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 the mighty Force and Pow’r ofRome.Let thy good Providence with watchful EyeLook 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 the mighty Force and Pow’r ofRome.Let thy good Providence with watchful EyeLook 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 the mighty Force and Pow’r ofRome.Let thy good Providence with watchful EyeLook 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 the mighty Force and Pow’r ofRome.
Let thy good Providence with watchful Eye
Look down, and guard the City from all Ills.
Zonarasmentions the same Thing, tho’ in different Words. He placed, says he, meaningConstantine, the roundPorphyryPillar which he brought fromRome, in theForum, paved with square Stones. For this Reason it was called bytheGreeksΠλακότον. At the Top of the Pillar he placed his own Statue in Brass, which for its Largeness, and the Exquisiteness of its Work, was scarce to be matched in the whole World, as being finished to the Life, by an antient and eminent Statuary. It was thought that it was originally designed forApollo, and brought fromTroy; butConstantinegave it his own Name, making some Alteration by fattening some of those Nails in the Head of it, with which theJewscrucified theLord of Life. This Statue continued standing upon the Pillar till very lately, when in the Reign ofAlexius Comnenus, it was thrown down by an Earthquake, and crushed some People to Death.Nicephorusin the Fourth Book,Chap.8. of hisEccles. Hist.gives a better Description of it. He built, says he, a largePorphyryPillar, upon which he placed his own Statue, holding in his right Hand a Globe, with a Cross fixed upon it. By this Symbol he intimated, that by Virtue of that invincible Trophy the Cross, the whole Earth and Sea was subject to his Power.Gylliuswrites, that this Pillar was made of eight Stones, and that at the Joints of it, it was covered round with Wreathed Laurels made of Brass, so that you could not perceive where it was cemented; but that upon the Removal of the Brass-work, you might easily discern that it was a jointed Structure, and that the Number of the Stones might be plainly seen. This Pillar is eighty six Foot high, besides theBasis, the Steps, and the Pedestal.
The Senate-House, in the same Place.] This Building stood on the North Side of theForumofConstantine. The Senators and principal Men of the City used to assemble here upon publick Affairs, and the Emperor took upon him in this Place the Consular Habit. It was curiously beautified with Brass, andPorphyryMarble.Zonaras, andCedrinustell us, that in the Reign ofLeotheGreat, it was destroyed by Fire.
TheNeorianPort.] This was the Haven, or Dock, where they built their shipping, from whence the Gate, which hands near it, is called by some Writers, the Gate of theNeorium; but byZonaras, andCedrinus, as will appear in my Notes upon the twelfthWard, it was calledPorta Aurea, the gilded or beautiful Gate. Some have given it the Name of the Imperial Gate, because it joins to the Palace.
The Stairsof Sycæna.] These are the Stairs upon the Shore, from whence you go off to a neighbouring Island calledSycænabut which at present is calledPera. In the Creek here, there are many Thousand small Boats, more in Number than atVenice. They are generally called Ferry-boats, because theycarrytheir Fare to and fro’ across the River.
One largePortico.] ThisPorticoreached as far as theForumofConstantine, and was burnt down in a tumultuous Manner, in the Reign ofJustinian.
THEseventhWard,if compared with the former, lies more upon the Level, although at the Extremity on one Side of it, it falls with a greater Declivity into the Sea. It stretches its self with very longPortico’s,from the right Hand of the Pillar ofConstantine,to theForumofTheodosius;as it does also on another Side of it as far as the Sea, byPortico’sextended in the same Manner. It contains in it three Churches, that of St.Irene;St.Anastasia,and St.Paul;the Pillar ofTheodosius,which you ascend on the Inside by Winding Stairs; two large Equestrian Statues; Part of theForumofTheodosius;theBagnio’sofCorosia;eighty five Streets; seven hundred and eleven great Houses; six largePortico’s;eleven private Baths; twelve private Mills; and sixteenGradus.It is governed by oneCurator,has oneVernaculus,eightyCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
The Church of St.Irene.] This Church stood in a Street of thisWard, which was calledTaurus. It was called the Church of St.Irene,i. e.of Peace; and which, asSocratesandCedrinusinform us, was built byConstantinetheGreat, and burnt down in the Reign ofJustinian.
The Church of St.Anastasia.] The Reliques of St.Anastasia, in the first Year ofLeotheGreat, were brought fromSyrmiumtoConstantinople, and reposited in this Church which was built by the Catholicks, because St.Gregory Nazianzenhad there revived the Doctrine of theHoly Trinity, or asSozomenreports, because a Woman big with Child falling from a Gallery over the Church-porch died upon the Spot, and revived by the Prevalency of the Prayers of the Congregation.
But it seems to me more agreeable to Truth, that there were atConstantinopletwo Churches which went under this Name: One was the Church of theNovatians, which was pull’d down by theArians, and which was afterwards rebuilt by them, asSozomenobserves,Lib.IV.Cap.19, and was therefore call’d the Church of St.Anastasia. The other was so call’d, from the Revival of the Doctrine of the Trinity, just mentioned. The Church here meant was anciently the House ofNicobulus, where St.Gregory Nazianzenwas hospitably entertained by him, as appears in his Oration to the Hundred and fifty Bishops. This House was afterwards made a Church, and became a most magnificentBasilica. ButSozomentells us,Lib.V.Cap.5. That the Church was so called for the Reason above-mentioned.Martian, one of the Principal, and most wealthy Citizens, built there a large and beautiful Church. The Reliques ofAnastasia, were reposited there, because the Church bore her Name.
The Pillar ofTheodosius,which is ascended on the Inside by Winding Stairs.]Zonaras, in his Life ofJustinian, writes concerning this Pillar asfollows: In the seventeenth Year of his Reign, says he, the great Pillar placed before the Porch of the great Church was finished, upon which he placed his own Statue on Horseback. In the same Place had stood formerly the Pillar ofTheodosius, supporting a silver Statue, made at the Cost of his SonArcadius. This Statue was seven Thousand four hundred Pound in Weight.Justiniantook down the Statue, and demolished the Pillar, and laid them both up; so that the Statue, with the Stones of the Pillar, is to be seen at this Day. As the Treatise, I am, upon was wrote when this Pillar was standing, it must of Consequence be wrote before the Time ofJustinian.Cedrinus, in his Life ofZeno, speaks of this Pillar in another Manner, or else he is speaking of another Pillar. In the Street calledTaurus, says he,TheodosiustheGreaterected a Pillar, on which was carved the History of his Battles with theScythians, and the Trophies of his Success. This Pillar, continues he, has Winding-Stairs within it. At the Top of it, in a Place where two Ways meet, satTheodosiuson Horseback, with his right Hand stretched towards the City, and pointing downwards to the Trophies carved upon it. This Pillar, with the Statue, was thrown down by an Earthquake in the fourth Year of the Reign ofZenothe Emperor. The same Historian, speaking ofAnastasius, says, that he ordered to be melted down many of the Statues, and other Curiosities set up byConstantinetheGreat, out of which his own Statue was made, which he placed upon the Pillar in theTaurus. For before the Statue ofTheodosiustheGreatwasplaced there, the Pillar ofAnastasiuswas thrown down, and dashed to Pieces by an Earthquake.
Two large Equestrian Statues.] One of these was the Statue ofTheodosiustheGreat. The other is unknown.
TheBagnio’sofCorosia.] These Bagnio’s took their Name fromCorosia, the Daughter ofValensthe Emperor, asSozomenobserves in the Ninth Chapter of his Sixth Book.Martian, says he, a Man of consummate Learning, and great Austerity of Life, who had formerly been one of the Emperor’s Life-Guard, but at that Time a Priest, was aNovatian, and Tutor toAnastasiusandCorosia, the Son and Daughter ofValens, in the Rudiments of Grammar. He adds, that there were someBagnio’satConstantinoplethat were named from them.
THEeighthWard,on the Side of theTaurus,is not bounded by the Sea, and may be looked upon to be rather a narrow, than a broad Piece of Ground; yet is this Defect sufficiently amended by its great Length. It contains part of theForumofConstantine,aPorticoon the left Side of it, reaching as far as theTaurus;theBasilicaofTheodosius;theCapitol;twenty two Streets; a hundred and eight spacious Houses; five largePortico’s;fifteen private Baths; five private Mills; fiveGradus,and two Flesh Markets. Ithas oneCurator,oneVernaculus,seventeenCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
ThisWardis wholly encompassed by the Land, and contains part of theTaurus, which was a Street ofConstantinople.Zonarasin his Life ofNicephorus Botoniates, takes Notice of it, and tells us, that it contained Part of theForumofConstantine, aPorticoon the left Side of it, reaching as far as theTaurus, theBasilicaofTheodosius, and theCapitol: In such magnificent Buildings, more especially, didConstantinoplemuch resembleOld Rome.
THEninthWardis all a Declivity, and bounded by the Sea. It contains the two Churches ofCænopolis,andOmonæa;the Granaries ofAlexandria;the House of the most illustriousArcadia;theBagnio’sofAnastasia;the Granaries ofTheodosius;sixteen Streets; a hundred and sixteen great Houses; two largePortico’s;fifteen private Baths; fifteen private, and four publick Mills. ’Tis governed by oneCurator,oneVernaculus,thirty eightCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
The two Churches ofCænopolis,andOmonæa.] I am of Opinion, that the first of these Churches took its Name from some Place in the City. Perhaps it was call’d so from a Spring without thePorta Aurea, which had made the Ground foul, and oozy.Leo, before he came to the Government, as the Story goes, anointed the Eyes of a blind Man with the Dirt of that Place, and he recover’d his Sight. When he arriv’d afterwards to the Imperial Dignity, he dedicated a Church to theVirgin Mary, who foretold his Accession to the Government.Nicephorus, inLib.XV.Cap.25.Hist. Ecclesiast.(andProcopiusconfirms it) says, that in the Suburbs, which was calledFons, or the Spring,Justinianrepair’d the Church of theBlessed Virgin. The other Church is call’dὉμόνοια, or the Church of Concord; because, probably in the Times of Heathenism, the Temple ofConcordstood there; as there were no less than three such Temples atRome. One of which was dedicated to her byM. Furius Camillus, upon a Suppression of a Military Tumult; the second byM. Manlius Prætor, upon quelling such another Tumult inGaul; and the third in theForum Romanum, near theGræcostasis, byL. OpimiustheConsul, upon the Defeat ofGracchusand his Party, in Opposition to the strongest Resentments of the People; so that the Inscription over this Temple wasOpus Vecordiæ, and notConcordiæ. There was also another Temple dedicated toConcord, which was either built, or repair’d byLiviaAugusta, as is observed by St.Austin.Lib.III.Cap.2.de Civit. Dei.One of these Temples was repaired byConstantinefor Christian Worship, as is evident from an antient Inscription in theLateran.
The Granariesof Alexandria.] There were yearly carried fromAlexandriatoConstantinople, eight Millions ofMedimniof Wheat, (eachMedimnusofAttickMeasure consisted of six Bushels) for which the Masters of the Ships by an Edict ofJustinian, received the Sum of ninety ThousandAurei. There was antiently rais’d by Order of the Senate, and the principal Inhabitants, the Sum of six hundred and eleven Pounds in Gold, which was lodged in the Hands of thePrefectof the City, for purchasing Provision; to which the Emperor added another Import, for purchasing Corn fromAlexandria,Lib.III.Cod. Theod. de Frumen. Urb. Constan.This Corn, when brought toConstantinople, was laid up in Granaries, which were therefore called the Granaries ofAlexandria.
The House of the most illustriousArcadia.] This Lady, asCedrinusrelates, was the Daughter ofArcadius. She had another House in the tenthWard.Arcadiushad by the EmpressEudocia, three Daughters,Pulcheria,Marina, andArcadia, who all lived in a State of Celibacy.
TheBagnio’sofAnastasia.] TheseBagnio’swere so call’d fromAnastasia, the Daughter ofValens, as others were from her SisterCarosiaabovementioned.Marcellinus, in hisSeventeenth Bookobserves, that theseBagnio’stook their Name fromAnastasia.Paulas Diaconustells us inhisThirteenth Book, that there’s a very large House inConstantinoplecalledCarya, which signifies a Nut: For, says he, there stands in the Porch of this House a Nut-tree, on which, as the Report goes, St.Achatiussuffered Martyrdom. Upon this Account, there is also an Oratory built in the same Place.Procopiusalso mentions a Man, who went to theBagnio’sofAnastasia, which took their Name, says he, from the Sister ofConstantine.
THEtenthWard,on the other Side of the City, is divided from the ninth by a broad Way, yet is it much more upon the Level; nor is it, in any Part of it uneven, but near the Sea Shore. ’Tis of a proportionable Length and Breadth, and contains in it; the Church of St.Achatius;theBagnio’sof Constantine; the House ofAugusta Placidia;the House ofAugusta Eudocia;the House of the most illustriousArcadia;a largeNympheum;twenty Streets; six hundred and thirty six great Houses; six largePortico’s;twenty two private Baths; two publick, and sixteen private Mills; and twelveGradus.It has oneCurator,oneVernaculus,ninetyCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
The Church of St.Achatius.] This good Man suffered Death atConstantinople, as I just observed, upon a Nut-tree, whichNicephorussays, remained in the Middle of the Church, sacred to his Memory in the Reign ofArcadius, though he was martyr’d in the Time ofDioclesianan hundred Years before. For, speaking ofProcopiusthe Tyrant, The Church, says he, which was demolished with Age, was rebuilt, and beautified byJustinian. AndProcopiusthe Historian tells us inLib. de Ædif Just.ThatJustinianrebuilt it from the Ground, and that it cast such a Lustre, that it struck the Spectators with Admiration, its Marble being very glossy, and white as Snow. He adds farther, that this Church was called theMartyrdomof St.Achatius, because he was buried there, which happened on the sixth ofMay.
TheBagnio’sofConstantine.]Gylliussays they were theBagnio’sofConstantius, and which, indeed, are often mentioned bySozomen,Socrates, andSuidas; but ’tis more probable that theseBagnio’swere built byConstantine, who was indefatigable in beautifying the City with many Decorations.
The House ofPlacidia Augusta.] This Lady was the Daughter ofTheodosiustheLess, who afterwards resided inItaly, with her BrotherHonorius.
The House ofAugusta Eudocia.] She was the most learned Woman of her Age, and wrote the Life ofChristinGreek Hexameters, after the Manner ofHomer. At last being suspected by her Husband of Adultery, and divorc’d, she went toJerusalem, but upon the Death ofTheodosius, asZonarasandNicephoruswrite, returned again toConstantinople.
THEeleventhWard,much wider in Compass than the former, is, in no part of it, bounded by the Sea. The whole of it, level and rising Ground, contains, the Church of theApostles;the Palace ofFlacilla;the House ofAugusta Pulcheria;the Brazen Bull; the Cistern ofArcadius;the Cistern ofModestus;five hundred and three great Houses; four largePortico’s;fourteen private Baths; one publick, and three private Mills; and sevenGradus.It has oneCurator;oneVernaculus;thirty sevenCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
The Church of theApostles.]CedrinusandEusebiuswrite, that this Church was rebuilt byConstantine.Eusebius,Lib.IV.Cap.58.de Vita Const.says, that to perpetuate the Memory of theApostles, he began to build a Church, in the City called after his own Name. When he had built the Church to a very great Height, he beautify’d it with Stones of all Kinds, and inlay’d it with Variety of the most delicate Marble, from the Pavement to the Top of the Church; and having closed the Roof with Arches of the best Workmanship, he gilded it over. The Top of theChurch, on the Outside of it, was cover’d with Brass, to secure it from the Violence of the Weather, part of which was also gilded; so that the amazing Splendour of it, reflected the Rays of the Sun to a very great Distance. The inward part of the Church he cover’d with Net-work, which was artificially made of Brass and Gold. Thus beautifully was the Church adorn’d by the great Care and Application of the Emperor. Before it stood a spacious Court, with an open Gallery round it. The Church and the Gallery were wholly surrounded withPortico’s. The Palace, theBagnio’s, the Walks, and many Houses built for the Accommodation of those who look’d after them, had all of them the Conveniency of somePortico. In this Church was laid the Body ofConstantine, in a golden Chest, the twelveApostlesstanding round his Tomb. This is attested bySocrates. This Church was afterwards rebeautified byJustinian. ForProcopius,Lib. de Ædif. Just.speaks of it thus: There was, says he, an ancient Church atConstantinople, just sinking with Age. This Church, for the Reverence he bore to it, was repair’d byJustinian, where the Masons and Workmen found three wooden Chests or Coffins, which proved by their Inscriptions, that the Bodies of St.Luke, St.AndrewandTimothy, were interr’d there, and which were viewed byJustinian, and theChristiansof those Times, with the greatest Admiration.
The Palace ofFlacilla.] If we read itFalcilla, it is meant of another Daughter ofArcadius; ifPlacilla, she was the Wife ofTheodosius the Great, whomPaulus DiaconuscallsFlacilla.
The Brazen Bull.] This Bull,Cedrinuswrites, was brought fromTroy. There was, says he, a Stove in which St.Antipasthe Martyr was burnt to Death. Some are of Opinion, that this Stove was theBrazen Bullhere mention’d, which was invented byPerillus, who was forced to undergo the same Torment byPhalaris, a cruel Tyrant ofAgrigentum.Zonarasrelates, thatPhocasthe Tyrant was burnt in a Bull,i. e.in a brazen Stove made in the Shape of a Bull, brought fromPergamus, which Place gave its Name to a Place nearConstantinople.
The Cistern ofModestus.]Modestuswas first chief Governour of the East, and was afterwards,Præfectus Prætorio, or General of the Life-Guard toValens. As he was anArian, he persecuted the Catholicks. Afterwards he was recovered from a dangerous Illness by the Prayers of St.Basil, as ’tis recorded byGregory Nazianzenin his Funeral Oration upon him. I take this to be the same Person who built the Cistern here mention’d.
THEtwelfthWard,from the Entrance of the City at thePorta Aurea,is a long way upon the Level. ’Tis extended on the left Side of it by a gentle Descent, and is bounded by the Sea. ThisWardis better guarded, and more handsomly beautified than any other, the Walls rising higher here than in any other part of the City. It containsthePorta Aurea;thePortico’sofTroas;theForumofTheodosius;A Column with winding Stairs in its Inside; the Mint, or Treasury; the Port ofTheodosius;eleven Streets; three hundred and sixty three great Houses; three largePortico’s;five private Baths; five private Mills, and nineGradus.It has oneCurator,oneVernaculus,thirty fourCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
ThePorta Aurea.] TheGreekscall itὡραίαboth on the account of its own Beautifulness, and that of the neighbouring Buildings; so that it is a palpable Mistake in those who call itPorta Neoriafrom the Dock, which is near to it. I take this to be the same Gate whichZonarasmentions in his Life ofLeothe Philosopher. He calls it the Western Gate of the GoldenTriclinium, from whence it is call’d thePorta Aurea, as is observ’d byNicetasin his Life ofAlexius Ducas, Marzulfus, and in theHistoryof their Atchievements, after they had taken the City; as also byNicephorus Gregoras, in hisTreatiseentituled,The Entry ofMichael Palæologusinto the City. In this Gate it is reported, the Elephants were stabled, which were much like those with whichTheodosiusmade his publick Entry intoConstantinople, as ’tis mention’d byCedrinus. Some Historians tell us, that they were transported toConstantinoplefrom the Temple ofMars Atheniensis. This Gate stood Easterly, facing the Sea, and asNicephorusobserves, overlook’d the Imperial Citadel through the City to a great Distance, and that from thenceyou might look very far backwards into the Inland Countries. This Gate, in a direct Line, was distant from the Sea-shore fourteen thousand and seventy five Feet, so that the City was about three Miles in Length.
ThePortico’sofTroas.] I believe thesePortico’stook their Name either from the People ofTroas, who, while they continued there, built them; or from some Part of the City so call’d, or because some Goods and Merchandize were imported thither fromTroas, as I observed before of the Granaries ofTroas.
A Column with winding Stairs on its Inside.] Upon this Pillar was erected the Statue ofTheodosius, which, asZonaraswrites, was near thePorta Aurea, and fell down in the Reign ofLeo Isaurus.Gylliusis of Opinion, that this was the Statue ofArcadius, that the Shaft of it, with the Pedestal and Capital, consisted of twenty one Stones; and adds, that the Battels ofTheodosiuswere carv’d upon it.
THEthirteenthWardis call’d theSycæne Ward,which is divided from the City by a narrow Bay of the Sea, and maintains an Intercourse with it by Boats, and small Vessels. It stands wholly upon the Side of it, except a broad Tract of Land, which lies Level, at the Foot of it, near the Sea-shore. It contains one Church, theBagnio’sandForumofHonorius;A Theatre; A Dock forShip-building; four hundred and thirty one great Houses; one largePortico;five privateBagnio’s;one publick, and four private Mills; with eightGradus.It has oneCurator,oneVernaculus,thirty fourCollegiati,and fiveVico-Magistri.
TheSycene Ward.] ThisWardis aPeninsuladivided fromConstantinopleby a small Bay of the City. ’Tis at present call’dGalata, orPera.Stephanus(de Urbibus) tells us, thatSycæis a small City over against NewRome, which in his Time was calledJustiniana. ButJustinianhimself,Novel.59.Cap.5. places it so far within the new Walls of the City, that, as he says, it ought to be looked upon as a Part of it. It was named by theGreeksSycæna, from the great Produce it bears of the bestFigs, as is observed byCedrinusandDionysiusaByzantian. ’Tis not inhabited at present by theFranks, for so theGreekscall theLatines.Gylliusis of Opinion that it was calledGalata, becauseBrennus, Captain General of theGauls, whom theGreekscallΓαλάταιmarched thither with his Army. It was also calledPera, that is, theFerry, orPeræa, and stood on the other Side of the Water; asJosephusrelates, thatJudæawas on the other Side ofJordan; and asStrabomentions a Place, which he says was on the other Side ofEuphrates.Anastasiusin hisConstitutionscalls itSycæ, or theFerryofSycæ, where he commands the Dead to be bury’d without Fee, or Reward. ’Tis divided by a Hillthat runs from North to South, and is bounded on each Side by two Vales, of a Mile in Length. Its Walls are four Thousand four Hundred Paces in Compass. Near to it,Justinianin his 159ᵗʰNov.seems to fix the Suburbs calledCoparium: AndSocratesin his 30ᵗʰChap.of hisEccles. Hist.tells us, that there’s a Place just against the City, which is calledSycæ. The Church of theNovatianswas translated hither in the Reign ofConstantine.
It maintained an Intercourse withConstantinople,by Boats and small Vessels.] There were in the Bay here many Thousands of small Boats, far exceeding the Number of those which are atVeniceto carry Passengers from one Shore to the other, so that thisPeninsulamight reasonably be looked upon as a Part of the City. ’Tis almost surrounded with Mountains, at the Foot of which, towards the Sea, it lies all upon a Level to the opposite Shore. It contained a Church, theForum, and Theatre ofHonorius, and many other Ornaments and Curiosities in common with otherWards. There stood here a magnificent Church dedicated to St.Irene, which was built byPertinax, who had pass’d the Consular Dignity, and was thenPatriarchofConstantinople: AndConstantine, when he had beautified theWardwith many stately Buildings, enclosed it with a Wall, as ’tis recorded byCardinal Baroniusin hisAnnalsof the Year 314.
The Dock.] There was also a Place in thisWardwhere they built their Ships.
The Author has taken no Notice of two Streets which belonged to thisWard, and which would complete the Number of three hundred and twenty two Streets, mentioned in the Conclusion of hisTreatise; but without the Addition of them, we can reckon them three hundred and twenty and no more.
Although thisWardis look’d upon to be a fourteenth Part of the City, yet because it is divided from the otherWardsby an intermediate Space of Land, and enclosed within its own Walls, it makes the Figure of a small City by it self. The Entrance of it at the Gate is somewhat upon the Level; but the right Side of it, rising into an Ascent, almost to the Middle of the broad Way, falls into a deep Descent, and ends afterwards near the Sea in a Plain. It contains a Church; the Palace; aNympheum;some Baths; a Theatre; aLusorium;a Wooden Bridge; eleven Streets; a hundred and sixty seven great Houses; two largePortico’s;five private Baths; one publick, and one private Mill; with fiveGradus.
The fourteenthWard,which is enclosed within its own Walls, makes the Figure of a kind of smallCity by it self.] It was antiently looked upon to be a small City, because one of the Emperors had built there an Imperial Citadel. ’Tis very mountainous about it, and it descends towards the Sea, into the Bosom of a Plain. The Name of the Church in thisWardis not known at present.
A Palace.] This is the Place of Imperial Residence, which was antiently calledPalatium, becauseAugustusdwelt in MountPalatineatRome. The Dwelling-House ofRomuluswas also called by the same Name. Wherefore, saysDion, speaking ofAugustus, let the Emperor be where he pleases, yet the Place where he constantly dwells, is always called his Palace.
ALusorium.] This probably was the same Place with theLudus Venatorius, in which the Combatants exercised themselves before they engaged with wild Beasts; yet is it more probable, that it was so called from theNaves Lusoriæ, which were built there, of whichMarcellinustakes Notice in hissixth Book, as also theCodeofTheodosius de Lusoriis Danubii.
A Wooden Bridge.]Suidaswrites, that near the Church of St.Mamas, there was a Bridge which consisted of twelve Arches, for there was a great Flood of Waters there. I believe this was after chang’d into a Stone Bridge.
FiveGradus,or Stairs.] At the End of thisWard, after the fiveGradus, I would correct the Omission of my Author, by comparing this with the otherWards, and adding oneCurator, oneVernaculus, thirty sevenCollegiati, and fiveVico-Magistri.
The Author, in his following summary View of the City, mentions five hundred and sixtyCollegiati, but to complete the Number of them, there are wanting seven.TheodosiustheLesshas added three inLib. de Commer. & Mercat.and makes the Number of them to be five hundred and sixty three.
Having taken a particular View of the City, as divided intoWards,I shall now, continues my Author,give the Reader a more large and general Description of it, to shew that its Beauty and Magnificence is not only to be ascribed to Art and good Workmanship, but that Nature herself by the Mediation of the Elements, has happily contributed to its Security and Defence. The divine Providence has with so much Wisdom consulted the Preservation of its Inhabitants, even to future Ages, that a long Tract of Land, in the Nature of aPromontory,full of Windings and Harbours in its Sides, facing the Chaps of theBlack-Sea,narrow in Breadth, is strongly fortified by the Sea. TheIsthmus,the only Part of the City not bounded by the Sea, is at the same Time strengthened with a double Wall with numerous Towers on its Ramparts. The City thus enclosed and defended, contains in the Whole the following Buildings. Five Palaces; fourteen Churches; five divine Houses of theAugustæ;three of the most illustrious Ladies;eightBagnio’s;twoBasilica’s;fourFora’s;two Senate-Houses; five Granaries, or Store-Houses; two Theatres; twoLusoria;four Havens; oneCirco;four Cisterns; fourNymphea;three hundred and twenty two Streets; four Thousand three hundred and eight large Houses; fifty twoPortico’s;a hundred and fifty three private Baths; twenty publick, and a hundred and twenty private Mills; a hundred and seventeenGradus;five Flesh Markets; onePorphyryPillar; two Pillars with winding Stairs; oneColossus;one GoldenTetrapylum;theForumofAugustus;the Capitol; the Mint, or Treasury; and threeGradusby the Sea-Shore. It was under the Care and Government of fourteenCurators,fourteenVernaculi,five hundred and sixtyCollegiati,and sixty fiveVico-Magistri.The Length of the City from thePorta Aureain a direct Line to the Sea-Shore, is fourteen Thousand and seventy five Feet; the Breadth of it, six Thousand one Hundred and fifty. Thus concludes the Author of the Description, I shall now go on with my
It has five Palaces.] OldRome, instead of these, has one Thousand one hundred and eighty Houses.
Fourteen Churches.]Romehad four Hundred and twenty four Temples.
Five divine Houses of theAugustæ,and of those who bore the Title of the Most Illustrious three.] The Houses of those Ladies, who bore the TitleofAugustæwere called Divine. They had also other Marks of Imperiality and Honour conferr’d upon them. By the Mistake of the Writer these Houses were reckoned six, though they were no more in Number than five only,viz.two ofPlacidia, two ofPulcheria, and one ofEudocia, the Wife ofTheodosius. As to the Houses belonging to the Ladies, entitled theMost Illustrious, one of them belonged toMarina, and the other two toArcadia, and bore the same Title with themselves.
EightBagnio’s.]Victorwrites, that atRomethere were eleven.
TwoBasilica’s.] There were ten of them atRome.
FourFora’s.] AtRomethere were eleven;Victorsays nineteen.
Two Senate-Houses.] AtRome, asVictorsays, there were three; one stood between theCapitol, and theForum Romanum, where was the Temple ofConcord; another by thePorta Capena, and a third in the Temple ofBellona, which stood in theCircoofFlaminius, where the Foreign Ambassadors resided, because they would not allow them Admittance into the City.
Five Granaries.] AtRomethere were two hundred and ninety two.
Two Theatres.] AtRomethere were three.
TwoLusoria.] AtRome, according toVictor, there were sixteen.
Four Havens.] AtRomethere was but one.
OneCirco.] AtRomethere were two.
Four Cisterns.] AtRomethere were none.
FourNymphea.] AtRomethere were fifteen.
Three hundred and twenty two Streets.] AtRomefour Hundred and twenty four.
Four Thousand three hundred and eighteen large Houses.] AtRomethere were forty six Thousand six hundred and twoInsulæ, and one Thousand seven hundred and eighty large Houses. The Houses here mentioned were large roof’d Buildings, tyl’d at Top four Ways; theInsulæwere roof’d Buildings, tyl’d only before and behind.
Forty twoPortico’s.] AtRomethere were six only.
A hundred and fifty three private Baths.] AtRomethere were eight hundred and fifty six.
Twenty publick, and a hundred and twenty private Mills.] AtRometwo hundred and fifty four.
A hundred and seventeenGradus.] AtRomenone.
Five Flesh-Markets.] AtRometwo only.
Five hundred and sixtyCollegiati.] It is apparent that thirty seven of them are omitted in the lastWard. There was no such Office atRome, yet there were, instead of them, Watchmen divided into seven Companies, whose Business, according toDionandSuetonius, was much the same with that of theCollegiati.
Sixty fiveVico-magistri.] It should be read seventy; for five of them are omitted in the lastWard. AtRomethe Number ofCollegiatiwas six hundred and seventy two.
A Porphyry Pillar.] There was no such Pillar, asCedrinussays, atRome, tho’ this was brought from thence.Gylliuswrites, that thisPillar was made of square marble Stones, and that it stood in theHippodrom.
Two Pillars with Winding-Stairs in the Inside of them.] There was the same Number atRome.
OneColossus.] AtRomethere were two. ’Tis omitted in theDescription of the Wards, as many other Things of Note are.
The GoldenTetrapylum.]Gylliusquotes an unknown Author who will have thisTetrapylumto have been a Quadrangle withPortico’sround it, having Four Gates, and was formerly call’dQuadrivium. TheLatinescall it aStadium. But there’s no such Place to be found in theWardsof the City, unless it be theStadiumin the FourthWard, which is omitted in theSummary Viewof the City.Cedrinus, in his Life ofLeo Magnus, mentions thisTetrapylum.Evagriusin thetwenty eighth Chapterof histhird Booktells us, that it was built by the SenatorMammianus, in the Reign ofZeno. He built, says he, two statelyPortico’sof exquisite Workmanship, and beautify’d them with a neat glossy Marble. As to theTetrapylumbuilt byMammianus, there are not, asGylliustells us, the least Remains of it.Victorwrites, that there was aPentapylumin the tenthWardofRome.
TheAugusteum.] This was theForumofAugustus.
The Capitol.] AtRome, asVictorwrites, there were two; the old and the newCapitol.
The Mint, or Treasury.] There was no such Place atRome.
ThreeGradusby the Sea-Shore.] There were no suchStairsatRome, yet they had theirLakes, theirNaval Fights, &c.
The City is reported to have had twenty three Gates.Laonicus Chalcondylus, in his History of theOttomans, tells us, thatConstantinoplecontains in compass a hundred and eleven Furlongs, which is more than thirteenItalianMiles. ’Tis generally thought to be eighteen Miles in Circumference. Besides the foremention’d Curiosities,Constantinoplehas been famous for theAqueductofHadrian, which furnish’d the Palace, theNymphea, and theBagnio’swith a Sufficiency of Waters, asTheodosiusmentions in a Letter toCyrus,Prefectof the City. TheBagnio’sofAchillesare also mention’d by him, where he says, that theseBagnio’swere supply’d with Water convey’d into them from the saidAqueductby leaden Pipes.Cedrinussays, that theseBagnio’swere built near theStrategium, and took their Name from an Altar, which was dedicated toAjaxandAchilles:AndCassiodorusrelates, that the Fire, which happen’d in the Reign ofConstantinetheGreat, burnt down the City, as far as theBagnio’sofAchilles.
Procopiustells us, in his first Bookde Ædif. Justin.that theHepdomumwas one Part of the Suburbs ofConstantinople.Justinian, says he, built another Church dedicate to St.Theodorain a Place call’d theHepdomum, which in theGreeksignifies theSeventh.Zonaras, in the Life ofPhocas, mentions the same Thing, as does alsoCedrinusin the Life ofArcadiusandJustin, with many others. In this Place were many Laws enacted; andZonaraswrites, thatTheodosiustheGreatbuilt a Church there, in Honour of St.John Baptist.Gylliussays, that ’tis at present enclos’d within the Walls of the City, that it stands upon the sixth Hill, and that ’tis call’dHepdomum, orSeventh, as denoting the Number of the Suburbs of the City.
TheBlachernæ.] This is another Part of the Suburbs, mention’d byJustinianin his 151ˢᵗNov.where he says, thatHieriusbequeath’d by Will to his SonAnthemiusthe Suburbs in theBlachernæ.Zonaraswrites, thatPulcheria, the Sister ofTheodosiustheLess, built a Church to theBlessed Virginin this Place, which, asProcopiustells us, was repair’d byJustinian.Cedrinusobserves, that the EmperorJustin, NephewofJustinian, enlarg’d it with two Arches.Suidasreports, thatAnastasiusthe Emperor built there a largeTricliniumandTiberiusaBagnio, asZonaraswrites. It took its Name of theBlachernæ, asGylliusbelieves, upon the Authority ofDionysiusaByzantianWriter, from some Person, who was formerly a kind of a petty King there. It was situate near the Sea, in the Place, asNicephorusobserves in his 15ᵗʰBookChap.25ᵗʰof his Eccl. Hist.whereLeotheGreatbuilt a Church to the VirginMary.
TheMonasteryofStudiuswas another Part of the Suburbs ofConstantinople, in which, asJustinianobserves, in his 6ᵗʰChap.Novel59ᵗʰ. was kept a large Bier, for the Burial of the Dead. The following Account is given ofStudiusbyNicephorus, in his 15ᵗʰBook,Chap.25ᵗʰof his Eccles. Hist.An eminent Citizen ofRome, says he, nam’dStudius, came from thence toConstantinople, where he built a Church to the Memory of St.John Baptist, and that divine Service might be celebrated there with more Decency and Solemnity, he took some Monks out of the Monastery of theἈκοίμητοι, who were so call’d, because some of them were alwayswakingto attend divine Worship. The heavenly-mindedMarcellinusbuilt them a Monastery, in which they continually sang Hymns to God, their Society being divided into three Tribes for that Purpose. Thus farNicephorus. Upon this OccasionStudiuswas madeConsul, as appears by an Inscription over the Gate of his own Monastery, which runs thus: