick-Work, and cover’d with Lead, as are all the publick Buildings of theTurks. ’Tis beautify’d with a very elegant square Porch as broad as the Church itself, pav’d with the finestMarble, and adorn’d with squarePortico’s. The Arches of them, which bear up the Roof, are supported with very large Pillars of Marble, curiously variegated. In the Middle of it is a Fountain with nine Pipes, whose Waters fall into a great Bason. Round the Mosque is a spacious Court, Part of which is enclos’d with Walls, and Part with long kind of Houses, some of which are inhabited by their Priests, and School-Masters. In the Eastern Part of this Court there’s a Garden, in the Middle of which stands the Sepulchre ofMahomet, built in a Cylindric Form of the whitest Marble. ’Tis covered with Lead, lighted with Windows, and has a Door of Entrance into it. In the Middle of this Structure is the Coffin ofMahomet, cover’d with Velvet, placed on the Ground on a rich Carpet. The Ground is wholly covered with the most costly Carpets, where the Priests continually sit, and guard the Body Night and Day. A little without the Court are several largeCaravansera’s, built also with square Stone, which have Court-yards in the Middle of them, andPortico’ssurrounded with Marble Pillars. TheseCaravansera’shave large Gardens adjoyning to them. In short, this Mosque, with the adjacent Buildings round the Court, with theCaravansera’sand Gardens, take up a Space of Ground six Furlongs in Compass.Mahomet, the same Emperor, built in this Place, where had formerly been the OldCisternofArcadius, orModestus, the largestBagnio’sin all the City. These Baths were of two Kinds, some for Men, and some for Women. They adjoin to each other, but havedifferent Entries without any Passage out of one into the other. I shall only describe the Mens Baths; because the Womens are like them. The first Place you enter is the Room where they undress. From hence you pass into the hot, and from thence into the cold Bath. They all stand in one Range, and are only separated by Walls from each other. The Room where they undress is a square Structure, built of square Stone up to the Roof, which is arch’d and built with Brick; the Inside of which, measuring two hundred and fifty eight Foot in compass, is surrounded with an Ascent of Stone, above six Foot broad, and three Foot high. The Wall of this Room, from the Pavement to the Bottom of the arch’d Roof is thirty seven Foot high. In the Middle of the Floor, which is pav’d with Marble, there’s a large Marble Bason, which is thirty seven Foot in compass, and three Foot deep, which is always supply’d from a Fountain of Spring Water. There are two Doors out of the stripping Room into the hot Bath. This Apartment is a hundred Foot in compass in the Inside of it, and is supported with four Arches, which bear up aDomeat the Top. It contains eightCellsor bathing Rooms; one of which, not above half so large as the rest, has some Privies behind it, which are cleans’d by an Efflux of all the Waters which are turn’d out of the Bath. Six of theseCellshave, each of them, a bathing Cistern, and are built in such a Manner, that two of these Arches hang each of them over one bathing Room; from whence you may pass, on the Right and on the Left, into another. TheCellsunder the othertwo Arches are so form’d, that that Arch which is nearest the Doors which lead out of the stripping Room into the hot Bath, hangs over a very large bathing Room. ’Tis pav’d with Marble, and theTurkswash their Linen in this Place. A plain Wall arch’d at top parts the hot from the cold Bath. In the Middle of the hot Bath there is a Bason with a Fountain playing. There is but one Door which leads out of the hot into the cold Bath. This Apartment has eight Arches which support itsDome, and contains eight bathing Places, which project beyond the Sphere of itsDome, and encircle the wholeBagnio, which is about ninety Foot in compass. The whole Pavement of it is lay’d with Marble, and in the Middle of it is built an Ascent in the Form of anOctagon, which is fifty seven Foot, and nine Inches in Circumference, and two Foot and four Digits high. Round theOctagonthere runs a Channel of Water, which is of the same Depth with the Height of theOctagon. The four inward bathing Rooms are situate in four Angles, and are each of them every Way eleven Foot and three Digits broad, and these are call’d theHot-HousesorSweating-Bagnio’s. The Dimension of the two Bathing Rooms, which are situate without the two Arches, is the same. The other six Bathing Rooms are of a Semicircular Figure, and stand under six Arches within the Circle of theDomeof the hot Bath. At the Bottom of the Pillars which support the Arches, they are eleven Foot in length, and five Foot nine Inches in breadth. Every one of these Bathing Rooms has a MarbleCisternwherein they bath; and inone of them above the rest, there is erected a stately Marble Throne. There are no Lights in the Walls either of the hot or cold Baths, tho’ theDomesof them are wholly illuminated with Glass-Windows. TheStoke-Hole, which is two Foot and a half in compass, and of the same height, is built without the Baths. They keep a constant Fire in it, which heats a Brazen Vessel, whence it emits its warm Steams thro’ Pipes laid in a strait, and an oblique Manner, by that means heating the Bottom of theCisternsin which they bath. There is a Rivulet in a Field of the Suburbs, about six Foot in breadth, which runs near theStoke-Hole. There are Pipes laid in this Brook, which convey the Water thro’ the Walls of these Baths into all Parts of them. One of these Pipes which passes thro’ a heated Earthen Vessel, upon turning a Cock, supplies theCisternswith hot Water; the other Pipe which rises higher, upon the turning of an other Cock, tempers the hot Water according to the Pleasure of the Person who baths in it. But I shall treat of the Use of Bathing, and the Way of buildingBagnio’samong theTurksin another Place. I return now to the eleventhWard, whichProcopiustakes Notice of, when he tells us, thatTheodorathe Consort ofJustinianaddress’d herself to him in the following Manner:We have, may it please your Imperial Majesty, other Palaces still remaining, which are call’d the Palaces ofHelena,as we have also those ofPlacilla,the Wife ofTheodosiusthe Great. For asJustinushonour’d his Empress with several noble Palaces, which, after her own Name, were call’d the Palaces ofSophia,so it is highly probable thatTheodosiusdidPlacillathe same Honour in building a Palace for her, which was call’d the Palace ofPlacilla.I am induc’d to believe this, because he passionately lov’d her, and by Reason of that strong Resentment he bore to the People ofAntioch,whom he subjected to the Dominion of theLaodenses,for demolishing the Statues ofPlacilla,plac’d in his ownForum,because he lay’d an additional Tribute upon them. This Palace may not improperly be call’d also the Palace ofFlacilla, of whomClaudianspeaks in the following Lines:
’TisSpainalone, subject to potentRome,Which pays her Tribute in her Emperours.Provision, Taxes, and Confederate BandsRomeby her Arms in ev’ry Nation raises,Which bows its Head to her superiour Greatness.Spainonly furnishes a Race of Princes,Wise, Bold, and Warlike, form’d for Empire,And fit to rule the Mistress of the World.Nor pleas’d alone to send her valiant Sons,Unless a second Offering she made,Of princely Mothers, noble Empresses,Flacilla, Maria,pious, humble, good;And fairSerena,full of blooming Charms.
’TisSpainalone, subject to potentRome,Which pays her Tribute in her Emperours.Provision, Taxes, and Confederate BandsRomeby her Arms in ev’ry Nation raises,Which bows its Head to her superiour Greatness.Spainonly furnishes a Race of Princes,Wise, Bold, and Warlike, form’d for Empire,And fit to rule the Mistress of the World.Nor pleas’d alone to send her valiant Sons,Unless a second Offering she made,Of princely Mothers, noble Empresses,Flacilla, Maria,pious, humble, good;And fairSerena,full of blooming Charms.
’TisSpainalone, subject to potentRome,Which pays her Tribute in her Emperours.Provision, Taxes, and Confederate BandsRomeby her Arms in ev’ry Nation raises,Which bows its Head to her superiour Greatness.Spainonly furnishes a Race of Princes,Wise, Bold, and Warlike, form’d for Empire,And fit to rule the Mistress of the World.Nor pleas’d alone to send her valiant Sons,Unless a second Offering she made,Of princely Mothers, noble Empresses,Flacilla, Maria,pious, humble, good;And fairSerena,full of blooming Charms.
’TisSpainalone, subject to potentRome,
Which pays her Tribute in her Emperours.
Provision, Taxes, and Confederate Bands
Romeby her Arms in ev’ry Nation raises,
Which bows its Head to her superiour Greatness.
Spainonly furnishes a Race of Princes,
Wise, Bold, and Warlike, form’d for Empire,
And fit to rule the Mistress of the World.
Nor pleas’d alone to send her valiant Sons,
Unless a second Offering she made,
Of princely Mothers, noble Empresses,
Flacilla, Maria,pious, humble, good;
And fairSerena,full of blooming Charms.
TheBrazen Bullwas plac’d in the eleventhWard. In what Part of thatWardit was plac’d might easily be conjectur’d from a largeCistern, which, the modern Historians write, was built near it byNicetasan Eunuch, in the Reign of the EmperorTheophilus, if thatCisternwas now in being. If theBullitself was remaining, or theForumwhere it stood, I had heard somethingof it.Tzetzesin his History writes, that theForum Boviswas so call’d from theBrazen Bull. ThisBullis more particularly describ’d byZonaras, who says,that the Body of the unhappy TyrantPhocaswas burnt at a Place call’dBos,where there was a Stove, or Fire-Place set up in the Form of a Bull, which was brought fromTroy.Cedrinusrelates, thatAntypastheMartyrwas burnt to Death in thisBull. It is a plain Instance of the Cruelty and Tyranny of some of the Emperors ofConstantinople, that they us’d to punish Malefactors with a Death so tormenting. The like Example of Barbarity we have inPerillus, or ratherPerilaus, a Brazier ofAttica, who made aBrazen Bullfor the Execution ofPhalaris, but first suffer’d in it himself. This Piece of Workmanship, saysPliny, was preserv’d a long Time, that those, who saw it, might curse the Hand that made it. I am more inclin’d to believe, that thisBullwas brought fromSicily, orItaly. I enquir’d after it, but could hear nothing of it, altho’ the Inhabitants are not ignorant, that there was formerly such aBullatConstantinople, and are us’d to boast of a Prophecy, which has been handed down to them from their Ancestors, concerning such aBull, and lastly, altho’ they believe their own Interpretation of it to be more agreeable to Truth than that ofTzetzes, who explain’d it above three hundred and seventy Years ago in the following Manner. There was a mighty Talk of a Prophecy atConstantinoplesome Time ago, which run in these Words: Βοῦς βοήσει τε, καὶ Ταῦρος δὲ θρηνήσει,Bos mugiet, Taurus lugebit. The People conjectur’d from hence,says he, that great Calamities should befall the City, that they should be perplex’d with amazing Fears, that an innumerable Army ofGermans, and other Nations, should come against the Town; and that they should be all terrify’d and affrighted with strange Dreams, by Reason of the Plundering and Destruction of their City. Upon which, the Wife of theGrand Hetæriarchbeing in great Consternation, and her Fears and Fancies being encreas’d by some fabulous Verses made upon the Occasion, she imagin’d she dream’d of all that had been the Town-Talk for some Time before. She dream’d thatConstantinoplewas wall’d round with Brick, that near theForum Bovis, or the Place call’dBos, she saw infinite Numbers of arm’d Forces drawn up in Battle array, and that hard by the Street call’dTaurus, she saw a Man in a melancholly Posture expressing his Grief in a mournful Tone, and beating his Breast. The credulous Woman believing the Destruction of the City was at hand, told her Dream toTzetzes, who thus interpreted it:The Brick Walls, says he,which you saw denote great Plenty of Provision toConstantinople.You are sensible, Gentlemen, says he, (speaking to those who stood by him)how wonderfully that Part of the Prophecy was accomplish’d at that Time. As to that Clause of it, which mentions that abundance of armed Forces shall stand round theBull,and that a Man in a disconsolate and forlorn Condition shall sit down by theBull,which is principally intended by the Prophecy, tho’ not yet fulfill’d; this may prove beneficial, and advantageous to every Citizen of us. Therefore hear, OConstantinople,and tell it to others, that this is the Interpretation ofTzetzes.The same Word, which among usGreekssignifies a Bull, signifies also a Cow, and sometimes a Heifer, and by the WordTaurusorBull,theLatinscall theItalianBull. Our Cow therefore, which is the famous City ofConstantine,and which was built by theRomanBulls ofItaly,full of Arms, abounding with Forces, and Plenty of Provision, shall sound an Alarm against our Enemies; and theItalianBull, which is the Army of theLatins,shall look Pale with Fear, and mourn.Tzetzes, without Question, was a very learned Man, and this Interpretation of the Prophecy was cunning enough; besides that it was a fine Compliment to the Empress, and at the same Time the Historian pleas’d his own Humour in it, in interpreting the Prophecy according to his own Wishes. See how ingenious is the Weakness of Man to impose upon himself! But at that Time there was another Interpretation of this Prophecy, which, in the Event, was much more agreeable to Truth, tho’Tzetzestook a great deal of Pains to confute, and expose it; and it was the general Opinion of the People ofConstantinople, that the Army of theLatinswould besiege their City, as it happen’d a little Time after, ravaging, burning, destroying every where; throwing some of the Ring-leaders of an arbitrary Party from the Top ofTheodosius’s Pillar into the Street call’dTaurus, and burning others to Death in theBrazen Bull. The same Author is no less mistaken in the Interpretation of another Prophecy, which is as follows:Wo be to thee, OConstantinople,seatedon seven Hills, thou shalt not continue a thousand Years. His Explanation of it is this:Altho’ it be not thy Fate, OConstantinople,to endure a thousand Years, but to be totally demolish’d, yet this ought to be no Occasion of Grief to thee, but the Cause of Joy; for thou shalt rise again from thy Ruines more beautiful, and more enlarg’d. For thou shalt be destroyed, ev’n to the Advantage of those who shall destroy thee.This Interpretation is a downright Flattery of the principal Leaders of the severalFactions(or Companies of Charioteers) when they were struggling for the Government. But take this Interpretation which Way you will, it seems to be a very wild one. For whether the City was demolish’d by its own Inhabitants, or any foreign Power, it could neither Way be any reasonable Cause of Joy to them. This Prediction of the Oracle was seconded by another Prediction of theAstronomersto the same Purpose. Some Historians have attested, as ’tis confirm’d bySuidas, thatConstantinetheGreat, after he had finish’d the City, sent for oneValensanAstronomerof great Skill, and commanded him to enquire what Star had theAscendantat the Birth of the City, and by that means inform him of the Duration of it.Valenspredicted that the City would continue six hundred and ninety Years; but that Time is past and gone. Therefore, saysZonaras, I must conclude, that this Prophecy ofValenswas erroneous, and that there’s little Dependance to be had upon the Rules ofAstronomy, or otherwise thatValensonly meant the Time of her Prosperity, when the Laws of Polity were strictly obey’d, when the publickPeace was preserv’d, when theirSenatewas in high Estimation among the People, when the Empire flourish’d and was under a regular Administration, and there was no such Thing as Tyranny, and Arbitrary Power among them. But to finish the Oracular Predictions concerning this City, I come now toZosimus, a very ancient Historian, if compar’d withTzetzes, andZonaras. This Author writes, thatConstantinoplewas arriv’d to such a State of Grandeur, and Magnificence, that no City in the World was to be compar’d with it, in point of Greatness, or Prosperity.And yet, as he proceeds,when after a long Search I could find no divine Oracle, or Prophecy presignifying any Increase of Happiness toConstantinople,I at last accidentally, having read many Historians, and other Authors for that Purpose, met with an Oracular Prediction of a Sibyl, nam’dErythræa Phaelles,orPhaennoofEpirus.This Woman, they tell you, being inspir’d, utter’d Oracles, to whichNicomedes,the Son ofPrussias,conforming himself, especially in such Predictions as might be some Advantage to himself, enter’d into a War with his Father. The Oracle runs thus:
Attend, great King ofThrace,and learn thy Doom;Thy stately City soon thou must depart,And thy defenceless Sheep shall follow thee;The Savage Lion’s irresistless PowerShall plunder thee, and ravage all thy Stores.Thou from thy princely Grandeur soon shalt fall;The Dogs which now in State stand round thy ThroneShall rouze the sleepy Wolf, bold to assertHis Liberty, nor drag thy servile Chain.Bithynia’sRealm shall then become a PreyTo fierce devouring Wolves, andJove’sDecreeTransfer thy Empire hence to fairByzantium.Happy, thrice happy Monarch would’st thou be,Could’st thou repel with Force the rav’nous Wolf,Thus timely warn’d by me: For I am forc’dTo speak, and tell the Will of Heav’n to Man.Wide Desolation now attends thee, Thrace;A heavy Vengeance waits; long hast thou try’d,And daringly provok’d the Neighbouring States;And now a Cloud of Woe hangs o’re thy Head,Which daily swelling to a larger Size,Shall burst in Blood, and ruine all about thee.
Attend, great King ofThrace,and learn thy Doom;Thy stately City soon thou must depart,And thy defenceless Sheep shall follow thee;The Savage Lion’s irresistless PowerShall plunder thee, and ravage all thy Stores.Thou from thy princely Grandeur soon shalt fall;The Dogs which now in State stand round thy ThroneShall rouze the sleepy Wolf, bold to assertHis Liberty, nor drag thy servile Chain.Bithynia’sRealm shall then become a PreyTo fierce devouring Wolves, andJove’sDecreeTransfer thy Empire hence to fairByzantium.Happy, thrice happy Monarch would’st thou be,Could’st thou repel with Force the rav’nous Wolf,Thus timely warn’d by me: For I am forc’dTo speak, and tell the Will of Heav’n to Man.Wide Desolation now attends thee, Thrace;A heavy Vengeance waits; long hast thou try’d,And daringly provok’d the Neighbouring States;And now a Cloud of Woe hangs o’re thy Head,Which daily swelling to a larger Size,Shall burst in Blood, and ruine all about thee.
Attend, great King ofThrace,and learn thy Doom;Thy stately City soon thou must depart,And thy defenceless Sheep shall follow thee;The Savage Lion’s irresistless PowerShall plunder thee, and ravage all thy Stores.Thou from thy princely Grandeur soon shalt fall;The Dogs which now in State stand round thy ThroneShall rouze the sleepy Wolf, bold to assertHis Liberty, nor drag thy servile Chain.Bithynia’sRealm shall then become a PreyTo fierce devouring Wolves, andJove’sDecreeTransfer thy Empire hence to fairByzantium.Happy, thrice happy Monarch would’st thou be,Could’st thou repel with Force the rav’nous Wolf,Thus timely warn’d by me: For I am forc’dTo speak, and tell the Will of Heav’n to Man.Wide Desolation now attends thee, Thrace;A heavy Vengeance waits; long hast thou try’d,And daringly provok’d the Neighbouring States;And now a Cloud of Woe hangs o’re thy Head,Which daily swelling to a larger Size,Shall burst in Blood, and ruine all about thee.
Attend, great King ofThrace,and learn thy Doom;
Thy stately City soon thou must depart,
And thy defenceless Sheep shall follow thee;
The Savage Lion’s irresistless Power
Shall plunder thee, and ravage all thy Stores.
Thou from thy princely Grandeur soon shalt fall;
The Dogs which now in State stand round thy Throne
Shall rouze the sleepy Wolf, bold to assert
His Liberty, nor drag thy servile Chain.
Bithynia’sRealm shall then become a Prey
To fierce devouring Wolves, andJove’sDecree
Transfer thy Empire hence to fairByzantium.
Happy, thrice happy Monarch would’st thou be,
Could’st thou repel with Force the rav’nous Wolf,
Thus timely warn’d by me: For I am forc’d
To speak, and tell the Will of Heav’n to Man.
Wide Desolation now attends thee, Thrace;
A heavy Vengeance waits; long hast thou try’d,
And daringly provok’d the Neighbouring States;
And now a Cloud of Woe hangs o’re thy Head,
Which daily swelling to a larger Size,
Shall burst in Blood, and ruine all about thee.
This Oracle or Prophecy, saysZosimus, truly fore-tells, tho’ in an Ænigmatical Manner, all the Calamities which would befall theBythinians, by Reason of an excessive Tribute which had been demanded of them, and presignifies also their speedy Subjection to the Empire ofConstantinople. And tho’ this did not happen till a long Time after, yet let no Man from thence infer, that the Time of the Accomplishment of the Prediction was expired before it came to pass. For all Time is but for a Moment with God, who is eternal.This Interpretation of the Oracle, says the Historian,I observed to be true, by comparing the Event of Things with the Words of the Prophecy; and adds,that if any other Interpretation seems more agreeable, any one is at his own Liberty to follow it. And to confirm the more this Explication of it, he tells us, howConstantinetheGreatand his Sons, oppress’d not onlyBithynia, but the whole World with severe Exactions, so that whole Cities, unable to pay the Levies, remained desolate. The learnedTzetzesbefore-mentioned, explains this Oracle in another Manner, and says, that it was delivered byPhaenno.This Sybil, says he,was long ago famous for her Oracles, and foretold same Things many Ages since, which were accomplished but a little before the Times we live in; as the Conquest ofPersiaover the Empire, the Slavery and Subjection of the Emperor to them, his Dethronement by his People and Nobles, the Wars of theScythianswith the Eastern Empire, by whom she seems to mean theTurks. Thus farZosimus. This Oracle, tho’ it be very antient, yet, amidst the present Ruins ofConstantinople, it never appeared so manifest as now.
But to proceed in my Narration of other Monuments of Antiquity; On the Brow of the fourth Hill, which lies Eastward, you see a Church built to the Honour of Almighty God, which has been much celebrated in the Writings of modern Historians. The Walls of it within side are incrusted with several Kinds of Marble: It has two Porches orVestibules, many lesserCupola’scovered with Lead, the largest of which is supported with four Pillars of red Marble variegated, each of which Pillars measures seven Foot in Circumference. There’s anotherCupolawhich bears upon four Arches, which are supported with four Pillars ofThebaicMarble. On the South Side of the fourth Hill there is erected a Pillar, which nearly resembles that, which was lately, as I observed, standing in theExacionion,but is now removed into the Precinct of theSeraglio. Round theBasisof it there runs a Wreath of Laurel-work, and the Standard of the Cross, curiously cut inBasso Relievo. At the Foot of the fifth Hill is a double Wall, which encloses a Street now calledPhanarium, because as the Inhabitants tell you, when the City was formerly besieged, it was built in the Space of one Night by Candle-light. I am induced from the Authority ofDionysiusto believe, thatMellacopsasstood near this Street; the Reason why it was so called I have shewn in myTreatise of the Bosporus. On the Top of the fifth Hill stands the Palace ofSelimustheGrand Signor, with aCaravansera, and his Tomb. Near it is a very largeCistern, in a pleasant Meadow, which is despoiled of its Roof and Pillars.
THE Authorof the Description of the Wardsrelates, that the fourteenthWard, though it is looked upon as a Part of the City, yet because it is divided from the otherWardsby an intermediate Space of Land, and enclosed with its own Walls, makes the Figure of a small City by it self; and adds, among other Particularities, that the Entrance of it, at the Gate, is somewhat upon the Level; but the right Side of it, rising intoan Ascent, almost to the Middle of the broad Way, falls into a deep Ascent, and contains a Church, the Palace,&c.It is very probable, one would think, or at least it looks to be so, that any one who had never seenConstantinople, could learn from this Description in what Part of the City stood the fourteenthWard. But since, nothing of the antient Buildings are remaining there at present, no not so much as the Bridge, or the very Channel of the River; there is some Room for Enquiry, where was the Place of its Situation. For I am entirely ignorant of the Gate whence its Entrance begins, which is somewhat upon the Level. It is possible that I might also discover the Situation of it, if I knew where the right Side of theWardwas, which rose into an Ascent. ’Tis plain that thisWarddid not stand on the fifth Hill from hence, that the Author tells us, that it was divided from otherWardsby some intermediate Space. Had thisWardbeen divided from otherWardsby a small Tract of Land only, it had been very injudicious in the Inhabitants to have enclosed it with a Wall by it self, when it stood so near the Walls of the City. I would observe farther, that ’tis inconceivable that there could be any Bridge on the fifth, sixth, or seventh Hills of the City, or without the Walls of the City; nor is there any Valley running between the fifth or the third Hill, where there’s any Bridge, or any Water, unless it can be imagined that it had any small Creek, which is now filled up, with a Bridge over it. If it could be supposed that there formerly stood any Bridge beyond the sixth Hill, in the Street calledAvasarius, we could conclude it to be no other than what was built over the Bay ofCeras, near which are still seen the Piles of a Bridge. And in all Probability the sixth Hill was wholly inhabited, by Reason of the Nearness and Goodness of its Roads fromThrace. This is the more probable, if it be considered, that the Suburbs called theHepdomum, were seated on the sixth Hill, which excitedTheodosiustheLess, by Reason of its Nearness toConstantinopleto enlarge the Walls of the City.
THE Suburbs, call’d theHepdomum, stood upon the third Hill, which is now enclosed within the Walls of the City. This is plain from the Situation of the Church of St.John Baptist, whom, even at this Time, theGreekscall the Πρόδρομος, orFore-runnerof our Saviour. This Church is seated on the Eastern Side of the City. ’Tis almost entirely demolished by theMahometans, and nothing of it remains but a few Marble Pillars, expecting the last Effort of their Sacrilege. This was a costly andmagnificent Building, as appears, among other Tokens, from theCisternofBonus, which was built by a Nobleman of that Name, and seated a little above it. It was three hundred Paces long; its Roof and Columns are entirely ruined, and its Situation at present is turned into a Garden.Sozomensays, thatTheodosiustheGreatbrought over the Head of St.John Baptist, from a Village call’dCoslaus, nearPantichium, inChalcedon, and placed it beforeConstantinoplein theHepdomum, and there built a large and handsome Church to the Honour of God. The same Author attests, thatTheodosius, when he marched his Army againstEugenius, as soon as he came out of the City, offered his Prayers to God, in St.John Baptist’s Church, which he had built in theHepdomum.Procopiuspays too great a Compliment toJustinian, when he reports him to have built this Church in the forementioned Suburbs.Zonarastells us, that in the Reign ofConstantinesurnamedPogonatus, theHagarensbesieged the City with a numerous Fleet, which extended itself from thePromontorysituated in theHepdomumWestward, as far as theCyclobion. OtherHistoriansmention the same Thing; namely, that they had their Station from the saidPromontory, or theTricliniumofMagnaura, as far Easterly as the Palace call’dCyclobion. From which Passage I would observe by the By, thatMagnaurawas a Place in theHepdomum.Cedrinusasserts, thatPhilipofMacedon, built there a round Solar, and placed in the Court of it his own Statue, and built an Armory there. Others write, thatMauritiusthe Emperor built theTricliniumofMagnaura, and that he erected his Statue, and built the Armory there. Over theTricliniumare inscribed these Verses;
Upon theTricliniumofMagnaura.
Heracliusand his SonConstantine,With Conquest crown’d, and loaden with Success,Under th’ auspicious Influence of theCross,Built, with surprizing Speed, this beauteous Structure.
Heracliusand his SonConstantine,With Conquest crown’d, and loaden with Success,Under th’ auspicious Influence of theCross,Built, with surprizing Speed, this beauteous Structure.
Heracliusand his SonConstantine,With Conquest crown’d, and loaden with Success,Under th’ auspicious Influence of theCross,Built, with surprizing Speed, this beauteous Structure.
Heracliusand his SonConstantine,
With Conquest crown’d, and loaden with Success,
Under th’ auspicious Influence of theCross,
Built, with surprizing Speed, this beauteous Structure.
TheCisternofMagnaura, which stood near the Palace, was demolished byHeraclius; and, asCedrinusrelates, was afterwards cleansed, and rebuilt by Order ofPhilip, King ofMacedon. Some attest, if not consistently with Truth, yet more appositely, that the EmperorAnastasius, when he was expiring at that Place, by a terrible Storm of Wind, Lightning and Thunder, cried out with a loud Voice;Magnâ perimus aurâ.Pulcheriathe Sister ofTheodosiustheLess, being removed from the Administration of the Government, retired into theHepdomum, and lived privately.Zonarasrelates, thatNicephorusthe Emperor, surnamedPhocas, as he came near to the City, was received by thePrasineFaction, with great Acclamations, and that he was crowned Emperor in theHepdomumby thePatriarchofConstantinople. The Reason why those Suburbs are called theHepdomum, is taken from the NumberSeven, which was formerly the Number of them. They retained their antient Names, even after they were inclosed within the City.Procopiushas it, thatJustinian, in thatWard, which ought to be calledthe Second, built a Church to St.Anne. An unknown Writer of the Empire ofConstantinoplegives a Reason why it may be called the Second.In the Place, says he,called theSecond,there stood the Statue ofJustinian Rhinometus. Bardus Cæsar Michael,the Grandfather ofTheophilus,demolished and broke it to Pieces. This Place is called the Second, because whenJustinianwas banished byLeothePatriciantoCherso, after he had continued there ten Years, he applied himself toTerbelus, King of theBulgarians, whose DaughterTheodorahe married. The King gave him an Army, which he marched againstConstantinopleto recover his Empire. But the Inhabitants denying him Entrance, he privately stole into the City through the Passage of anAqueductto a Place where was still remaining the Foundation of a Pillar he had set up, and which his Adversary had destroyed. Having recovered his Dominions a second Time, he erected there a second Pillar, and built in the same Place a Church, which was dedicated to St.Anne. But, as I observed a little before,Procopiusrelates, thatJustinianbuilt this Church in the secondWard, where, I am of Opinion, before the Reign ofTheodosiustheLess, who built the Walls of the City, stood the Suburbs of the seventh Hill, that is, according toCedrinusand others, in the twelfthWard. There were, say these Writers, most dreadful Earthquakes, which overturned the Wall of the City in theExacionion, and levell’d many beautiful Houses and magnificent Churches in thePorta Aureaof the City; and add that in the secondWard, the Shock was felt as far as St.Anne’sChurch. I mentioned this Observation to many of mine Acquaintance, lest any one should imagine that the δεύτερον χώριον was one of the fourteenWardsmentioned in theTreatise, entitled, anAntient Description ofConstantinople. I am surprized thatProcopius, who was so exact in describing so many Buildings of the City, never mentions them, since they are taken Notice of byJustinianin hisConstitutions. There’s a Church situate on the seventh Hill, between the Palace ofConstantine, and theAdrianopolitan Gate, which though for many Ages it stood within the Walls, yet on three Sides of it, it formerly stood without the Walls of the City, as it was customary to build theGreekChurches. There’s aPorticoruns round it. The Walls of it within are incrusted with square Pieces of several Kinds of Marble, theFissuresof which are covered from Top to Bottom withModulesofAstragals, some of which are adorned with Berries, and others are work’d round without them. Above theseIncrustationsrise threeFasciæ, and three Ornaments resembling anAstragal, two of which are round, and the uppermost of them is of a square Figure. Higher yet are threeFasciæ, above these are theDentils, and over theDentils, aCorinthian Foliage. It will evidently appear from what I shall mention hereafter, that the Suburbs called theHepdomum, were in the fourteenthWardof the City, where also stood a Palace. There remains at present, out of many antient Palaces, not so much as the Name of one of them, except that seated on the seventh Hill, which is called the Palace ofConstantine, besides a few Pillars, and aCisternin which the GrandSignor’s Elephants are stabled. In the Plain upon the Shore, situate at the Foot of the sixth Hill Eastward, is thePalatineGate calledCynegion. Without the Gate is a fine Growth of Plane-Trees. Near the Gate, within the Wall, were formerly three large Arches, now fill’d up, through which the Inhabitants used to sail their Three-oar’d Galleys, into a Creek built within the City for the Conveniency of the neighbouring Palace. This Creek is now entirely ruin’d, and turn’d into a Garden. TheCynegion, according to modern Writers, is a Place of some Note, so that evenSuidashimself thought it not impertinent to insert in hisLexiconthe following Story.Criminals, says he,condemned to dye were thrown into theCynegion,which was adorned with some Statues. Theodorus,the Town-Clerk, going thither withImeriusKeeper of the Records, saw a short, but a very thick Statue. Look upon the Man, saysImerius,meaning himself, who built theCynegion.I returned in Answer, thatMaximinusbuilt it, and thatAristidesmeasured out the Ground; when immediately one of its Pillars fell, which crushedImeriusto Pieces, so that he died on the Spot. Being terrified at the Sight, I hastened to the Church, where I told what had happened. I attested the Fact with an Oath to those who questioned the Relation. Some of the Emperor’s Domesticks and Servants, when their Attendance was over, walked with me to the Place. Being surprized at the Death ofImerius,and the Fall of the Pillar, a certain Philosopher namedJohannes,told ’em, that he had discovered from a small Animal, that a Manof some Note should dye. PhilipofMacedonbelieving him, ordered the little Creature to be bury’d in the Place, where this Accident happened.JustinustheThirdcommandedTiberiusandLeontius, after they had reign’d three Years, to have their Chains taken off, ty’d Body to Body, dragged thro’ theForumand theTheatreby Horses; and after he had trampled upon the Necks of them, he ordered them to be slain in theCynegion, in the Sight of the People. I look upon thisTheatreto be that which was calledTheatrum Venatorium. For as there was such aTheatreatRome, so there was atConstantinople. ForProcopiusreports, that theTheatres,Hippodroms, and theCynegia, were greatly neglected, and fell to Ruine, thro’ the Avarice ofJustinian.
THE Author of the Book entitled,The antient Description of theWards attests, that there stood in the fourteenthWard, a Church, but does not name it; nor does he take Notice of theBlachernæ, although it was called so before the taking ofConstantinoplebySeverus, as I shall immediately make appear. TheBlachernæstood without the Walls, not only in the Time whenthat Book was wrote, but even in the Reign ofJustinian, who, asProcopiuswrites, built a Church, which he dedicated to theVirgin Mary, before the Walls of the City, in a Place called theBlachernæ.The Spectator, says he,when he enters this Church, will admire its large and bulky Building, yet secure from the Danger of falling by the Strength of its Foundation. You may behold in it, adds he,a stately Magnificence, without any Mixture of Gaiety, and too much Embellishment. ’Tis my Opinion, thatJustinianonly repaired this Church: ForZonarasreports, thatPulcheria, the Wife ofMarcian, built a Church in theBlachernæ, and dedicated it to theVirgin Mary.Pomponius Lætustells us, that this Church was built byTheodosius.Cedrinuswrites, thatJustinthe Nephew ofJustinian, added two Arches to the Church in theBlachernæ. So that ’tis plain from whatProcopiushas wrote upon this Occasion, that theBlachernæstood without the Walls of the City, as it is no less evident from the Testimony ofAgathius.When the barbarous Nations, says he,approachedConstantinople,by the Permission ofJustinian,all the Churches situate without the Walls, from theBlachernæto the Black-Sea, were stripp’d of their Armaments, which were kept within the City. There is at present to be seen, near the Gate calledXylon, and the Western Angle of the City, between the Foot of the sixth Hill, and the turning of a Mosque, situate within the City, (which the People say was dedicated to theVirgin Mary) a Spring now running, which theGreekstell us was consecrated to her. The Place, where the Spring is, is call’d theBlachernæ. Uponmy first coming toConstantinople, some Remains of it were to be seen, but now there nothing appears even of its Ruines. From the Bottom of the sixth Hill, which rises above the Church in theBlachernæ, there shoots anAqueductwith two Pipes; one of which is stopp’d with a Cock, and the other flows in a constant Stream. I took Notice before, thatAndronicusthe Emperor brought thisAqueductfrom the RiverHydrales, into theWardof theBlachernæ, where there was no River Water till his Time. The EmperorAnastasiusbuilt the greatTricliniumin theBlachernæ, which went under his Name, even in the Time ofSuidas.Zonaras, and others assure us, that the EmperorTiberiusbuilt the publick Bath in theBlachernæ. ’Tis certain from some modern Histories, that there was in the Time ofZonaras, even down to the Reign ofManuelthe Emperor, an Imperial Palace in that Place. The Reason why ’tis called theBlachernæ, is mentioned byDionysiusaByzantian, in hisNavigation of the Bosporus, from whom I shall just touch upon some Places described by him, which reach from the Foot of the fifth Hill, to the furthermost Angle of the City, and the sixth Hill.Beyond Mellacopsas, says he, (this, I took Notice of before, was at the Foot of the fifth Hill)there are two Places which afford good Sport in Fishing, all the Year. One upon the Shallows under the Promontories, the other under the deep hollow Shores which are never ruffled by the Wind. The first of these is calledIndigenas,from some great Man who was a Native there; the otherPyracius,fromPyræus,a Port ofAthens;or as some believe, from some antient Inhabitant. There’s a Place between them calledCittos,from the great Plenty of Ivy it produces.There is also a steep Place calledCamara, which adjoins that ofPyracius. ’Tis much exposed to the Wind, and therefore often feels the Roughness of the Sea. Thence, up higher, standsThalassa, which is the Boundary of theCeratine Bay, where the Rivers begin to flow into it. ’Tis thus called, either by Reason of their Nearness to the Sea, whose Salt Waters they mingle with their Freshness, or because it stands steddy, and more out of the Wind; or rather, because the constant Influx of the Rivers into it, brings down daily a muddy Substance into the Sea, which very much thickens it; though it serves for Nourishment to the Multitudes of Fish with which it abounds. The first Place that stands upon this calm Sea is calledPolyrrhetius, from a Man namedPolyrrhetus: The next isVateiascopia, so called from the deep Sea that is about it; a third is theBlachernæ, which is a barbarous Word; and the last Place is the Marshes.
NOT only some Historians, but alsoSuidasthe Grammarian, have handed it down to us, that near the Church of St.Mamas, there stood a Bridge, which had twelve Arches; for there was a great Floud of Waters at that Place. There was also set up at the same Place a brazen Dragon; because ’twas reported that a Serpent had some Time liv’d there, which had deflour’d many Virgins. This Story was occasion’d by the Name of a Man, who was call’dBasiliscus, one ofNumerianus Cæsar’s Life-Guard, who liv’d there, and built a Church, whichZenoafterwards pull’d down.Constantine, call’dIconomachus, because he was a profess’d Enemy to Images, order’d oneAndreasa Statuary, a Man of some Note in theBlachernæ, to be whipt to Death in theHippodromof St.Mamas.Zonarastells us, thatMauritiusthe Emperor was buried in the Church of St.Mamas, which was built byPharasmenes, an Eunuch, and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber toJustinian.Cedrinuswrites, that the Church of St.Mamasstood near the Gate call’dXylocercon. Others report, ThatCrunna,King of theBulgarians, surroundedConstantinoplewith an Army from theBlachernæto thePorta Aurea, and distrusting the Strength of his Forces to take the Town, he hasten’d to this Church, set Fire to a Palace that was near it, and that upon his Retreat, he carry’d off a Brazen Lyon plac’d in theHippodrom, a Bear, a Dragon, and some curious Pieces of Marble.Sozomenspeaking of those Persons who were banish’d on St.Chrysostom’s Account, says, that when they were got without the Walls they met in a Place situate before the City, whichConstantineorder’d to be cleans’d, to be pal’d round, and made it into aHippodrom. This, I take it, was the Place which was afterwards call’d theHippodromof St.Mamas.Zonarasadds upon this Occasion, thatLeothe Emperor, scar’d by a Fire, which then rag’d in the City, flew to the Church of St.Mamas, and continu’d there for some Time.Cedrinusmentions, that the Emperor diverted himself with Horse-racing, near the Church of St.Mamasthe Martyr, situate in theStenon. ’Tis plain from the Authorities abovemention’d, that this Church was seated in theBlachernæ, and that there was a Bridge there, as is farther confirm’d byJohannes Tzetzesin hisVariâ Historiâ, where he says, that the Sea extending itself from the Streights ofAbydus, to the Bridge of theBlachernæ, is call’d theHellespont. ’Tis also evident, that this Bridge stood, where the Stone Piles of the old Bridge (when the Water is low, as ’tis in Summer) are seen at present, and stand between the Suburbs call’d theBlachernæ, and the Suburbs, which theTurkscall theAibasarium. This, Iam confident, is the same Bridge which the ancient Treatiseof the Wards of the City, calls the Wooden Bridge, and places it in the fourteenthWard, in which, as I observ’d, was the Suburbs call’d theHepdomum. I desire the Reader to remark one Thing fromSuidas, that St.MamasBridge had either twelve Stone Arches, or else, that he was writing of another Church of St.Mamas, situate in another Place.
I Take it for granted, from the Situation of the Pillar ofArcadius, now standing on the seventh Hill, call’d theXerolophon, (which is divided from the other six Hills by a broad Valley,) that That is the twelfthWard, which lies a great Way upon the Level, from the Entrance of the City at thePorta Aurea, and is lengthen’d, on the Left Side of it, by a gentle Descent, and bounded by the Sea. It contain’d thePorta Aurea, theTrojan Portico’s, theForum, and Haven ofTheodosius, and a Pillar with winding Steps in the Inside, built in theXerolophonbyArcadius. The Hill still preserves the same Name. Upon this Pillar the Emperor plac’d his Statue, which was thrown down, in the Reign ofLeo Cononby an Earthquake, which shook the whole City, overturn’dmany Churches and Houses, and buried Multitudes of People under it.Cedrinusassures us, that this Pillar was in all respects like that ofTheodosiuserected in theTaurus. It has aBase, aPedestal, and aCapital. TheShaftof the Pillar, with itsPedestalandCapital, consists of twenty one Stones. Above theCapitalare two Stones. ThePedestalalone is built with five Stones, so closely cemented together, that if the Pillar had never felt the Shocks of an Earth-quake, or the Decays of Time, it had appear’d to have been one entire Stone. These Stones are plac’d one above another, and are hollow in the Inside. Each of them is the whole Compass of the Pillar, out of which are cut the Steps and Windows which beautify and enlighten it. I took upon me to measure the Compass of theShaftfrom the Stone which covers it at Top, down to the lowest Step of thePedestal. This Stone therefore, thro’ which there is cut a Door, by which you ascend above theAbacusof theCapital, is about thirteen Foot nine Inches high, and is itself the Roof and Arch of the whole Pillar. The Door is six Foot two Digits high, and three Foot nine Inches broad. The second Stone is six Foot high, in which is cut the uppermost Step above theAbacusof theCapital. The third is five Foot and four Digits high, and contains theAbacusand the wholeCapital. The fifth is five Foot in height, wanting two Digits. The Sixth is four Foot nine Inches high. The Seventh five Foot and two Digits. The Eighth four Foot and four Digits. The Ninth is six Foot high. The Tenth five Foot. The Eleventh four Footand fourteen Digits. The Twelfth four Foot nine Inches. The Thirteenth five Foot. The Fourteenth five Foot two Digits. The fifteenth five Foot and a half. The Sixteenth the same. The Seventeenth five Foot and ten Digits. The eighteenth six Foot and a half. The Nineteenth five Foot and four Digits. The Twentieth six Foot and a half. The Twenty first, where theShaftof the Pillar begins, six Foot and four Digits high. ThePedestalconsists of six Stones. The uppermost of which is four Foot nine Inches high. The Second is the same height. The Third four Foot. The Fourth four Foot six Inches. The Fifth the same. The Sixth and last is four Foot high. It has in all fifty six Windows, and two hundred thirty three Steps of two kinds. For some rise in square, others in circular Windings, after the Manner of some Shell-Fish. You ascend thePedestalby five square Winding Steps. Every Winding has at the Top of it a small Floor, which leads you from one Winding to another. The first and second Windings have six Steps each; the third eight; the fourth and fifth, nine each; the lowest of them all, which lies level with the Threshold of the Door, is ten Digits high, twelve Inches broad, and two Foot nine Inches long. The other square Windings are like this, and the Floor at the Top of each of them is two Foot nine Inches square. Upon the fifth Winding stands theShaftof the Pillar, the first Steps of which are ten Digits high; near the Wall they are a Foot broad, in the Middle a Foot and nine Inches, and in Length they are two Foot nine Inches. TheSteps above them, are all of them, nine Digits high. The Inside of theShaftof the Pillar measures twenty eight Foot in Circumference. The Wall which encloses the Steps, in the lowest Part of it, is two Foot and three Digits, in the highest, ’tis one Foot nine Inches thick. If I should be thought too curious, in taking the Dimensions of every Stone, this Character with more Justice belongs to that Man, (and yetThucydideshighly commends him for it) who by counting the Rows of Bricks of which they were built, took the height of the Enemies Walls. I was under some Apprehensions from the Savageness of the Inhabitants, lest they should catch me dropping my Line, had I measur’d it without, so that I lay under a Necessity of taking the Dimensions within; and by joining the height of one Stone to the height of another, I discover’d its Altitude. There are two Steps consisting of many Stones, which first shew themselves from the Surface of the Earth. Above them is the third Step, which is cut out of a Stone three Foot and four Digits high, and thirty three Foot and a half in Circumference. Upon the Stone which makes the third Step, stands thePedestal. The first of the five Stones of which it consists, from the Threshold of the Door, is five Foot and a half high. Its Ornaments are a plainPlinththree Foot five Digits high, a smallTorefive Digits high, anApophygewith aRegletnine Inches, anotherRegletabove it two Digits, and aCorniceengrav’d, which is nine Inches high. TheFrieze, on three Sides, is curiously engrav’d with Trophies; the Northern Side of it, wherethe Door is, is not engrav’d at all. TheCorniceof the Pedestal bends downwards. At the bottom of it is aReglet, above that anAstragal, adorn’d with Berries; then anOvolo, and above that anAstragalwreath’d like a Rope. Higher yet is aFolialBandage. There projects beyond thePedestala kind ofAbacus; on each side of which there are twoFascesof Laurel-work, the largest of which is incurvated even to the bottom of theAbacus. On the Sides of thisAbacusthere is a Sculpture of seven naked Boys, holding each of them in his Hand a LaureatedFascis. At every Angle of thisAbacusthere stands an Eagle, and above it is thePlinthof the Pillar, adorn’d with aFoliage, which projects very little. Above thePlinthis aTore, adorn’d with Laurel-work, which is filletted with a spiral Bandage. Above theTorethere rises anApophyge, upon which Stands the Shaft of the Pillar, which is carv’d with the Scenes of War, and of Battles. The Sculpture is much like that which adorns the Pillar ofTrajanin OldRome. TheTrachelium, or Top of theShaft, is fluted perpendicularly. The lower part of itsCapitalis adorn’d withApophyges, anOvolo, and anAbacus, which projects beyond theShafttwo Foot and fourteen Digits. TheAbacus, on all sides of it, is seventeen Foot, and nine Inches round. Above theAbacusthere is a Door, above which the Pillar rises in the Form of aCone, where there is another Door above ten Foot high. We may look upon this Pillar to be of theTuscanOrder, because both theBase, and theCapitalof it, are finished after theTuscanmanner.
SUIDASwrites, that theXerolophonwas formerly call’dThema, because it was a kind of Repository, and contained in it fifteen winding Apartments, the Statue ofDiana, andSeverus, who built it; besides aThermation, aTriposfrom whence many Oracles were deliver’d. In this Place, the Founder of it us’d to offer Sacrifices; and among others he sacrificed a Virgin.Priscian, whom I find mention’d byBenedictus Ægius, indefatigably curious in his Search of Antiquity, observes, That theAzolessometimes inserted in a Word the Letter Ϝ, as I have taken Notice of in some Inscriptions of a very antientTriposofApollo, still remaining in theXerolophon; the Words of which are written after this Manner; Δημοφάϝων, Λαϝονάϝων. He tells us, that ’tis customary in another Place, meaning among theÆolians, to place anϜbetween two Vowels of the same Word; as inὄϝις,ovis,Δάϝος,Davus,ὦϝον,ovum. I have seen, says he, the same in some old Inscriptions, in very antient Characters, on someTripos’s, especially on theTriposofApollo, which is atConstantinople; asΔημοφόϝωνforΔημοφόων,ΛαϝοκόϝωνforΛαοκόων.Others add, that there were the like Insertions in theXerolophon, a little above theBasisof the Pillars ofMarcian,Valentinian, andTheodosiustheLess.Zonarastells us, thatSimeon, a Prince of theBulgarians, a Man of a cruel and turbulent Spirit, march’d an Army against theChrobatians; when he was conquer’d, and lost his Army, partly by the Badness of the Roads, some Body inform’d the Emperor that the Statue plac’d above the Arch in theXerolophon, looking Westward, was carv’d for the Statue ofSimeonofBulgaria, and that if any one cut off the Head of the Statue,Simeonshould immediately die. The Emperor commands the Head of the Statue to be chopt off, and soon received the News thatSimeonwas dead of a violent Pain of the Stomach. For he watch’d to a Minute the Time of his Death. As to the Port ofTheodosius, that was in the same Place where the Gardens, which are now call’d theBlancha, stand at present. These Gardens are enclos’d with a Wall, and are seated in a Plain, adjoyning to the Shore of thePropontis, at the Foot of the sixth Hill. The Mouth of the Port stood Eastward, from whence the Pier extended it self Westward, in a direct Line, where at present stand the Walls of the City. The Pier was twelve Foot in Thickness; and, as I found by walking it, ’twas six Hundred of my Paces in length. ’Tis now entirely ruin’d. The Gardens, which are very spacious, abound with Sallets and Potherbs, but have very few Fruit-Trees. These Gardens are water’d with Pools, which they have within them, and which are the Remains of the old Port. I discover’d by the Pier, and Situationof the Place, that ’twas above a Mile in compass. In the Mouth of the Port, not altogether unfit for Ships at present, without the City Wall, you still see a Fortress in its Ruins, surrounded by the Sea. The unknown Writer ofthe EmpireofConstantinopleasserts, That it was first calledThema, afterwards theForumofTheodosius; tho’ it seems to me rather to be theForumofArcadius, by Reason the Pillar ofArcadiusjoyns to it. For theForumofTheodosius, in all Probability, stood near the Port ofTheodosius. This is no more than what is conformable to the Rules of Architecture, which prescribe, that a Market should be built near a Port. I am of Opinion, that it was formerly call’d the Port ofEleutherius, if we may credit those Writers who affirm, ThatConstantinetheGreatbuilt a Wall from the Ridge of the first Hill to the Port ofSophia, and the Port ofEleutherius, built byConstantinetheGreat, to prevent the Inundations of the Sea. ’Tis called the Port ofEleutherius, because, when ’twas built, he was Surveyor of the Works. It was for this Reason, that there was a Marble Statue erected to him in that Port, bearing on his Shoulders a Basket of Marble, and holding in his Hand a Marble Spade. They add further, thatIrena, and her SonConstantine, built him a noble Seat; and that from that Seat, as far as theAmastrianum, reach’d theHippodrom, which was built byTheodosiustheGreat, and was demolish’d byIrena.Zonaraswrites, thatIrena, after she was remov’d from the Government byConstantineher Son, liv’d in a House which she built in the Port ofEleutherius. ThePortico’s, which theancient Description of the Wards of the Citynames with the EpithetTroadeæ, others mention with that ofTroadesiæ, and tell us, thatConstantinetheGreatbuilt the Walls of the City as far as thePortico’scall’dPorticus Troadesiæ(that is, theTrojan Portico’s) and thePorta Aurea, which stood in the twelfthWard. I am of Opinion, that they were call’d theTrojan Portico’s, because they contain’d some Things of the like Kind with that which was called thePorticus Varia. ’Tis reported, says he, that in thePortico, formerly call’dPlesiactia, and nowPæcilla, orPorticus Varia, a celebrated Painter drew the Face ofLaodice, on the Picture ofElpinica. I had not known it by the Name it goes at present, had it not been for a Spring near it which they callΧρυσοπηγὴ, as deriving its Name from thePorta Aurea. This Spring, to this Day, constantly flows, and is drank with great Devotion by theGreeks, who hold all Springs, near their Churches, to be sacred. There’s nothing of the Church remaining at present, tho’Procopiustakes Notice of it.Justinian, says he,built two Churches to theVirgin Mary,before the Walls of the City one in theBlachernæ,the other in a Place call’dΠηγὴ,where there is a large Wood of Cypresses, a verdant Meadow, and a delightful Garden, which produces a great Store of fine Fruit, and where there is also a gentle Spring, which affords very good drinking Water. One of the Churches stood near the Sea-shore, the other near thePorta Aurea.Both of them, he adds,were near the end of the City Walls, and were upon Occasion impregnable Fortresses to it. Fromhence I would remark, that in the Time ofJustinian, the Angle of the City, which they call the Angle of the seven Towers, was not within the City; but that the Land-wall from thePorta Aurea, straitned the Angle of the City into a more narrow Compass, as appears from the Situation of the Monastery ofStudius, which stood upon a piece of Ground, which was formerly look’d upon to be in the Suburbs, but now stands further within the Walls, than the Angle of the seven Towers. He proceeds, and tells us, thatJustinian, at a vast Expence, upon the Entrance of thePorta Aureaon the right Hand, rebuilt the Temple ofJa, (which Time had wholly defac’d) for the Service of the TrueGod. The Observation I would make from hence is, that thePorta Aureastood near the seventh Hill, call’d theXerolophon, which is also confirm’d byZonaras, who writes, That in the Time ofLeo, many Churches and Houses, the Statue ofArcadius, plac’d upon a Pillar in theXerolophon, and the Statue ofTheodosiustheGreat, placed upon thePorta Aurea, as also the City Walls, reaching to the Continent on the Field side, were overthrown by an Earthquake.Cedrinusasserts, that the Statue ofVictory, near thePorta Aurea, was overturn’d by the same Earthquake. Other Historians mention, that by the same Earthquake, which happen’d the Vᵗʰ of theCalendsofNovember, many sacred Buildings, and many others of common Use, with Multitudes of People, were destroy’d; and that the Statue ofConstantinetheGreat, which stood upon the Gate ofAttalus, with the Gate it self, was demolish’dby it. It is therefore a great Mistake in those, who take thePorta Aureato be the same Gate which is now call’dOria, and is seated in the Northern Part of the City, which, as I observ’d before, was called the Port ofNeorius, since ’tis plain from what I have mentioned, that thePorta Aureawas in the Western Part of the City. This is also evident from theantient Descriptionof theWardsofConstantinople, which tells us, that the Length of the City, from thePorta Aureato the Sea-shore, in a direct Line, is fourteen Thousand and seventy five Feet.Cedrinustakes Notice, that the Elephants stabled in thePorta Aurea, were much of that Kind, with whichTheodosiusmade his publick Entry into the City. ’Tis said thatTheodosiustheLesswho built the Walls of the City as far as theBlachernæ, brought the Statues of those Elephants, which are plac’d upon thePorta Aurea, from the Temple ofMarsatAthens.Cedrinusasserts, thatPhilipKing ofMacedonbuilt the great Church ofMociusthe Martyr, and a Church to St.Annein a Place call’dSecundus.Procopiussays, that both these Churches were built byJustinian. I have seen some Remains of the Church ofMocius, near a largeCistern, built byJustinian, on the Top of the seventh Hill. All its Pillars are standing, and it goes still under the Name ofMocius. Some Historians, andSuidastheGrammariansay, that thisCisternwas built byAnastasius Dicorus. It may be worth Enquiry, whether theMoneta, which theantient Description of the Wardsplaces in this Ward, was the Temple ofJuno Moneta, or the Treasury. FortheGrand Seignor, to this Day, makes use of the Castle with seven Towers for a Treasury.Suidaswrites, that the Statue ofJunowas supported by a Brazen Arch, made somewhat in Form of a Pair of Barbers Scissars, but takes no Notice where it stood; so that I desire the Reader would lay no great Stress upon what I have said of theMoneta.