of his _Argonauticks_, mentions the _Thracian_ Haven in _Cyzicus_; and
_Plutarch_ is very express, that near this City there was a Street
call’d the _Thracian Street_. This is also attested not only by some
more modern Writers of _Constantinople_, but also by _Dion_ and
_Xenophon_; the latter of whom writes, That when _Alcibiades_ appear’d
before the Town, the _Byzantians_ open’d the _Thracian_ Gates to him of
their own Accord.

CHAP. XXI.

  _Of the long Walls._

The Suburbs and Fields adjoining were inclosed with Walls of such an
immoderate Length, that they extended themselves from the City to the
Distance of a two Days Journey. They were built by _Anastasius_ the
Emperor to prevent the Incursions of the _Scythians_ and _Bulgarians_,
reach’d from the _Black Sea_ to the _Propontis_, were forty thousand
Paces remote from the City, and twenty _Roman_ Foot in Breadth. These
Walls were often taken and batter’d by the barbarous Nations, but
repair’d by _Justinian_; and that the Soldiers garrisoned there might
defend them to the best Advantage, he order’d the Passages of one Tower
to another to be stopp’d up, no Entrance being allow’d, but the Door
at the Bottom of the Steps, by which it was ascended; so that by this
means it was sufficiently guarded, though the Enemies Forces were in
the Heart of the City. _Evagrius_ the sacred Historian tells us, that
_Anastasius_ built the long Wall, which was two hundred and eighty
Furlongs distant from the City, that it reach’d from Sea to Sea, was
four hundred Furlongs in Length, that it was a good Security to those
who sail’d out of the _Black Sea_ to the _Propontis_, and that it put a
Stop to the Excursions of the barbarous Nations.

_The End of the First Book._

[Illustration: Page Header Decoration]

THE ANTIQUITIES OF CONSTANTINOPLE.

BOOK II.

CHAP. I.

  _Of the Buildings and Monuments of Old_ Byzantium _and_
  Constantinople, _called_ New Rome.

Having describ’d the Figure and Extent of the City, and having
particularized the Situation of the _seven Hills_, I shall proceed
to consider what Buildings and Monuments _Constantinople_ anciently
had, or now has, and into how many _Wards_ it was divided. For when
I accidentally fell upon this Division of the City into _Wards_, in
an ancient _Manuscript_ written above one thousand Years ago, by a
Gentleman more noble by his Birth than his Writings, I was in hopes,
with some Ease, to have traced out the ancient City; but the barbarous
_Mahometans_ have either so demolish’d those venerable and truly
heroick Ornaments which distinguish’d it, to adorn their own paultry
Houses, or entirely buried them in their own Ruins, that in very few
Places you shall see any Remains of an old Foundation. I omit to
mention the Fires and other Devastations, committed not only by the
Savages of other Countries, but the great Havock lately made by the
_Turks_ themselves, who for the last hundred Years have incessantly
endeavour’d entirely to deface and destroy it, by building upon it in
so different a Manner, that those who have formerly seen some parts of
it, scarce know its ancient Situation. Consider farther the profound
Ignorance of the _Greeks_ at present. There is scarce a Man of them who
either knows, or has so much as an Inclination to know, where their
_Antiquities_ are. Nay, their Priests are so heedless and negligent
in this Respect, that they will not make the least Enquiry themselves
about those Places, where but a few Years since very magnificent
Temples were standing, and so very censorious are they, as to condemn
those that do. However, that I might not pass away my Time uselessly,
while I was in Expectation of Remittances from my Royal Master, for
purchasing all the ancient _Manuscripts_ I could meet with, I made it
my Business, by all the Marks of Antiquity I was capable of observing,
to make what Discoveries I could. In my Description of the ancient
Monuments, I shall observe the same Method I did in the Description of
the Hills. I shall consider them in the Order the Hills stand, or as I
find them in the different _Wards_ of the City; which, like _Old Rome_,
was divided into fourteen _Wards_.

CHAP. II.

  _Of the Ancient Monuments of the first_ Hill, _and of the first_ Ward
  _of the City_.

The first Hill, which _Pliny_ sometimes calls _Chrysoceras_, and
sometimes _Auri Cornu_, (though this was a Mistake, as appears from
what I have wrote concerning the _Thracian Bosporus_) _Dionysius_
a _Byzantian_ calls the _Promontory_ of the _Bosporus_. _There are
two Reasons assigned_, says he, _why ’tis call’d the_ Promontory _of
the_ Bosporus; _the one is, as some say, because a Cow stung with
a Gad-Bee forded over it. Others more fabulously report, that_ Io,
_the Daughter of_ Inachus, _being changed into a Cow, swam across
it, when she went into_ Asia. The same Author, speaking of a Place
call’d _Semystra_, tells us, that _Byzantium_ had been founded there,
had not a Raven snatched a Part of the Sacrifice, they offer’d upon
their landing, out of the Fire, and carry’d it to the _Promontory_
of the _Bosporus_. This they look’d upon as a Token from the Gods,
that they should found their City there. The same Writer, speaking in
another Place of a _Promontory_ call’d _Metopum_, opposite to the
first Hill of _Constantinople_, this _Promontory_, he adds, faces the
City, and lies directly against the _Promontory_ of the _Bosporus_;
and the same Author informs us, that a little above the _Promontory_
of the _Bosporus_, there was an Altar erected to _Minerva_, who was
call’d _Ecbasia_, or _Egressoria_, because those who transplanted the
Colony hither, sally’d out from thence, with a Bravery equal to those,
who fight for their Countrey. We might also call her _Ecbateria_,
under which Name, as _Hesychius_ reports, _Diana_ was worshipped in
_Siphnus_. He adds farther, that upon the same _Promontory_ stood
the old Temple of _Neptune_, and below it, upon the Plain, that the
_Byzantian_ Youth exercised themselves in Horse-racing, driving the
Chariot, Wrestling, and other Martial Sports; and lastly, that at the
Foot of the _Promontory_ stood a Bay call’d _Ceras_, which had three
Havens, fortify’d with three Cittadels, and high Sand-banks, upon it
stood the Castle of _Byzantium_, of which _Xenophon_ takes Notice,
when he tells us, that the Men under his Command, having forc’d their
Way into the Town, the Inhabitants fearing they should be put to the
Sword if their City was taken, some fled to the adjoining _Promontory_,
others to the Sea, and that some of them steering about a long time in
a Fisher-boat, made at last a landing, got into a Tower, from thence
made Signals of Distress, and were assisted at last by the People of
_Chalcedon_. And not only the Castle of old _Byzantium_ was built
upon the first Hill, but Historians assure us, that the Emperours of
_Constantinople_ likewise continu’d a Fortress there, when they tell
us, that to keep off the Enemy from entring the Port, they laid a Boom
across the River, from the Cittadel to the Castle of _Galata_: Nay,
even at this Day, the _Grand Seignor_ has a Cittadel there, fortify’d
with thick Walls, which enclose his spacious Gardens on all sides. In
old _Byzantium_ there was a Place call’d the _Thracian_ Field, lying
upon a Level, and not incumber’d with Houses. It was upon this Plain
that _Xenophon_ drew up in Military Order the _Grecian_ Army. He
informs us, in his Book of his _Hellenici_, that this Field was near
the _Thracian_ Gate; they open’d, says he, the Gates adjoining the
_Thracian_ Field: And in the 7ᵗʰ Book of the _Expedition of Cyrus_,
speaking of a Place, seated near the Walls of _Byzantium_, where
he ranged his Army in order of Battle, he tells us, that the most
convenient Place to draw up, or muster an Army is, the _Thracian_
Field; because, as he goes on, ’tis free of Houses, and upon a Plain.
I observ’d before, that the seven Towers of _Byzantium_ reach’d from
the _Thracian_ Gate to the Sea; _Georgius Cedrinus_ asserts, that
they reach’d to the Northern-Sea, that is, to the Bay call’d _Ceras_.
_Herodotus_ attests, that in old _Byzantium_ stood an Altar erected
to _Diana Orthosia_, and a Temple dedicated to _Bacchus_. _Darius_,
says he, _upon viewing the Black Sea, came back to the Bridge, and
erected upon the_ Bosporus _two Stone Columns, on which he order’d to
be engraven the_ Assyrian _and_ Greek _Alphabets. The_ Byzantians
_afterwards removed them into the City, near to the Altar of_ Diana
Orthosia. _The_ Greek _Alphabet was what they retain’d, and made use
of. The Column with the_ Assyrian _Characters they left remaining
near the Temple of_ Bacchus, _where they had fix’d it_. _Laurentius_
translates the _Greek_ Word _Orthosia_, _Erecta_, but he had translated
it more properly, had he call’d her _Erectoria_, or _Erectrix_, because
as being the Goddess of Child-birth she _raises up_, or _recovers_
Women in Labour. This I collect to be the true Sense of the Word,
not only from several Authors, but from _Plutarch_, who in his Book
of _Rivers_, has this Story: _Proud_ Teuthras, _King of_ Mysia, says
he, _with his Retinue of Spearmen chas’d a Boar, which fled into the
Temple of_ Diana Orthosia _to implore her Assistance. As they were
all driving furiously into the Temple, the Boar cry’d out with an
audible human Voice_, Let your Compassion, Royal Sir, be shewn to
one whom _Diana_ brought into the World. Teuthras _enraged at this,
slew the Creature_. Diana _resenting the Affront, threw the King into
a Phrenzy, and punished him with ulcerous Sores. He could not bear
the Indignity of his Punishment, and so retired to the Mountains.
His Mother_ Lysippa, _immediately, with the Prophet_ Polyidius, _who
inform’d her of the Occasion of her Son’s Sufferings, hastens in Search
of him, and by sacrificing to_ Diana _some Oxen, reconciles her to
him. When she perceiv’d her Son return’d to his Senses, she erected an
Altar to_ Diana Orthosia, _and near it placed a Golden Boar, with a
Man’s Head upon his Shoulders_. Before the Destruction of _Byzantium_
by _Severus_, both the Altar and the Boar were standing, in the first
Valley of the first Hill. Since _Constantine_ rebuilt the City, the
first Hill included in it the first _Ward_, which contain’d the House
of _Placidia Augusta_, that also of the most noble _Marina_, and
the Baths of _Arcadius_. I learn this from the ancient Division of
the City into _Wards_, though I must confess myself at a Loss, to
know in what Part of the City the first _Ward_ began, nor can I make
any such Discovery from the Remains of any ancient Buildings, which
are now entirely destroy’d. However, thus much may be inferr’d from
_Procopius_, who has it upon Record, that when you sail from the
_Propontis_ to the Eastern Part of the City, there stand the publick
Baths, built by _Arcadius_. In this Place, says he, _Justinian_ built a
Court, which was encompassed with so calm a Sea, that when you walk’d
in the Galleries, you might discourse audibly with the Sailors. It made
a very beautiful, a very delightful, and most magnificent Prospect:
It was fann’d with gentle Breezes, supported with lofty Columns, and
laid with the most curious Marble, which like the Sun, reflected a
most amazing Lustre: It was also adorn’d with abundance of Marble and
brazen Statues, finish’d to the nicest Perfection; a lovely Scene to
the Spectators! The Reader, had he seen it, would have taken it to
have been the Work of _Phidias_, _Lysippus_, or _Praxiteles_. Upon a
high Pillar of _Porphyry_ Marble, in the same Place, stood the Statue
of the Empress _Theodora_, addressing herself, as it were, to him for
building so noble a Structure. The Beauty of the Column is exceedingly
surprising, yet does it by no means come up to that inconceivable
inexpressible Gracefulness and Dignity you see in the Statue. From
these Words of _Procopius_, as I would observe by the By, that that
Pillar now landing upon a Descent, lying Eastward of the _Grand
Seignor_’s Palace, is not the same with that upon which _Theodora_
was erected, as some are of Opinion it is; because it is neither of a
_Porphyry_ Colour, and is at too remote a Distance form the Court; so
would I have the Reader understand, that the first _Ward_ contain’d in
it the Length of the first Hill, which is bounded on three Sides by the
Sea. I find not only in many _Historians_, but also in _Suidas_ the
_Grammarian_, that the Statue of _Arcadia_, the second Wife of _Zeno_,
stood in the _Arcadian_ Baths, near the Places call’d the _Bathra_,
from the Stairs by which you ascend them. I find also in that Place two
Statues of _Verina_, the Wife of _Leo Magnus_, one in the Northern Part
of the City, near the Church of St. _Agathonicus_ beyond the _Bathra_,
the other on that Side of the City where stands the Church of St.
_Barbara_: The first was erected by _Leo_ in his Life-time, the second
since his Death; when upon the Flight of _Zeno_, his Son in Law, his
Brother _Basiliscus_ was crown’d Emperor in his stead. I have reason
to believe, when I consider the natural Situation and Order in which
the _Wards_ stand, that Part of the second _Ward_ was inclos’d in the
Palace: For this _Ward_, according to the ancient Description of it,
at its first Entrance stood upon a Level; at some Distance it rose by
a gentle Ascent, and at last, with very deep Precipices, fell into the
Sea. I am of Opinion, that these Precipices descended on that Spot
of Ground where the Kitchens, and _Bagnio’s_ of the _Grand Seignor_
stand at present. But where-ever they might stand in ancient Times,
all the steep Places that were formerly enclosed within the _Palace_
are now levell’d, where now there stands an old Church commonly call’d
_Sophia the Less_. Some of the most ancient Inhabitants affirm it to
be the Church of St. _Irene_, which _Socrates_ tells us was built by
_Constantine the Great_. I take it to be the same Church which the
People of the second _Ward_ call the _Old Church_. I have Reason also
to believe, that the other Part of the second _Ward_ stood without
the _Palace_, from the Situation of the _Churches_ and _Bagnio’s_,
which the second _Ward_ encloses. For _Zonaras_ and other Historians
assert, that the Church, which formerly went by the Name of the _Great
Church_, was afterwards call’d the Church of St. _Sophia_, which every
body knows stood without the Enclosure of the Palace. I have reason to
conjecture also, that the Palace of _Maximinus_ formerly stood within
the Verge of the Court, from the following Inscription made in its
Commendation by _Cyrus_, once a _Consul_ and Nobleman of _Rome_.

  _Great_ Maximinus _rais’d this noble Pile;
  From hence to Lengths unmeasurable I view
  Unbounded Prospects; for behind me stand
  The City, and_ Bithynia’s _beauteous Towns.
  The swelling Ocean rolls its Waves before me;
  When near my Doors, it moves but slowly on,
  Delighted to behold the lovely Landscape
  Of blooming Trees, gay Seats, and floating Ships,
  The City’s rising Towers, and pleasing Site._

CHAP. III.

  _Of the Church of St._ Sophia.

The modern Writers among the _Greeks_ will have it, that the Church of
St. _Sophia_ was first built by the Emperor _Constantius_, the Son of
_Constantine the Great_, and arch’d at Top, not with Brick-work, but
a wooden Roof. In the Time of _Theodosius_, when the second _Synod_
was held there, the _Arians_ rising in Sedition, burnt it. It was
after rebuilt by _Theodosius the Great_, and beautified with Arches
of a cylindrick Form. The same _Writer_ tells us, that it was burnt
a second time in the Reign of _Justinian_; but _Sozomen_, an ancient
and creditable Author, records it, that in the Time of _Theodosius
the Less_, when there were warm Debates in the _great Church_, about
expelling St. _Chrysostom_ the _Synod_, it was all on a sudden in
a Blaze, those who adhered to him throwing Fire into it, with an
Intention to burn down the Church, and to destroy all that were in
it. _Procopius_ will have it, that it was first burnt down in the
Reign of _Justinian_, who rebuilt it in the same Figure it stands at
present; but he does not tell us, whether it stands on the same Spot
of Ground or not; so that it remains doubtful from this Author, who
is not so much to be depended upon, though he has a Catalogue of the
Names of the Persons of whom _Justinian_ purchas’d the Houses where it
stood before the Fire. An _Ancient Description of the City_, wrote
before _Justinian_’s Time, seems to fix it in another Place; for the
_great Church_ and the _old Church_, the Author places in the second
_Ward_, the _Forum_ of _Augustus_ in the fourth, which I shall make
appear stood near the Church of St. _Sophia_. _Zonaras_ says, that
_Justinian_ built it much larger from the old Foundation; but ’tis
much to be question’d, whether _Justinian_ purchas’d the neighbouring
Houses for its Enlargement. As to the _Forum_ of _Augustus_, and the
_great Church’s_ being placed in different _Wards_, we cannot from
hence conclude, that they did not stand near one another. So that when
_Justinian_ had enlarged and beautify’d it, and adorned it with a great
Variety of Metal-work, when he had built the Walls and Roof with Brick,
and to strengthen them the more, had cramp’d them in many Places with
Iron-work, using no Rafters in the whole Fabrick for fear of Fire;
although it has hitherto escaped the Flames, yet has it been often
damaged and endanger’d by several Accidents, even from the Time of its
Rebuilding. For the Eastern Arch before it was finish’d, bore with its
Weight so hard upon the Pillars, that in all Probability it had fell,
had not the Architect been very expeditious in finishing it; when
bearing upon its own _Curvature_, it laid less heavy upon the Pillars
which supported it. The two Northern and Southern _Arches_ bore so hard
upon the Pillars and Foundation, that the Tops of the _Pillars_ began
to fly; and had sunk, if the Workmen had not with the greatest Skill
taken them down, and afterwards replaced them, when the Greenness and
Moisture of the Building was somewhat abated. The Church however, at
the Emperor’s great Expence, and by the indefatigable Industry of the
Workmen, was at last finish’d; yet in his own Time it was grievously
shock’d by an Earthquake, by which, as _Agathius_ writes, the Tower
above the Roof was much shatter’d in the Middle of it; so that the
Emperor was obliged to repair and strengthen it, raising it much
higher than it was before. This was done when _Anthemius_ the first
Architect was dead. However young _Isidorus_, and some other Architects
who succeeded him, notwithstanding the Errors committed in the former
Building, did not judge it necessary to take down the Eastern or
Western Arches, but widen’d the North and South Arches, and so visibly
enlarged them, that the whole Building seem’d more regular and uniform;
so that it was evident to the Eye of the Spectator, that the Sides of
the Church, which terminated with their Arches in the Roof, were of
an equal Dimension; and that the Architects had with so much Skill
contracted the vast Vacuity of the Body of the Church into so narrow a
Compass at the Top, that the whole Structure seem’d very proportionate
and agreeable. Above the Arches, in the Middle of the Church, they
raised a _Dome_ or _Cupola_ to a very great Height, which was regular,
and not so round at Top as usual, but more spiked, and better contrived
for the Security of the Building. _Zonaras_ writes, That the _great
Church_ being finished and consecrated; it happen’d that the Eastern
Arch was thrown down by an Earthquake, which broke the Pulpit and the
Communion-Table, but was afterwards rebuilt by _Justinian_, who raised
it twenty five Foot higher than it was before. The same Report, almost
Word for Word, is given by _Cedrinus_. He also built other Pillars
proportionable to the Weight of the Arch which bore upon them. On
the Outside of the Church he built a Pair of Winding-steps against
the Pillars, near to the Church, which rising from the Ground to the
Roof of it, support the Pillars, and the Arches. Other Writers, but
of less Note, will have it, that by the Earth-quake above-mention’d
the Roof of the Church was thrown down, but that the Arches stood
secure, that the Emperor rebuilt the Roof, but lower than before by
twenty five Foot. I could, for my own part, bear with this Relation, if
these Historians would agree with me, that the Church was afterwards
shock’d with other Earth-quakes, and then built lower than it stood
before. For when _Evagrius_ tells us that _Justinian_ raised it to
such an Height, that within side of it you could scarce see the Top,
and that the Descent was so deep, that it was dangerous to look from
the Height of it downwards, it is very probable, that _Justinian_ only
raised it to its former Height. _Cedrinus_ relates, that _Basilius_
the Emperor gave Orders for repairing, and strengthening the great
Western Arch, which was very much shatter’d by an Earth-quake, and
likely to fall. _Nicephorus_ inveighs bitterly against the Empress
_Anna_, who in the Reign of _Catacosmus_, sacrilegiously robb’d the
Church of all its Furniture and Ornaments, and exclaims heavily, that
the Tyranny, Oppression, and the different Sects and Opinions of those
Times, were the chief Occasion of the Destruction of this Church: For,
as he subjoins, one Midnight when the Sky was very clear, one of the
Eastern Arches fell to the Ground, and brought that Part of the Roof,
which it supported, after it, which broke down the Pulpit, the Images
which adorn’d it, and demolished the middle Galleries. He adds farther,
that it was the Opinion of many in those Times, that if _Andronicus_
the Emperor had not built Buttresses on the East-side of the Church,
it had wholly sunk into Ruines. _Evagrius_ determines the Length of
the Church in the following manner: From the Arch, where the bloodless
Sacrifice is offer’d, to the Gate opposite to it, it is an hundred
and ninety Foot long; from North to South it is a hundred and fifteen
Foot broad; and from the Pavement to the Center of the Roof, it is a
hundred and eighty Foot high. It was dangerous for me to measure its
Length from East to West, so that I was obliged to have the Dimensions
of it taken for me by a _Turk_, who made his Report, that the Church
was two hundred and thirteen Foot in Breadth, two hundred and forty in
Length, and from the Pavement to the highest Curvature of the Arches,
a hundred and forty two Foot in Height. The Fellow never measured the
Roof; If he had taken the Height of it true, he had found but a small
Difference between his own Account and that of _Evagrius_. Should the
Reader desire to be inform’d more at large of the Dimensions, and the
Architecture of this Church, as it stood in former Times, let him
consult _Procopius_, _Agathius_, _Paulus Florus_, and _Evagrius_. What
the Architecture and Dimensions of it are at present, I shall, as far
as my Observations have reach’d, describe more fully in the following
Chapter.

CHAP. IV.

  _A Description of the Church of St._ Sophia, _as it now appears_.

The Walls and Roof of this Church are built with Brick. The Inside of
the Walls of the Church are incrusted with elegant Marble of several
Kinds. All its Materials are the most valuable Productions of Nature,
so that the Prospect of it employs the Thoughts of the Spectator with
Delight and Admiration. The Roof of it is a surprizing Piece of gilded
_Mosaick_ Work, which reflects such a Lustre upon the Eye, that even
the _Barbarians_ who behold it, are wonderfully taken with the Sight
of it. This Roof is supported with eight Pillars, four of the largest
and tallest of which bear up the four Arches which support the Roof.
Two of these Arches, _viz._ the Northern and Southern, bear at the
Bottom of their Curvature upon a thin Wall full of Windows, which Wall
is strengthen’d by two Ranges of Pillars standing one above another.
In the lower Range stand eight Pillars, which rise from the Pavement,
the six above them support the thin Wall. The Eastern and Western
Arches have neither a Wall nor a Pillar to support them, but are so
open, that they make the Body of the Church appear more large. For
these Arches projecting beyond the former, bear upon four other Arches,
which are supported by two small and two large Pillars: For the four
large Pillars do not only bear up the four great Arches, but every
one of them does also support two small Arches, one of which extends
itself length-ways, the other cross-ways of the Church; by which
means the Church is lengthen’d and widen’d to a great Distance; for
on the East and West Side of it there are two _Semi-domes_ which are
join’d to the _Cupola_ in such a Manner, that they have the same Roof
within the Church, though without it the Roofs seem to be distinct.
These _Semi-domes_ are a great Ornament to the _Cupola_, which rises
very highly above them. The Breadth of the Church is widen’d beyond
the _Dome_ with Arches and Pillars, and the Northern and Southern
Wall, which form the three upper and three lower Galleries, which are
incrusted with elegant Marble of different Kinds, the Roof of them
being cover’d with _Moresco Mosaick_ Work, finely gilded. Every Arch
which lies across the Church bears only upon one Pillar, for one End
of their Curvatures is supported by the outward Wall of the Church,
which bears upon large Pillars, from whence there rise four Arches,
which on both Sides of the Church are supported by the Wall. Two of
these Arches bear up the Roof of the three lower Galleries, and the
other two support the Roof of the three upper Galleries, the Sides of
which bear upon Walls, and Arches, and Pillars. Hence it is, that if
we consider the Inside of the Church by itself, as enclosed by its
Pillars and Columns, we discover it to be of an oval Figure; whereas if
we view the whole Space of it without these Pillars, it is a perfect
Square. For the upper and the lower Galleries, which are the Wings of
the Church, adjoin to it in such a Manner, that if we measure it from
the Pavement to the Bottom of the Curvature of the upper Galleries,
’tis of a square Figure, but as contracted within the Enclosure of
the four large and the four smaller Pillars, as far as the Curvature
of the four Arches of the _Dome_, it is entirely of an oval Form. The
Form of the Galleries is as follows: On three Sides of them they are
built in a square Manner: The fourth Side of them, which looks into
the Church, is of an oval Figure, as is the Church itself. The Roofs
of these Galleries are supported with Arches and Columns. I shall
give the Reader a Description of three of them, by which means he may
easily form a Judgment of the rest, for they are all of one Form.
Those I shall take Notice of, are the three upper Galleries on the
North Side of the Church. The first of these Galleries has two Fronts,
and looks both Eastward and Northward. The two Sides of this Gallery
rise from the Wall of the Church, and end in an Arch. In the Middle
of each Side of it there are three square Columns five Foot and nine
Inches in Circumference, which are made the Jambs of the Windows. These
Pillars support three other square Pillars, which are all made of
blue and white Marble. The Side which faces the Body of the Church is
adorn’d with six Pillars of green Marble, standing below the Arch which
supports an Eastern _Semi-dome_, whose Shafts at the Bottom of them
are seven Foot and eight Digits in Compass. The _Intercolumniations_
of these Pillars being little less than seven Foot and eleven Digits
wide, are strengthen’d with Marble _Closures_ which are four Foot
high, so that those who lean upon them, have a full View of all the
upper and lower Part of the Church. That Side which parts the first
and second Gallery, reaching from the outward Wall Northward, to the
great Pillar which supports the _Dome_, is forty four Foot in Length,
part of which is adorn’d with Pillars, and an Arch which supports the
_Dome_. You pass through this into the second Gallery, the Breadth of
which is twenty four Foot, and it is made up of the Arch of a Pillar,
and a Wall which is a part of one of the Wings of the Church, and
extends itself as far as the Roof of the _Dome_. This Gallery, at both
Ends of it, is born up by Arches and Walls. In the Middle of it, it
is supported by four white Pillars speckled with blue, the Shafts of
which are seven Foot in Compass. ’Tis of a square Figure, and, as I
observ’d, bears upon Arches and Walls. These Arches, at one End of
them, rise behind two of the large Pillars which support the _Dome_;
at the other End they bear upon Pillars which rise within Side of the
Walls, and support the four large Pillars. The outer Side of this
Gallery is supported with eight square Pillars, which are six Foot in
Compass. There rises in the Middle of them a Pillar of a larger Size.
These Pillars are instead of Jambs for the Windows; and above them
there are other Pillars, which are also Jambs to other Windows. These
Windows, which below and above are sixteen in Number, do very much
enlighten this second or Middle Gallery. The Front of this Gallery,
facing the Church, is beautified with six Pillars of green Marble. The
_Intercolumniations_ of them, like those of the first Gallery, have
their Marble _Closures_ at Bottom. From this middle Gallery you pass
through an Arch into the third Gallery, which is much like the first
in its Length, Windows, Jambs and Pillars. The Roof of it is supported
with four Pillars, and the Side of it towards the Church with six green
Pillars. There are also four green Marble Pillars which support one
of the Western _Semi-domes_ which stands between two other Pillars.
These Pillars stand two and two together, and between them are rais’d
two lesser Pillars, made after the _Ionic_ Order. At the Western Door
of the Church there are instead of a _Vestibulum_, two _Portico’s_,
the lower of which lies upon a Level with the Church itself. The upper
leads to the Womens Galleries. Both of them in Length the Wideness of
the Church, and twenty eight Foot in Breadth. The _Portico_ over it is
situate between the Pillars which support the Western _Semi-dome_ and
the Windows. For both in the Inside and Outside of it, ’tis supported
with eight Pillars, between which, the Windows both in the upper and
lower Galleries, cast a great Light into the Church. There is nothing
parts this _Portico_ and the Womens Galleries, but the Pillars which
bear up the Roof of the _Portico_; for the Pavement of the _Portico_
lies upon the same Level with the Pavement of the Galleries. The Inside
of the lower _Portico_ is enclosed with Walls, which are lined with
a delectable Variety of Marble, and is cover’d at Top with curious
_Moresco Mosaick_ Work, very beautifully gilded. On the East Side
the _Portico_ are Doors which open into the Church; on the West End
of it you go out at five Brass folding Doors into a _Portico_ that
stands without the Church, and from thence you pass into a Court,
where there are several Springs constantly running, to which there is
a very deep Descent by many Steps. At the Ends of these _Portico’s_
there are two Places of Entrance into the Church, one on the Northern
Side of it, and another with six folding Doors on the South. These
Doors formerly were all of Brass, at present three only of them are
so, but curiously wrought. The Church has also two folding Doors on
the East Side of it. There are also some Doors in the Sides of it,
which were formerly open’d, but are now kept shut. The Inside of the
Church is very light, by reason of the Multitude of Windows about it.
The high Wall, which between the great Arches and the _Cupola_ is of
a circular Figure, let in the Light at forty Windows. The Walls under
the Arches are enlighten’d with twenty six Windows, the Middle of the
Galleries with thirty two, and the Ends of them with more than twenty.
I shall take no Notice of the Lights of the two Western and the four
lower Galleries, nor those of the two _Semi-domes_, nor those of the
_Sanctum Sanctorum_, and the upper _Portico_, which I omitted to count,
by reason of the great Number of them. The largest Entrance into this
Church is on the West Side of it, where you do not ascend the Pavement
as formerly, and as the _Romans_ did their _Pantheon_, nor do you
descend into it by five Steps. You go up to the Top of the Church by
four Pair of winding Stairs, not winding round in the Manner of a
Cockle-shell, as _Cedrinus_ reports, but turning more upon the Square,
and work’d by the Line. These Stairs rise with a very easy Ascent,
and are cut out of large Marble Tables. Every Turning of these Stairs
is nineteen Foot and a half high, and five Foot broad. Above these
there is another Pair of winding Stairs which reach to the Top of the
Church. You must ascend these when you go to the upper Galleries, and
_Portico’s_. If the Reader will give himself the Trouble to compare
what I have said of the Church of St. _Sophia_, with what has been
written by _Procopius_ and _Agathius_ upon that Subject, he may easily
discover, that the Ruins of what was built by _Justinian_ have not been
so great as the _Turks_ pretend, who tell you, that the Church was
formerly much larger, and that several Parts of it have been pull’d
down by the _Barbarians_, and that there is scarce a tenth Part of it
remaining at this Day. This Story would carry a Face of Probability
in it, if they meant, that the Palaces, the Houses of the Priests and
the Noblemen, which were built about it, had been demolish’d by Fire,
and the Ravage of those People, otherwise I am convinc’d ’tis a gross
Mistake; for I saw every Part of the old Church standing, mention’d
by _Procopius_, except one _Portico_. For whereas _Procopius_ writes,
that the Church had two _Portico’s_ at each End of it, there is
none, remaining at present, but only that at the West End. ’Tis very
probable that the other was thrown down by an Earthquake, and that in
the Room of it, the Inhabitants erected a large Lump of Building of
square Stone, which is now standing, to support the East end of the
Church. This Lump of Stone you would take to be a Piece of a craggy
Rock, though it does not seem, by reason of the Earthquakes, to be of
the same Height as it was when it was first built, yet is it as near
as high, as _Evagrius_ mentions it to be. Since which, to fortify the
labouring Pillars, it is lengthen’d with four Walls. These Walls are
more than twenty Foot long and eight Foot broad, rising to the Height
of the great Pillars, and seem, to speak in the Terms of Architecture,
to be Wings to the Church, or rather Buttresses, by which the North
and South Side of it are strengthen’d and supported. Both Ends of the
Church, which project beyond the eight Pillars, extending themselves
each into a _Semi-dome_, and rising at Top into an arched Form, are
yet remaining. The same lower Galleries for the Men, and the same
upper Galleries for the Women, the whole Roof, the same Walls and
Pillars, the same Dimensions of the Church, as originally beautify’d
and adorn’d, are still in Being. There are indeed some Flaws in the
Building, occasion’d by those who opposed the setting up of Images in
the Church. In short, the whole, and every part of it, is to be seen
at present; and it is despoiled of nothing, except a little of the
Metal-work, which shews itself in great abundance through the whole
Church. The _Sanctum Sanctorum_, formerly holy and unpolluted, into
which the Priests only were suffer’d to enter, is yet standing, though
there is nothing remaining of the Jewels and precious Stones which
adorn’d it, as having been plunder’d by its sacrilegious Enemies. That
inimitable Table, given to the Church by its Founder _Justinian_,
made of the different Materials of Gold, Silver, all Kinds of Wood,
costly Stones, which either the Sea or the whole World could produce,
and which was embellish’d and enrich’d with infinite Offerings of
Emperors, Popes, Princes, and Ladies of the first Quality; among whom
was _Pulcheria_, the Daughter of _Arcadius_, and Sister of _Theodosius
the Less_, is at present despoil’d of all its fine Decorations.
_Sozomen_ tells us, that this Table was a very beautiful and surprizing
Ornament to the Church, which was endow’d with very ample Donations,
the _Mahometan_ Priests being now in Possession of them. They have
eleven hundred Shops and publick Houses, situate in the best Markets
of the City, which pay them a constant Revenue or Rent, without any
Deductions, for their Maintenance and Support.

CHAP. V.

  _Of the Statues discover’d on one Side of the Church of St._ Sophia.

On the Side of the Church of St. _Sophia_, says _Suidas_, were
discovered more than seventy Statues of the _Grecian_ Deities, the
Figures of the twelve Signs of the _Zodiack_, and no less than eighty
Statues of Christian Princes and Emperors, which, when _Justinian_
had commanded to be placed in several Parts of the City, he built
the great Church. I could give the Reader an Account of the Names of
these Deities from an unknown Author, who has wrote a Treatise of
_Constantinople_, and the adjacent Countrey; but I have found him
faulty in so many of his Narrations, that I cannot depend upon his
Authority.

CHAP. VI.

  _Of the_ Pharo _on the Promontory_ Ceras, _and the_ Mangana.

_Ammianus Marcellinus_ writes, that there was built near the Promontory
_Ceras_, a high Watch-Tower, which was call’d _Pharos_, and was a Guide
to the Ships at a great Distance. The Situation of this _Pharos_, in
all Probability, was near the Church of St. _Sophia_. For from what
Part of the City could it spread a more convenient and diffusive
Light to those who sail’d out of the _Bosporus_ and the _Propontis_?
_Dionysius_ calls it the _Bosporian Promontory_, and tells us, that
_Io_, the Daughter of _Inachus_, provoked by _Juno_’s Resentment
against her, passed over from thence into _Asia_. The Place call’d the
_Mangana_ was their Armoury, where they kept their Ordnance. It stood
in the Imperial Precinct, or by it, near the Chops of the _Bosporus_.
The Emperor _Constantine_, Surnamed _Monomachus_, built a handsome and
large Monastery, which is also call’d _Mangana_, in Honour of the noble
_Martyr_ St. _George_. _Alexius Comnenus_, when he was ill of the Gout,
was carry’d to the great Palace, which stands in the Eastern part of
the City; but when his Physicians judg’d it not to be so wholsome an
Air, he was removed into the Palace of the _Mangana_.

CHAP. VII.

  _Of the_ Bagnio’s _of_ Zeuxippus _and its Statues_.

These _Bagnio’s_ were so call’d, as _Cedrinus_ relates, because they
were built in a Place, where formerly had stood the Temple of _Jupiter
Zeuxippus_. This is said of them by _Eusebius_, who writes, _That there
are some of Opinion, that the fine Bathing-place at_ Constantinople
_took its Name from the famous Painter_ Zeuxes, _whose Pieces adorn’d
it_. I collect that it stood near the Church of St. _Sophia_, not only
from the _Treatise_ of the _ancient Description_ of the City, which
places them both in the same _Ward_, but also from the Fire which
happen’d in the Reign of _Justinian_, and burnt down, as _Procopius_
observes, the Church of St. _Sophia_, and the adjacent Buildings, as
the _Bagnio_ of _Zeuxippus_, and the House of Entrance before the
Palace; and _Zonaras_ writes, that _Severus_ the Emperor join’d it
to the _Hippodrom_, and built it on the same Spot of Ground, where
formerly had stood the Temple of _Jupiter_. _Leontius_, a more ancient
and judicious Historian, does not join it to the _Hippodrom_, but makes
it to stand near it, as appears by his Verses inscrib’d over a Door of
a House, situate between the _Zeuxippum_ and the _Hippodrom_.

An Inscription of _Leontius_ upon a House call’d the _Zeuxippum_ and
the _Hippodrom_.

  _Between_ Zeuxippus’ _cool refreshing Baths,
  And the fam’d_ Hippodrom_’s swift Course I stand.
  Let the Spectator, when he baths himself,
  Or sees the struggling Steed panting for Breath,
  Pay a kind Visit, to enhanse his Pleasures;
  He’ll find a hearty Wellcome at my Table.
  Or if more manly Sports his Mind affects,
  Practise the rough Diversions of the_ Stadia.

_Cedrinus_ relates, that in this _Bagnio_ there was a pleasant Variety
of Prospects of surprizing Art, both in Marble and Stone-work, in
Statues of Brass, and Figures of Persons of Antiquity, who seem’d
to want nothing but a Soul to animate and enliven them. Among these
celebrated Pieces of the most exquisite Workmanship, was the Statue of
old _Homer_, in a thoughtful Posture, just as he was, his Hands folded
in his Breast, his Beard carelessly hanging down, his Hair very thin
before, his Face wrinkled with Age, and the Cares of the World; his
Nose well proportion’d, his Eyes fix’d in their Sockets, as is usual
with blind Persons, which he was generally look’d upon to be. Over his
close Coat hung a loose Garment, and under his Feet, upon the Pedestal
of the Pillar, was a Bridle in Brass. This Place was also beautify’d
with the brazen Statues of all those renown’d Personages who had
been famous for Wisdom, Poetry, Oratory or Courage, throughout the
World, but were all destroy’d by Fire. Among these were the Statues
of _Deiphobus_, _Æschines_, _Demosthenes_, _Aristotle_, _Euripides_,
_Hesiod_, _Theocritus_, _Simonides_, _Anaximenes_, _Calchas_,
_Pyrrhus_, _Amymone_; of _Sappho_, _Apollo_, _Venus_, _Chrysa_, _Julius
Cæsar_, _Plato_, _Hermaphroditus_, _Herinna_, _Terpander_, _Pericles_,
_Pythagoras_, _Stesichorus_, _Democritus_; of _Hercules_, _Aurora_,
_Æneas_, _Creusa_, _Helenus_, _Andromachus_, _Menelaus_, _Helena_,
_Ulysses_, _Hecuba_, _Cassandra_, _Polyxena_, _Ajax_, _Paris_, and his
_Oenone_; of _Milo_, _Dares_ and _Entellus_, _Charidemus_, _Melampus_,
_Panthous_, _Demogeron_, _Isocrates_, _Amphiaraus_, _Sarpedon_,
_Achilles_, _Mercury_, _Apuleius_, _Diana_, _Pherecydes_, _Heraclitus_,
_Cratinus_, _Menander_, _Amphitryon_, _Thucydides_, _Herodotus_,
_Pindar_, _Xenophon_, _Alcmæon_, _Pompey_ and _Virgil_. There were also
many other Statues which have been describ’d in Verse by _Christodorus_
a Poet of _Thebes_, or, as others report, a Native of _Coptos_ in
_Ægypt_, which, were it not a Work of Prolixity, I would explain to the
Reader. There stood near the _Bagnio_ call’d _Zeuxippum_, a small Bath,
taken Notice of by _Leontius_ in the following Lines:

  _Let not thy stately Walls, O proud_ Zeuxippum,
  _Resent the Meanness of this little Bath.
  In Heaven’s high Tower, near the Constellation
  Of_ Ursa Major _shines the_ Polar _Star_.

There is nothing of the _Zeuxippum_ remaining at present, nor of many
other fine _Bagnio’s_, although we have many Inscriptions relating to
them; as of that famous one celebrated by _Agathius_, in which _Venus_
is said to have bathed her self; also of another call’d _Didymum_,
in which both Sexes used to wash, describ’d in Verse by _Paulus
Silentiarius_, and a third made memorable by an Inscription of the
learned _Leontius_. Besides these, there was another named _Cupido_,
describ’d by the ingenious _Marianus_; yet are all of them either
entirely ruin’d, or so defaced by the _Mahometans_, that you cannot
discover who built them, or to whom they belong’d.

CHAP. VIII.

  _Of the Hospitals of_ Sampson _and_ Eubulus.

_There was built_, as _Procopius_ says, _a Hospital for the Relief of
poor and sick People. It was founded in ancient Times by a holy Man,
whose Name was_ Sampson. _But it did not escape the Flames, occasion’d
by a riotous Mob, which burnt down that and the Church of St._ Sophia.
_It was rebuilt by_ Julian, _who beautify’d and enlarged it with a
Multitude of small handsome Apartments, and afterwards endow’d it with
a yearly Stipend, for the Support and Comfort of the miserable and
distressed. But the good Emperor not being content with this Oblation
he had made to God, with the Co-assistance of his Imperial Consort_
Theodora, _built over-against it two other Hospitals on the same
Ground, where formerly stood the Houses of_ Isidorus _and_ Arcadius.
Thus far _Procopius_. From whence I would observe, that the Hospital
of _Sampson_ was not far from the Church of St. _Sophia_, and have
read in the History of an unknown Author, that it stood over-against
it. I am confirm’d in this Opinion by the Authority of _Zonaras_, who
tells us in the like Manner, that there was a Fire occasion’d by a
Faction, which burnt down the _great Church_, that of St. _Irene_, the
Hospital of _Eubulus_, the _Chalca_, the _Bagnio_ of _Severus_, call’d
the _Zeuxippum_, and many other Buildings. This is farther attested
by _Cedrinus_, who speaking of the same Fire, tells us, _That a great
Part of the City, the Churches of St._ Sophia _and St._ Irene, _the
Hospitals of_ Sampson _and_ Eubulus, _with the sick People inhabiting
them, as also the_ Augustean _Gate-house of the_ Basilica, _the_
Chalca, _the two_ Portico’s, _as far as the_ Forum, _the_ Octogon _and
the_ Bagnio _of_ Zeuxippus, _were destroy’d by Fire_. After I had made
the former Quotation from the printed Works of _Procopius_, I lighted
by chance upon a Manuscript of him, wherein I was inform’d, that the
Hospital of _Sampson_ stood between the two Churches of St. _Sophia_
and St. _Irene_.

CHAP. IX.

  _Of the Statue of_ Eudoxia Augusta, _for which St._ Chrysostom _was
  sent into Banishment_.

SOCRATES and _Sozomen_, Writers of sacred History, tells us, that
a Silver Statue of _Eudoxia Augusta_ was erected upon a _Porphyry_
Pillar on the South Side of the Church of St. _Sophia_, though at
some Distance from it, near the _Senate-House_. The People commonly
paid their Homage and Acclamations to this Statue. There were publick
Entertainments of Dancing, and other mimical Gestures acted before it,
according to a Custom which had long prevail’d, of paying Adoration to
the Images of Princes. St. _Chrysostom_ reflecting upon this Practice,
as contrary to the Precepts of the Christian Religion, publickly
condemn’d it in a _Sermon_. _Eudoxia_ believing her self to be closely
struck at in that Discourse, banish’d him. I should here take Notice
of the _Miliarium_ and the _Basilica_, as being near the Church of St.
_Sophia_, but then I shall invert the Method I proposed to observe.

CHAP. X.

  _Of those Parts of the City which are contain’d in the third_ Ward.

The third _Ward_ is discover’d to have been that Space of Ground upon
which stood the _Hippodrom_, the House of _Abraham Bassa_, the Gate of
_Leo_, and the Haven which the Inhabitants call the _Caterga Limena_,
where the Three-oar’d Galleys used to anchor, and so on to the Top of
the second Hill, as far as the _Forum_ of _Constantine_. I made this
Observation, not only from the Order the _Wards_ stand in, but also
from the Treatise of the _Description of the Wards_, which says, that
the third _Ward_, at the Entrance of it, is a Level Ground, but in the
most remote Part of it, it descends with too great a Declivity into
the Sea, and contains the Tribunal of the _Forum_ of _Constantine_,
the _Circus Maximus_, the House of _Pulcheria Augusta_, the new Port,
and the semicircular _Portico_, made after the Figure of an old _Greek
Sigma_.

CHAP. XI.

  _Of the_ Hippodrom, _its_ Obelisk, _its_ Statues, _and_ Columns.

Modern Historians, as _Zonaras_ and others, write, that the _Hippodrom_
was built by _Severus_ upon his Reconciliation with the _Byzantians_.
_Zosimus_, a more ancient Writer tells us, that it was built, and
curiously beautified by _Constantine the Great_, part of which he
made the Temple of _Castor_ and _Pollux_, whose Images remain’d in
the _Portico’s_ of the _Hippodrom_ down to his Time; that is, ’till
the Reign of _Theodosius_ the _Less_. In the middle of the _Circo_,
which the _Greeks_ call the _Hippodrom_, there stood an _Obelisk_
made of _Thebaick_ Stone; but as the _ancient Description of the
Wards_ takes no Notice of it, tho’ it does of the Square _Thebaick
Obelisk_ in the fifth _Ward_, I should be inclin’d to believe, that
the _Obelisk_, I am speaking of, was overturn’d by an Earth-quake, and
remov’d by _Theodosius_ into the _Hippodrom_, after that Treatise was
wrote, if the Author had not taken notice of many of _Theodosius_’s
Works, and omitted some Things in the _Wards_, which he afterwards
mention’d in his _General View of the City_. ’Tis very probable, that
_Constantinople_ had more _Obelisks_ than one. As to that taken notice
of in the fifth _Ward_, it is not now remaining. When first I arriv’d
at _Constantinople_ I saw two of them, one in the _Circus Maximus_,
another in the Imperial Precinct, standing on the North-side of the
first Hill. This last was of a square Figure, and was erected near the
Houses of the _Grand Seignor_’s Glaziers. A little time after I saw
it lying prostrate without the Precinct, and found it to be thirty
five Foot in Length. Each of its Sides, if I mistake not, was six Foot
broad, and the whole was eight Yards in Compass. It was purchased by
_Antonius Priolus_, a Nobleman of _Venice_, who sent it thither, and
placed it in St. _Stephen_’s Market. The other is standing in the
_Hippodrom_ to this Day. ’Tis supported by four square broad Pieces of
Brass, each a Foot and a half high, with a Base and a Pedestal of the
same Height. From the Ground there rise two Steps against the Pedestal,
the lowermost of which is a Foot high, and of the same Breadth: The
upper Step is two Foot high, and projects four Foot and four Fingers
Breadth beyond the Pedestal. The Steps are not laid within the
Pedestal, but are join’d to it withoutside, as appears by the Cement.
Upon the Steps stands the Pedestal, which is every way twelve Foot
broad, four Foot eight Digits in Height and projects beyond the Base a
Foot and a half: Somewhat above a Foot higher it is more contracted,
and does not project beyond its Base; for from the Top of the Pedestal
there’s a Fluting on the four Sides of the _Obelisk_ which is cut out
of the same Stone of which the Pedestal is made, and is a Foot and
thirteen Digits high. The Corners of the Top of the Pedestal are worn,
and defac’d, but are repair’d by four Stones of _Thebaick Porphyry_
Marble, each of them a Foot and a half high; for all the fluted Part
of the Pedestal that lies between these four angular Stones, together
with the upper Part of it, support the Base, which is seven Foot and
thirteen Digits high, and projects a Foot and a half beyond the Bottom
of the Shaft of the _Obelisk_, to the Breadth of nine Foot, and as
many Digits: ’Tis carv’d on all Sides, as is also the Pedestal, which
is covered with curious Statues cut in _Basso Relievo_. The Sculptures
on the North-side of it, stand in two Ranges, the lowermost of which
contains eighteen Statues, and two Cap-stands, which are turn’d round
with Iron Crows by four Men, and wind the Ropes, which are drawn
through Pullies, round the Cap-stand, and so draw the _Obelisk_ along
the Ground. In the same Range is engraved the _Obelisk_ in an upright
Posture, as it now stands, with three Statues, one of which, as the
Inhabitants tell you, represents the Master, and the other the Servant,
whom he design’d to correct, if a third Person had not interposed,
because he had erected the _Obelisk_ in his Absence. In the upper Range
there are also the Figures of two Cap-stands, with the same Number of
Men working them, and labouring with those below them, to drag the
_Obelisk_. The Wreaths of the Ropes in particular, are very nicely
cut. If the Reader could apprehend the manner in which this cumbersome
Pillar was erected, I believe he would judge it was done the way, as
_Marcellinus_ describes. There was nothing wanting, says he, but the
Erection of the _Obelisk_, the Accomplishment of which, without the
greatest Danger, could scarcely be conceiv’d. You might see, says he, a
vast Wood of Scaffolding made of tall Beams: At the Top of these were
fix’d large, and long Ropes, after the manner of Threads in a Weaver’s
Loom; which by their Thickness and Closeness to one another, darkned
the Air. These Ropes at the Bottom were fastned round the _Obelisk_,
which being leisurely drawn into the Air, many thousands working at the
Cap-stands, was at last fix’d upon its _Basis_. I believe there are at
present Engineers at _Constantinople_, who could do the same thing. I
am induc’d to think so, by what I observ’d of a Pillar on the Side of
the fifth Hill, which was almost equal in Magnitude to this _Obelisk_.
I saw this Pillar taken off its _Basis_, and laid upon the Ground in
the following manner. Round the Pillar, though at some Distance from
it, they fix’d in the Ground near to one another large Poles, much
taller than the Pillar, at an equal Distance from each other. At the
Top of these Poles, they laid others across them, which were fasten’d
to them in the strongest manner, and to which were fix’d the Pullies,
through which the Ropes slipp’d, which reach’d from the Bottom of the
Shaft of the Pillar to the Top, and were fasten’d to it: The Ropes were
so thick, both length-ways and cross-ways, that at some Distance the
Scaffolding look’d like a square Tower. There were many Cap-stands on
all Sides fix’d in the Ground, which were turn’d by infinite Numbers
of the strongest Youth, till they had mov’d it from its _Basis_, and
laid it prostrate with the Earth. They afterwards laid it upon strong
Carriages, the Wheels of which were bound with thick Iron, and brought
it safe to the third Hill, and set it up as an Ornament to the _Mosque_
of _Solyman_ the Emperor. But to return to the _Obelisk_; on the
West-side of the Pedestal was the following Inscription in _Greek_:

  _To raise this Four-square Pillar to its Height,
  And fix it steddy on its solid Base,
  Great_ Theodosius _try’d, but try’d d in vain.
  In two and thirty Days, by_ Proclus’ _Skill,
  The toilsome Work, with great Applause, was finish’d_.

And on the other Side was this Inscription in _Latin_,
which was somewhat defac’d, but I could
read it, and is as follows:

  _Difficilis quondam dominis parere serenis
  Jussus, & extinctis palmam portare Tyrannis.
  Omnia_ Theodosio _cedunt, sobolique perenni:
  Ter denis sic victus, duobusque diebus,
  Judice sub_ Proclo, _sublime elatus ad auras_.

On the South Side of it there are two Ranges of Statues, the lowermost
of which has engrav’d upon it four Chariots, two of which are drawn by
a Pair, and the other by four Horses, with a Driver to each of them.
In the upper Range are two _Equestrian_ Statues, three Footmen, three
_Togati_, two _Obelisks_, and four square Pillars. On the North Side
of the _Basis_ are engrav’d four Ranges of Figures, which contain
thirty five Statues in Gowns. On the West Side there are two Ranges,
the lowest of which has nine Statues in a suppliant Posture, making
Presents to the Emperor, who stands in the upper Range, with sixteen
Statues about him. The South Side has two Ranges; upon the lowest are
cut ten Statues in Gowns, in a petitioning manner; the upper contains
twenty Statues, all in Gowns, except four in a fighting Posture, arm’d
with Bucklers. The East Side, on the lowest part of it, has three
Ranges; the lowest Range contains sixteen Statues of Men and Women,
dancing and playing upon Instruments of Musick; above which are two
Ranges more, in which appear little more than the Heads, which I look
upon to be the Spectators. The highest Range has twenty Statues, six
of which are divided from the rest by Pillars. The middle Figure
holds a Crown in his Hand. Upon the _Basis_ are four square Pieces
of Brass carv’d, which being plac’d in a quadrilateral Figure, the
whole _Obelisk_ bears upon them. ’Tis engrav’d from Top to Bottom with
_Ægyptian_ Characters.

CHAP. XII.

  _Of the_ Colossus.

There is yet standing, in the Middle of the _Hippodrom_, a _Colossus_
made of square Stones, which was formerly (as an injudicious Author
writes) incrusted with Marble; but, as appears by an Inscription carv’d
upon its _Basis_, ’twas cover’d with Plates of Brass, cramp’d together
with Iron, as appears not only by the Holes made in the Shaft, but
by those which still remain in the _Base_; where the Iron Pins were
fasten’d, and strengthen’d with melted Lead. ’Tis now despoil’d of its
outward beauteous Appearance; and discovers only the Workmanship of its
Inside, as having felt the Effects of the Avarice and Rapine of the
_Barbarians_. This was also the Fate of the _Colossus_ at _Rhodes_,
which was demolish’d by the _Hagarens_ in the Reign of _Constans_,
Nephew of _Heraclius_, thirteen hundred Years after it was erected.
’Twas purchas’d afterwards by one _Emesenus_ a _Jew_, and the Brass,
when strip’d off, was of so considerable a Weight, that it was carried
off by Nine hundred Camels. Upon the _Base_ of the _Colossus_ at
_Constantinople_, are inscrib’d the following Verses;

  _Fam’d_ Constantine, Romanus’ _Princely Son,
  (Who wore with Honour the Imperial Crown)
  This lofty Pile, by Time decay’d, repair’d;
  And join’d fresh Beauty to her Builder’s Art_.

This _Colossus_ at the _Base_ of it, has three Steps. The lowest is
two Foot high, the next a Foot and two Digits, and the uppermost of
the same Height. The _Basis_ is a square Marble, seven Foot and three
Digits high, each Side of which is ten Foot and nine Inches broad. This
_Colossus_ is taller than the _Obelisk_. One Day, being the _Festival_
of the Circumcision of the Prince of _Boldania_, I saw an ingenious
Fellow of a Mountebank climb to the Top of it, and come down safe.
The same Attempt was immediately made by another, who made a Shift
to reach the Top of it, but the Height so dazzled and confounded him,
that, despairing of getting down without Hurt, he threw himself, with
all his Might, as far as he could from the _Colossus_, to avoid the
Danger of being dash’d to pieces upon the Foundation; so that falling
down right upon his Feet, he stuck deep in the Earth, and dy’d upon the
Spot.

CHAP. XIII.

  _Of some other Columns in the_ Hippodrom.

About the Middle of the _Hippodrom_, among a strait Range of small
_Obelisks_, there stand seven Pillars. One of which, made of _Arabian_
Marble, is seventeen Foot and eight Digits in Circumference. There
was erected upon the Top of it, by one _Abraham_ a Basha, the Statue
of _Hercules_. It was cast in Brass, and made of the Spoils which he
had taken in _Hungary_; but upon the Death of _Abraham_, _Hercules_,
who was reported to have travell’d so many Countries, and tam’d so
many Monsters, was at last forced to submit, and be torn to pieces by
the _Turks_, the most inveterate Enemies to _Statuary_, and the whole
_Vitruvian_ Art; so that they treated him in as barbarous a manner as
he was by _Diagoras_, who going into an Inn, and wanting Wood to boil
his Lentils, finding a wooden Statue of _Hercules_, well-finish’d,
cut it to pieces, and threw it into the Fire, saying these Words;
_O Hercules, who hast pass’d with so much Courage through thy twelve
Labours, try how thou canst struggle with the thirteenth_.

In the same Range of _Obelisks_ there stands another Pillar. ’Tis made
of Brass, but not fluted, but wreath’d round with the Foldings of
three Serpents, like those we see in great Ropes. The Heads of these
Serpents are placed in a triangular Form, and rise very high upon the
Shaft of the Pillar. There are many fabulous and trifling Reports
among the Inhabitants, concerning the Erection of this Pillar, which
is occasion’d by their Ignorance of the History of their Ancestors.
_Zosimus_, among other Historians, writes, that _Constantine_ the
_Great_ plac’d in the _Hippodrom_ the _Tripos_ of _Apollo_, which was
brought from _Delphos_, and which had on it the Image of that God.
_Sozomen_ tells us, that _Constantine_ did not only place the _Delphick
Tripos_ in the _Hippodrom_, but also that celebrated _Tripos_, which
_Pausanias_ the _Lacedæmonian_ General, and the Cities of _Greece_,
upon the Conclusion of the War with the _Medes_, consecrated to
_Apollo_. _Eusebius_ is more clear upon this Occasion, and says,
that _Constantine_, in some part of _Constantinople_, see up the
Image of _Sminthius Apollo_, which was a Title given to him; but that
in the _Hippodrom_ he placed the _Pythian Tripos_, round which was
wreathed the Figure of the Serpent _Python_; so that it seems to me
very probable, that this was the same _Tripos_ which was plac’d upon
the brazen Pillar I am speaking of at _Constantinople_. _Herodotus_
writes, that the golden _Tripos_ which was at _Delphos_, was made
out of a tenth Part of the Spoils taken from the _Persians_, and
erected upon this Pillar; and adds farther, that when the _Persians_
were routed at the Battle of _Platææ_, there was found a golden
_Tripos_, which was restor’d to _Apollo_, and set upon a brazen
Pillar, encircled with three Serpents entwin’d, near an Altar. ’Tis a
Mistake in those who imagine, that this Pillar was formerly overlaid
with Gold, but was plunder’d of it by the _Turks_; since _Pausanias_
makes it appear, that it was stripp’d of its Gold long before the
_Turks_ took _Constantinople_. _After the Battle of Platææ_, says
he, _the_ Greeks _made a common Offering to_ Apollo, _which was a
golden_ Tripos, _supported by a brazen Serpent_. The Brass, he tells
us, remain’d whole in his Time, but the Gold was carry’d off by the
_Phocean_ Generals. There are five other Pillars in the same Range.
In the Front of the _Hippodrom_, facing the _Propontis_, there was
a Range of seventeen Pillars of white Marble standing, when first I
came to _Constantinople_. They stood on the South-west Side of the
_Hippodrom_. The _Pedestal_ of each of them is two Foot and ten Digits
high, and are all of them supported by arch’d Foundations, which lye
Level with the Plain of the _Hippodrom_, but rise above Ground to the
Height of fifty Foot. They are all placed upon a little Wall, which
projects two Steps, or square Plinths, the lowermost of which is a
Foot and a Digit high; the upper is a Foot and six Digits high, and
projects beyond the Pedestal eight Digits. The Pedestals of them are
every way five Feet, and seven Inches broad. The lowest Projectures
of them, which are placed there for _Tores_ and other _Modules_, are
six Digits and a half high, the upper Projectures of the same Height;
the _Plinth_ of the _Cornice_ is eleven Digits in Thickness; the lower
_Tore_ seven Digits and a half; the _Scotia_ four Digits; the upper
_Tore_ six Digits; the Stone which supports the Shaft is five Digits
high, and the Shafts themselves three Foot five Digits in Diameter,
and twenty eight Foot in Height. These Pillars were lately taken down,
and the _Bases_ of them removed by Order of _Solyman_ the Emperor,
to build an Hospital. I was concern’d to see them thus demolish’d,
not so much for the Use they were intended, but that some of them
were squared out for paving a _Bagnio_, and that the _Capitals_,
made after the most exact Plans of ancient _Architecture_, were cut
into Rude and ill-shapen Models for covering a Bake-house, and that
the _Pedestals_, and all the _Entablature_ were hewn out, it may be
only to build a Wall. The _Shafts_ of the Pillars stood at eleven
Foot Distance. I observ’d the _Capitals_ were impair’d by reason of
the great Space of Intercolumniation. The _Capitals_ were finish’d
after the _Corinthian_ Order, and the _Trabeation_ was beautifully
wrought, but was not adorn’d with an _Ovolo_. There were Iron Rings
fix’d to the _Architraves_, upon which were hung Curtains. Beyond
this was another Range of Pillars, which were remaining some time
after the Taking of the City by the _Turks_. Before it was taken
by the _Gauls_ and the _Venetians_, there were in the _Hippodrom_
abundance of Figures of Horses, both in Stone and Brass. There were
four in particular of surprizing Skill, which were gilded, equal in
Beauty and Workmanship to those which now stand before the Church
of St. _Marcian_ at _Venice_, which, some say, were brought thither
from _Constantinople_. I shall omit the Statues of great Numbers of
Emperors and Princes, which were set up in the _Circo_. Among these
stood the Statue of the Emperor _Justinian_, which has been celebrated
in Verse. There were also the Statutes of some Eunuchs, who were most
in the Interest and Favour with their Masters. Among others, there was
the Statue of _Plato_ the Eunuch, the Emperor’s Chamberlain, who was
burnt to Death in the Reign of _Basiliscus_. There was an Inscription,
according to _Suidas_, fix’d upon the Breast of this Statue, which
ran thus; _Whosoever shall remove this Statue into another Place, let
him be hang’d_. Yet was it taken out of the Church of _Procopius_,
and carry’d into the _Hippodrom_. I have not time to take Notice of
the numberless Statues of all the Combatants, Wrestlers, Charioteers,
formerly placed in the _Hippodrom_; of which, though there is nothing
remaining at present, yet the Memory of them is still preserved in a
small Poem of three hundred Verses, in which some Chariot-Racers are
mention’d with particular Honours, though no Notice be there taken
of a Person named _Thomas_, a Man of surprizing Agility and Speed,
in that kind of Exercise. I have seen the Fragment of a Stone at
_Constantinople_ with this Inscription, Θομᾶ Ἡνιόχου. This probably is
the same Person mention’d by the Emperor _Theodoric_, in a Letter to
_Faustus_ a _Roman Prætor_, in the following Words: _Of our Imperial
Bounty and Consideration we have given and granted to_ Thomas, _the
famous Chariot-Racer, a present Stipend to be continued to him, till
we have farther experienced, and been fully satisfied of his wonderful
Skill in that Exercise; but having now received ample Testimony of his
Superiority in that Performance, and that having left his Countrey, he
hath chosen voluntarily to settle himself within our Dominions, we, out
of our Imperial Munificence, have encouraged him by a monthly Salary
to continue among us. He has, by his frequent Successes, received the
repeated Applauses, and stood high in the Favour of the People, whom he
has sometimes, though unfortunately, vindicated, and at other times has
eminently distinguish’d himself in the Race of the Chariot. Victory so
often attended him, that he was look’d upon as a Sorcerer by a Set of
People, who would have accounted it the highest Commendation to have
been thought so themselves, for the same Reasons. And ’tis no Wonder
that Men should ascribe those Excellencies to the Power of Sorcery
and Enchantment, which they cannot arrive to themselves, the Sight
of a Chariot-Race, in ancient Times, was had in the highest Honour
and Esteem, though at present ’tis little better than the Occasion
of Buffoonry, an Incentive to trifling Disputes, an Encouragement to
Roguery and Sharping, and the constant Source of Broils and Quarrels._
Thus far the Emperor: From whose Words I would observe, that the
Chariot-Racer here mention’d, who had left _Constantinople_, probably
upon some Party Quarrels among the Chariot-Racers (who were therefore
call’d _Factions_) was also in Danger at _Rome_, upon the like
Account. The Commonwealth both of _Rome_ and _Constantinople_ have
not only been often harrass’d with such Commotions, but the Emperors
themselves have often fallen into the greatest Danger of losing their
Government by them. But all the Diversions of the _Circo_ are now
ceased. I was concern’d to see it despoil’d of all its Ornaments,
though the _Turks_ of late have begun to build there again. I was
the more concern’d, because, by looking casually upon a Medal I had
then in my Hand, it put me in mind of _Belisarius_ triumphing in the
_Hippodrom_, after his Victory over the King of the _Vandals_, as also
of the Disgrace and Poverty, notwithstanding his Bravery and Courage,
he afterwards fell into by the Jealousy of the Emperor. On one Side of
it was stamp’d the triumphant Reception of _Belisarius_, and on the
other this Image, with this Inscription, _Gloria Romanorum Belisarius_.
_Procopius_ writes, That there was a Gate in the _Hippodrom_ call’d
the _Cochlia_, because it had winding Stairs within it. There was also
a Passage, through which they went to their Burial-Ground. The same
Writer tells us, that in the same Place there was a _Portico_ call’d
_Venetia_, from the _Companies_ or _Factions_ of Chariot-Racers who
used to assemble there, and who distinguish’d themselves from other
_Factions_ or _Companies_, by a _Sky-colour’d_ Garment, which was
called so from the _Venetians_, a People that particularly affected
that Colour. ’Tis very probable, that the _Prasin Faction_ had also
a _Portico_ here. These were another Company of Charioteers, and
distinguish’d themselves by a _green_ Livery. The Word _Prasina_ being
derived from πράσον in the _Greek_, which signifies a _Leek_. Nor is
it unlikely, that there were other Companies with Liveries of other
Colours, who were not promiscuously crowded together, but seated in
their own Apartments in the _Portico’s_, to see the Races.

CHAP. XIV.

  _Of the Church of_ Bacchus, _the Court of_ Hormisda, _and the House
  of_ Justinian.

It is observable from the Situation of the Church of _Bacchus_ and
_Sergius_, now standing on the Plain between the _Propontis_ and the
_Hippodrom_, that the Imperial Palace, and the House _Justinian_ lived
in, before he was Emperor, stood near it. _Procopius_ writes, that
_Justinian_ built a Church, and dedicated it to St. _Peter_ and St.
_Paul_. It stood near the Imperial Court, where formerly had stood a
Palace built by _Hormisda_. This, _Justinian_ made a Mansion-house
for himself, that the Beauty and Elegancy of its Building might be an
Ornament to the Palace.

After he had arrived to the Imperial Dignity, he built other fine
Palaces about it, and near it built another Church in honour of two
illustrious Saints, _Sergius_ and _Bacchus_. These Churches which are
both of them equally beautiful, stood on the same Compass of Ground,
nor is there any material Difference between them. They shine alike
with the most glossy Marble; both are curiously gilded, and adorn’d
with the richest Offerings, nor is there any thing wherein they do not
resemble each other, but that one is built lengthways, and the other
in a semicircular manner. They are both wonderful in their kind, and
are a great Ornament not only to the Palace, but to the whole City:
_Procopius_ adds a little farther, that _Justinian_ chang’d the House,
which was call’d the House of _Hormisda_, into a more magnificent
Figure, and join’d it to the Palace. I am of Opinion, that this
_Hormisda_, whom he dignifies with the Title of Prince, was the Son
of a King of _Persia_, who, as _Marcellinus_ reports, when _Constans_
the Son of _Constantine_ came to _Rome_, and glorying how far he would
transcend _Hormisda_ in his immoderate Schemes of Building, being
unable to accomplish his Designs, he was content, he said, in an
humble manner, only to have such another Horse made as stood in the
_Forum_ of _Trajan_. The Story coming afterwards to _Hormisda_’s Ear,
he reply’d in a jocular manner, _Let him try first, if he can build a
Stable for him_. _Cedrinus_ explains more at large how near the House
of _Justinian_ was to the Church of _Bacchus_: _Justinian_, says he,
_built the Church of_ Sergius _and_ Bacchus, _which on the Sea-side of
it, is near the Palace, and built also another Church by it, on the
same piece of Ground, on which had stood his own House: In building
these two Churches, and in founding a Monastery, which he fill’d with
Men of sound Learning, and exemplary Conversation, he laid out his
whole Estate, and all he was worth, till he arrived to the Imperial
Dignity_. There is nothing remaining at present of the Church of St.
_Peter_ and St. _Paul_, but the Church of _Sergius_ and _Bacchus_ are
yet standing. It goes still under its ancient Name, though the _Turks_
have changed it into a Mosque. ’Tis covered at top with a Brick Roof,
and bears upon eight Pilasters; between the Pilasters there are two
Ranges of Pillars of the _Ionick Order_. In the lowest Range, there are
sixteen Pillars which bear upon the Pavement: Six of these Pillars are
of Green Marble, and ten of white streak’d with Red Veins. The upper
Range consists of eighteen Pillars, eight of which are Green, ten White
Marble, and are vein’d as the other. The _Capitals_ of the lower are
adorn’d with _Ovolo’s_ at the Bottom of them. The upper part of them is
cover’d with a _Foliage_. The _Volutæ_ of the upper Range of Pillars
project from the four Angles of the _Capitals_, but the _Ovolo’s_
project from the Sides of them, which are also cover’d with a _Foliage_
of fine Workmanship. The _Architraves_ over the _Capitals_ of the
lower Range are finished with the nicest Art. There is a noble Piece
of Sculpture in this Church. ’Twas done by _Zoophorus_, who has carved
round the Church some _Greek_ Verses, in the largest Characters. The
Tops of the _Pilasters_ are shaded with a _Vineal Foliage_, intermixed
with cluster’d Grapes, which denote, that the Church was dedicated to
_Bacchus_.

CHAP. XV.

  _Of the Port of_ Julian, _and_ Sophia; _of the_ Portico _nam’d_
  Sigma, _and the Palace of_ Sophia.

Near the Church of _Bacchus_, stood the Port of _Julian_. This is plain
from the Account we have of the Fire, which happen’d in the Reign of
_Leo_ the _Great_, and as _Evagrius_ tells us, began on the North-side
of the City, and destroy’d all before it, from the _Bosporian_ Port,
to the old Temple of _Apollo_; and that on the South-side of the City,
it made the same Havock from the Port of _Julian_, to the Houses near
the Temple of _Concord_. _Zonaras_ writes, who has described the
Devastations of that Fire, that it burnt with great Fury from the
_Bosporium_ to the Church of St. _John_ the _Calybite_, and on the
South from the Church of St. _Thomas_ to the Church of the renowned
Martyrs, _Sergius_ and _Bacchus_. The Church of St. _Thomas_ stood near
the Temple of _Concord_. The Account which _Cedrinus_ gives of this
Fire is, that it took its Course round the City quite from the Northern
to the Southern Shore, as far as the Church of _Sergius_ and _Bacchus_.
The Emperor _Anastasius_ fortified the Port of _Julian_, and secured
it by a strong Wall. It was afterwards called the Port of _Sophia_,
according to _Cedrinus_, who writes, _That_ Justin _the Nephew of_
Justinian, _built a Palace in the Port of_ Julian, _which he ordered
to be cleansed, and that he commanded his own, and the Statue of_
Sophia _his Consort to be erected there, and from thence gave it the
Name of the Port_ of Sophia. The Inscription on the Statue of _Justin_
placed here is as follows:

  _I_ Theodorus, _Prefect of the City,
  Here, on the Shore, erect this lofty Statue;
  It represents the Emperor_ Justinus.
  _May his kind Presence guard, and ever shed
  Its peaceful Influence o’er the neighbouring Ports._

_Procopius_ writes, that the Church of the Martyr _Thecla_ stood near
this Port. Some modern Historians tell us, that _Belisarius_ set
Sail from this Port, when he went to Battel against the _Vandals_.
But I cannot conceive what Reason they have for that Opinion, unless
it be from some Words of _Procopius_, who says, that _Justinian_
commanded the Ship, in which the General sail’d, to be brought near
the Palace, and that there _Epiphanius_ Bishop of _Constantinople_, as
was customary upon such Occasions, put up a Prayer for his Success,
and that then _Belisarius_ went off with his Wife _Antonina_. There
were indeed some Palaces near this Port, but there were also other
Palaces near the Bay, which was full of Havens, from whence, at a
little Distance, stood the House of _Belisarius_. _Suidas_ confirms
it, that _Anastasius_ fortify’d this Harbour, and made a Pier there;
and _Zonaras_ attests, that _Justin_ built there some Palaces, and
call’d them the Palaces of _Sophia_, from the Name of his Consort, whom
he passionately loved. Many _Historians_ are of Opinion, that these
Palaces stood near the Port of _Sophia_; but I am induced to think,
both from Reason and the Authority of learned Men, that it was not so.
For _Zonaras_, among others, writes, that _Justin_ built these Palaces
against the City, and _Agathius_, a much ancienter Writer, and who was
living at the Time they were built, wrote the following Inscription,
which was fix’d upon them. From whence the Reader may observe, that
they were not seated near the _Propontis_, adjoining to which was the
Port of _Sophia_, but opposite to the City, near the Shore of the
_Bosporus_, where the Continent is divided into two Parts.

_Agathius Scholasticus_ upon the Palaces of SOPHIA.

  _Where the streight Sea divides the Continents,
  These gilded Palaces the Emperor built
  For his dear Consort, fair_ Sophia_’s Use.
  The Wonders of thy Beauty, potent_ Rome,
  Europe, _and_ Asia, _half th’ extended World
  With Pleasure view, and silently admire_.

The Word which in the Original Inscription is wrote δέρκεαι, _Zonaras_
writes δέρκεται. ’Tis easy to discover from these Verses, that the
Palace of _Sophia_ was not seated near the _Bosporus_, but without
the Walls of the City, waich is attested by _Cedrinus_, and many
other Historians, in their Descriptions of the _hard Frost_, which
happen’d in the Reign of _Leo Copronymus_, by which the _Bosporus_
was frozen so hard, that whosoever had a mind to pass over from the
Palace of _Sophia_ to the City, or from _Chrysopolis_ to the Church of
St. _Mamas_, or repass to _Galata_ on the Shore of the _Bosporus_,
might cross over the Ice without the least Danger. The Port of
_Sophia_, before it was call’d the Port of _Julian_, seems to me to
be the same, which was formerly called the _Neorium_, and which the
_ancient Description of the Wards_ places in the same _Ward_ with the
_Hippodrom_; but whether it be one, or either of these, it is now
fill’d up; or if it was that Port which stands West of the Church
of _Bacchus_, ’tis now almost demolish’d, and enclosed with a Wall.
There is only a small Part of it remaining, which is a standing Water,
where the Women wash their Linnen. The People tell you, that they have
seen some Three-Oar’d Gallies which have been sunk there. ’Tis call’d
at present by the Inhabitants _Caterga limena_, or the Port of the
Three-Oar’d Gallies; whether it be the same Port, which is standing on
the East of the Church of _Bacchus_, near the Gate of the City call’d
_Porta Leonis_, which Name it took either from a Lion near it, which
was carved in Stone, or from the Emperor _Leo_, who, they tell you,
had a Palace there, I shall not determine. _Nicephorus_, an Historian
of modern Date, tells us, that an Emperor of _Constantinople_, when
besieged by the People of _Italy_, summoned a Multitude of Smiths into
the _Morion_, which ran round the _Hippodrom_. I could never discover
at _Constantinople_ the Place which was called the _Pyctacia_; yet I
cannot but take Notice from _Cedrinus_, and other modern Historians,
that in the Place which they called the _Pyctacia_, there was a
Pillar which supported the Statue of _Leo_ the Emperor, the Consort
of _Verina_. This Statue, as some write, was erected by his Sister
_Euphemia_, a Lady of great Wisdom and Continency, near her own
House, where _Leo_ every Week, used to pay her a Visit. All Persons
who laboured under Afflictions of any Kind, laid their Petitions to
the Emperor, upon the Steps of this Pillar. The Apparitors took them
up, and when the Emperor waited upon his Sister, they presented them
to him. _Budæus_ says, that the _Pyctacia_, or as he calls them, the
_Pystacia_, were Briefs; though I see no Reason why they may not also
be called Petitions. For as _Pyctium_ signifies a Book, I do not see
why _Pyctacium_ may not signify any smaller Writing. The _Greeks_ at
present generally call their Letters _Pyctacia_. In an History written
by an unknown Author, I have read, that _Eudoxia_ had set up her own
Statue, made of massy Silver, in a Place called the _Pyctacium_. If
the Author be not mistaken, I should take this to be the same Statue
which stood near the Church of St. _Sophia_, by which, as I have shewn
before, stood the Statue of _Eudoxia_. I have seen a small _Treatise_
of _Constantinople_, which says, that _Constantine_ the _Great_ built
a Church to St. _Euphemia_, near the _Hippodrom_, which was afterwards
turned into an Armory by _Constantine_, surnamed _Copronymus_, a
professed Adversary to Images in Churches, and who cast the Reliques
of St. _Euphemia_ into the Sea. _Suidas_ writes, that the Statue of
_Euphemia_ (the Consort of the Emperor _Justin_, who was a _Thracian_)
was placed in the Church of St. _Euphemia_, which she her self had
built. Some modern Writers say, that in the Time of _Basilius_ the
Emperor, there was a great Earthquake which overturned the Church of
St. _Polyclete_, and killed all that were in it; and that from that
Time it was called _Sigma_. I am more inclined to believe, that it took
its Name from a _Portico_ so called, many Ages before this Earthquake,
because it was built after the Similitude of the Letter _Sigma_, and
is placed in the _antient Description_ of _Constantinople_, in the
same _Ward_ with the _Hippodrom_. _Cedrinus_ seems to take Notice
of this Place. _They dragged_, says he, Michael _the Emperor in his
Monks Habit, by the Heels, out of the Monastery of_ Studius, _through
the Market, and leading him beyond the Monastery called_ Periblepton,
_in a Place called_ Sigma, _they put out both his Eyes_. The same
Author tells us, that _Basilius_ the Emperor, a Native of _Macedon_,
rebuilt from the Foundations, a Church to the Honour of the _Blessed
Virgin_, which was called _Sigma_. _Chrysaphius Zomas_, an Eunuch, set
up the Statue of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, in a Place called _Sigma_.
Some Writers affirm, that _Constantine_ the _Great_ built a Church to
St. _Stephen_, in a Place called _Sigma_. The _Sigma_ therefore here
intended, must needs be another Place in the City, distinct from that
which I observed was in the third _Ward_, and ought to be written with
the Letter _e_, as _Segma_; by Reason, as I hinted just now, that the
Fall of the Church of St. _Polyclete_ by an Earthquake, crushed to
Death all that were in it.

CHAP. XVI.

  _Of the Fourth_ Ward.

If the _Miliarium Aureum_ had been now in Being, or the People of
_Constantinople_ had preserved the Memory of its Situation, we might
easily discover, from the _antient Description of the Wards_, (which
tells us, that the fourth _Ward_ extended it self, the Hills rising
on the Right and Left, from the _Miliarium Aureum_ to a plain level
Ground) that it was in the first Valley, or on the Ridge of the Hill
that arises just above it. Nor could we have failed to make the like
Discovery from the Remains of the _Augustæum_, the _Basilica_, the
_Nymphæum_, and other fine Buildings, had they not been entirely buried
in their own Ruins. But since no Observations at present can be made
that Way, I was in Suspense, whether or no the Valley, where the fourth
_Ward_ stood, was not the same Valley which I had described at the
first; because it is common to other Vales, to have Hills rising on the
right and left. And when I had sufficiently instructed my self from the
Writings and Histories of learned Men, what Monuments of Antiquity had
formerly been in the fourth _Ward_, and where they had stood, I was
soon sensible that the fourth _Ward_ stood in the first Valley, and on
the Sides of it, and on the Hill near to the Church of St. _Sophia_, as
the Reader will perceive from the following History.

CHAP. XVII.

  _Of the_ Forum _called the_ Augustæum, _of the Pillar of_ Theodosius,
  _and_ Justinian, _and the_ Senate-House.

_Procopius_ writes, that the _Forum_ which was formerly called the
_Augustæum_, was surrounded with Pillars, and was situate before the
Imperial Palace. Not only the _Forum_ is at present quite defaced,
but the very Name of it is lost, and the whole Ground where it stood
is built upon. The Palace is entirely in Ruines, yet I collect from
the _Pedestal_ of a Pillar of _Justinian_ lately standing, but now
removed by the _Turks_, which _Procopius_ says was built by _Justinian_
in the _Augustæum_, and _Zonaras_ in the Court before the Church of
_Sophia_, that the _Augustæum_ stood where there is now a Fountain,
at the West End of the Church of St. _Sophia_. _Suidas_ says, that
_Justinian_, after he had built the Church of St. _Sophia_, cleansed
the Court, and paved it with Marble, and that it was formerly called
the _Forum Augustæum_; and adds, that he erected his own Statue there.
_Procopius_ writes, _That there was a certain_ Forum _facing the
Senate House, which was called by the Citizens the_ Augustæum; _where
are seven Stones, so cemented together in a quadrangular Manner,
and are so contracted one within another the upper within the lower
Stone, that a Man may conveniently sit down upon every Projecture of
them_. I was more induced to give this Account from _Procopius_, of
the Pedestal, because I do not find it in his _printed Works_. Upon
the Top of it, says he, there’s erected a large Pillar, composed of
many Stones covered with Brass, which did at once both strengthen and
adorn them. The Plates of Brass did not reflect so strong a Lustre
as pure Gold, yet was it, in Value, little inferior to Silver. On
the Top of the Statue was set a large Horse in Brass, facing the
East, which indeed afforded a noble Prospect. He seemed to be in a
marching Posture, and struggling for Speed. His near Foot before was
curvated, as though he would paw the Ground; his off Foot was fixed
to the _Pedestal_, and his hind Feet were so contracted, as though he
was prepared to be gone. Upon the Horse was placed the Statue of the
Emperor. ’Twas made of Brass, large like a _Colossus_, dress’d in a
warlike Habit like _Achilles_, with Sandals on his Feet, and armed
with a Coat of Mail, and a shining Helmet. He looked Eastward, and
seemed to be marching against the _Persians_. In his left Hand he bore
a Globe, devised to signify his universal Power over the whole World.
On the Top of it was fixed a Cross, to which he attributed all his
Successes in War, and his Accession to the Imperial Dignity. His right
Hand was stretched to the East, and by pointing with his Fingers, he
seemed to forbid the barbarous Nations to approach nearer, but to stand
off at their Peril. _Tzetzes_, in his _Various History_, describes
what kind of Helmet he had upon his Head. _The_ Persians, says he,
_generally wore a Turbant upon the Head. When the_ Romans _obtained
any Victory over them, they plundered them of these Turbants, which
they placed upon their own Heads. They are_, says he, _of the same
Shape with that, with which the Statue of_ Justinian, _erected upon a
large Pillar, is crowned_. _Cedrinus_ relates, that _Justinian_ held
the Globe in his Silver Hand. _Zonaras_ writes, that _Justinian_, in
the seventeenth Year of his Reign, set up this Pillar, in the same
Place, where formerly had stood another Pillar of _Theodosius_ the
_Great_, bearing his Statue in Silver, made at the Expence of his Son
_Arcadius_, which weighed seven Thousand four Hundred Pounds. When
_Justinian_ had demolished the Statue and the Pillar, he stripped it of
a vast Quantity of Lead, of which he made Pipes for _Aqueducts_, which
brought the Water into the City. This ill Treatment of _Theodosius_
by _Justinian_, was revenged upon him by the _Barbarians_; for they
used his Pillar in the same Manner, and stripped it of the Statue, the
Horse, and the Brass wherewith it was covered, so that it was only a
bare Column for some Years. About thirty Years ago the whole _Shaft_
was taken down to the _Pedestal_, and that, about a Year since, was
demolished down to the _Basis_, from whence I observed a Spring to
spout up with Pipes, into a large Cistern. At present there stands in
the same Place a Water-House, and the Pipes are enlarged. I lately
saw the _Equestrian_ Statue of _Justinian_, erected upon the Pillar
which stood here, and which had been preserved a long Time in the
Imperial Precinct, carried into the melting Houses, where they cast
their Ordnance. Among the Fragments were the Leg of _Justinian_, which
exceeded my Height, and his Nose, which was above nine Inches long.
I dared not publickly measure the Horse’s Legs, as they lay upon the
Ground, but privately measured one of the Hoofs, and found it to be
nine Inches in Height. _Suidas_, and some modern Historians allure us,
that it was called the _Forum Augustæum_, because the _Curatores_,
and _Sebastophori_, on the fifteenth Day of _October_, used to dance
in the Market Place there, in Honour of _Augustus_; or because the
Statues of _Constantine_, and his Mother _Helena_, were set up in an
arched Gallery which stood here. _Zosimus_, a more antient Historian
than _Procopius_, asserts, that _Constantine_ built a round Market,
with four _Portico_’s, two in a Row, above each other; and that he
roofed two of them with _Proconnesian_ Marble, that you might pass from
them unto the Portico of _Severus_, and from thence beyond the Bounds
of the antient City; and adds, that this Market stood in a Place, to
which there was a Passage thro’ a Landgate adjacent. This is the same
Market which is intended by the _unknown Author_ of the _History of
Constantinople_, where he tells us, that _Constantine_ built a Market
in a circular Manner. The same Author tells us in another Place, that
when he was at _Constantinople_, _Constantine_ had surrounded the great
_Forum_ with four _Portico_’s and placed at both Ends of one of them,
which you ascend by many Steps, two Statues: At one End was placed
the Statue of _Rhea_, the Mother of the Gods, (the same Statue, which
those who sailed with _Jason_, placed on Mount _Dindymus_) rising above
the City of _Cyzicus_. They tell you, that for her Neglect in paying
divine Worship to the Gods, the Statue was defaced; and that her Hands,
which before held the Reins of two Lyons which stood before her, were
changed into a petitioning Posture. This Statue at the same Time faced
and adorned the City. At the other End of the _Portico_ he placed the
_Fortune_ of the City, though _Suidas_ relates, that the _Fortune_
of the City stood in a Nich of the _Miliarium_. If this Statue was
set up here by _Constantine_, I should think, that both the Markets
mentioned by _Zosimus_ are one and the same. But to me they seem to be
different; because _Zosimus_ tells us in one Place, that _Constantine_
built a Market with two _Portico’s_ round it, and afterwards, that
he built a Market with four _Portico_’s round it; unless he reckons
in the Account, the _Portico’s_ of _Severus_ and _Constantine_, from
whence there was a free Entrance into other _Portico’s_. On the East
Side of the _Forum Augusteum_, _Procopius_ writes, that _Justinian_
built a large Court, where the Senate used to assemble, and celebrate
an Anniversary Festival every new Year. Before the Senate-House stand
six Columns, two of which support the Western Wall, in the Middle of
it. The other four stand at a little Distance from it. These Pillars
are all of white Marble, and I look upon them to be the largest in
the World. The other six support a _Portico_, which runs round the
Top of a large Building. The upper Part of the _Portico_ is adorned
with Marble elegantly variegated, and equal to that of the Columns,
and is furnished with an infinite Variety of curious Statues. I am
of Opinion, that _Justinian_ did not build this _Senate-House_, but
that he rebuilt the old _Senate-House_, which was burnt down by the
Fire, which consumed the Church of St. _Sophia_, and the Baths of
_Zeuxippus_. For _Sozomen_ writes, that _Constantine_ the _Great_
built the Great Council-Hall, which was called the _Senate-House_, and
ordered it to be held in equal Dignity, and honoured it with the same
publick Celebration of the Feast of the _Calends_, with that of antient
_Rome_. He tells us where this great Court stood, when he writes, that
the silver Statue of _Eudoxia Augusta_ was placed upon a _Porphyry_
Pillar, on the South Side of the Church of St. _Sophia_, beyond the
high Pulpit, which faces the _Senate-House_. _Socrates_ tells us, that
it was neither erected near, nor at any considerable Distance from the
Church of St. _Sophia_; but beyond the broad Way, as _Suidas_ observes,
which runs between them both. _In the Tribunal of the Palace_, says he,
_stood the Pillar of_ Eudoxia, _the Wife of_ Theodosius. The Treatise
_of the antient Description of the Wards_ places the Senate-House,
the _Tribunal_ with _Porphyry_ Steps, and the _Basilica_, all in
the same _Ward_. _Sozomen_ clearly points out the Situation of the
_Senate-House_, where he says, that when a Tumult arose concerning the
Expulsion of St. _Chrysostom_, the great Church was all on a sudden in
a Blaze, which burnt down the Buildings upon the Walks, and the Great
_Senate-House_, lying to the South of them. There are some Remains of
the Walls of the _Senate-House_ still standing, southerly of the Church
of St. _Sophia_, beyond the Way that leads from the Imperial Gate to
the _Forum_ of _Constantine_.

CHAP. XVIII.

  _Of the Imperial Palace, the_ Basilica; _of the Palace of_
  Constantine, _and the House of Entrance nam’d_ Chalca.

Not far from the _Forum Augusteum_, as _Procopius_ writes, stood a
Palace, the Statelyness and Magnificence of which the Reader may
easily guess at from the Description he gives of the _Vestibulum_,
or the House of Entrance into it. This _Vestibulum_ is call’d the
_Chalca_, which is made after this Manner. There are four strait Walls
carried up to a great Height in a quadrangular Figure, from each
Angle of which there projects a Stone Building curiously finish’d,
which rises with the Wall from Top to Bottom, no ways intercepting
the beauteous Prospect before you, but seeming rather to add to the
Pleasure and Agreeableness of it. Above this Building are raised
eight Arches, supporting the Roof, which rises into a globular Height
most beautifully adorn’d. The Roof of it is not furnish’d with fine
Paintings, but shines with _Mosaick_ Work of all sorts of Colours,
in the several Figures of Men, and other Kinds of Creatures. The
Historian at large has explain’d the Designs, which are the Scenes
of War, of Battles, and the Surrender of many Towns, both in _Africa_
and _Italy_. Among other Curiosities are describ’d the Victories of
_Justinian_ under his General _Belisarius_, and his triumphant Return
to the Emperor. The Courage and Chearfulness of his Army is expressed
in a lively Manner. The General is figured in an humble Posture, as
making an Offering to him of all the Kings, the Kingdoms, and other
rich Spoils he had taken from the Enemy. In the Middle of the Work
is represented the Emperor and his Empress _Theodora_ in a pleasant
gay Humour, celebrating a Festival in Honour of his Victory over
the _Goths_ and _Vandals_, and bringing great Numbers of Captives
before him. The whole Senate is described round them, joining in the
Celebration. They all look chearful and merry, smiling, and highly
pleased with the Honour they have to attend the Emperor on so important
an Occasion. I would here observe, that as _Papinius_ in his _Sylvæ_
calls the _Basilica_ of _Paulus_, the Palace of _Paulus_, so the
House, which _Procopius_ calls Βασιλεῖον went by the Name both of
the _Basilica_ and the Palace. And I am confirm’d in this Opinion
from _Cedrinus_, who says, That the Fire which happen’d in the Reign
of _Justinian_, burnt down the Porch, or House of Entrance into the
_Basilica_, the _Basilica_ itself, and the brazen Covering of the
Palace of _Constantine the Great_, which from that Time to this Day,
is call’d the _Chalca_, because it is cover’d with Plates of Brass
gilded. What _Cedrinus_ calls the _Basilica_, _Procopius_, in his Book
_De Ædif. Justiniani_, calls τὰ Βασιλεῖα, when speaking of the Fire
above-mention’d, he tells us, That it consumed the Gate-houses τῶν
Βασιλείων, and that in particular which was call’d _Chalca_: The same
Writer adds a little lower, that the Emperor commanded _Belisarius_
to go to the _Chalca_, and the other Houses of Entrance seated by it.
From which Words it is observable, that _Procopius_ seems to believe,
that there were other Houses of Entrance into the Palace, though in
the Beginning of this Chapter he mentions only the _Chalca_. It is
my Opinion, that the House where the Emperor dwelt was first call’d
the _Basilica_; that afterwards, when the great Houses, where the
Merchants assembled for Trade and Commerce, were call’d _Basilica_,
the Emperor’s House was call’d Βασιλεῖον; and, at last, the Palace.
If there was any Difference between the _Basilica_ and the Palace,
yet the _Basilica_ was either a part of the Palace, or built near to
it, as the Reader may see in the _Ancient Description of the Wards_,
which places the _Augusteum_ and the _Basilica_ in the same _Ward_.
As this _Treatise_ takes no Notice in this _Ward_ either of a Palace
or a Court, but only of a _Basilica_, it seems to intimate, that the
_Basilica_ was the Palace itself. But whether the _Basilica_ was within
or without the Palace, it is certain it was near it, because they were
both destroy’d by Fire, by reason of their Vicinity to one another; and
the Rules of _Architecture_ prescribe, that it be built near a Market,
which is always near the Palace; and that it be built warm, that the
Merchants may manage their Business there in Winter Time, without any
Molestation from the Severity of the Weather. _Julius Pollux_ is of
the same Opinion, who says, That the _Stadia_, the _Hippodrom_, the
_Senate-House_, the _Forum_, the Court, the Imperial _Portico_, and the
_Tribunal_, ought to stand near the Theatre. _Cedrinus_ writes, that
the beautiful Structure of the _Chalca_ was built by one _Ætherius_ a
famous Architect, by the Command of the wife of Emperor _Anastasius_,
as appears from a _Greek_ Inscription upon it, which runs thus:

Upon a Building in the Palace, call’d _Chalca_.

  _I am the Palace of fam’d_ Anastasius
  _The Scourge of Tyrants; none surpasses me,
  In Beauty, and in wonderful Contrivance.
  When the Surveyors view’d my mighty Bulk,
  My Height, my Length, and my extensive Breadth;
  ’Twas thought beyond the Reach of human Power
  To roof at Top my widely gaping Walls.
  But young_ Ætherius, _ancient in his Art,
  This Building finish’d, and an Offering made
  To our good Emperor.
  Not_ Italy, _with all its Glory shews
  A Structure so magnificent and great;
  Not the proud_ Capitol _of ancient_ Rome
  _With all its gilded Roofs can rival me.
  The costly Galleries of_ Pergamus,
  Ruffinus’ _Walks, and stately_ Portico’s
  _Crowded with Art, and marbled Images
  Submit to my superior Workmanship.
  Not the fam’d Temple, which at_ Cyzico,
  _By_ Adrian _built, stands on a lofty Rock,
  Nor_ Ægypt’s _costly_ Pyramids, _nor at_ Rhodes
  _The mighty_ Colosse _equal me in Greatness.
  When my good Emperor, in hostile Manner,
  Quell’d the_ Isaurian _Faction, thus he rais’d me
  In Honour of_ Aurora, _and the Winds_.

Some modern Historians will have it, that _Constantine the Great_ first
built the Palace of _Chalca_. I should be inclinable to disbelieve
them, but that I am induced to think it was so, when I observ’d the
brazen Tyles gilded with Gold, resembling those of the _Capitol_,
and a _Forum_ of _Old Rome_, whose Buildings _Constantine_ was proud
to imitate, as near as he could. I could never learn, who it was who
remov’d the Tyles of the _Chalca_; though it is not improbable, but
that they were spoiled by the Fire. ’Tis related by _Procopius_, that
_Genseric_ plunder’d half the _Roman_ Capitol of the gilded Plates of
Brass that cover’d it, and that _Constantine_ the _Third_, the Nephew
of _Heraclius_, carry’d off the Silver Plates which were laid over the
_Pantheon_. At a small Distance (on the South-west Side of the Church
of St. _Sophia_) from the Water-Pipes of an _Aqueduct_ running from a
Conduit situate in the _Forum Augusteum_, where was erected the Pillar
of _Justinian_, are still remaining seven _Corinthian_ Pillars, on the
_Shaft_ of one of which is cut the Name of _Constantine_, with the
_Signal_ of the Cross he saw in the Heavens, with this Inscription,
ἐν τούτῳ νίκα. The _Basis_ and _Shaft_ of these Pillars are buried,
at the Bottom of them, under Ground, to the Depth of six Foot, which
I discover’d, when I casually fell into the Foundation of the Walls,
which were built between them. I could not see the _Plinth_ of the
_Base_ of any of them, because it was cover’d with Earth; yet I
perceiv’d the lowermost _Tore_, which was eight Digits in Thickness,
and seven in Height. The Stone at the Bottom of the _Shaft_ was nine
Inches broad. Every Pillar is thirty Foot and six Digits high: In
short, the whole _Pillar_, _Capital_ and _Pedestal_, is about forty six
Foot and a half in Height. The Bottom of the _Shaft_, which I measured
just above the Stone it bears upon, is eighteen Foot in Circumference.
The Pillars stand at the Distance of twenty Foot and ten Digits from
each other. The Inhabitants say, that these Pillars stood within the
Palace of _Constantine_; others say, that they formerly supported a
Bridge, over which you passed, as you went from the Palace to the
Church of St. _Sophia_. But there is nothing of Truth in either of
these Opinions; for ’tis plain from what I observed before, that they
stood in the _Forum Augusteum_. So that I am inclined to believe, that
they supported the Arches of the _Portico’s_, in which the Statues of
_Constantine the Great_, his Mother _Helena_, and other Statues were
placed. From what I have said, the Reader may trace the Beauty and
Grandeur of the Palaces at _Constantinople_, as well as from _Zosimus_,
who says, that _Constantine_ built some Palaces at _Constantinople_,
little inferior to those of _Rome_. _Eusebius_ reports, that he
illustrated and adorn’d _New Rome_, and the Imperial Palace, in other
respects, besides those I have mention’d, but that in the finest
Buildings of his Palace, and in the Middle of all his gilded Roofs, he
fix’d a Cross set with several Kinds of the richest Jewels, shining
with massy Gold; intimating thereby, that he look’d upon the Cross as
the Defence and Bulwark of his Government. St. _Jerome_ tells us, _That
he stripp’d almost every City of its Curiosities and Ornaments,
to adorn his New_ Rome. _Eusebius_ also mentions the Statues of the
_Muses_, which he caused to be fix’d up in his Palace. _Sozomen_
writes, that by the Command of _Constantine_, all that was valuable in
the Temples of the Ancients under his Government, and all the brazen
Statues of the nicest Workmanship were brought to _Constantinople_, to
beautify the City; which, he tells us, remain’d in the publick _Ways_,
in the _Hippodrom_, and in the Palace, down to his Time. But not only
_Constantine the Great_, but many other Emperors of _Constantinople_
ravaged the whole World for the Decoration of this City. Among these
was _Constantine the Third_, the Nephew of _Heraclius_, who plunder’d
_ancient Rome_ of all its brazen and Marble Statues, ship’d off all
the costly Furniture of their Temples, and made more Havock there in
the Space of seven Days, than the _barbarous_ Nations did in the Space
of two hundred and fifty Years; for so many Years was the _Roman_
Empire in its Declension before that general Pillage. _Iornandes_, no
indifferent Writer of the _Getick_ History, reports, That _Theodorick
Prefect_ of _Constantinople_ was adopted, and made Consul by the
Emperor _Zeno_, who honour’d him with an _Equestrian_ Statue, which was
erected before the Palace. _Tzetzes_, in his _various History_, tells
us, that even in his Time, the Head of _Apollo_, made by _Phidias_ in
the Likeness of the Sun, remain’d in the Palace. _Suidas_ relates, that
the Statue of _Pulcheria_, the Daughter of _Arcadius_, was placed in
the _Chalca_, near the Walks of _Ariadne_ the first Wife of _Zeno_,
and that the Statues of _Zeno_ himself were set up in the Imperial
Gate-house of _Chalca_; as were also two other Statues on foot, erected
upon a small Pillar, with Elegies inscrib’d upon them, composed by
_Secundus_ the Philosopher. I have seen in the History of no creditable
Author, tho’ well known to the People of _Constantinople_, that
_Justinian_ erected on the left Side of the _Chalca_, seven Statues in
Honour of his Relations, some of Brass, and some of Marble, and that
he had also set up two Horses in the Nich before the _Chalca_, as also
some gilded Heads of Women, in the frightful Likeness of _Medusa_; I
could mention others, but that I do not much depend upon the Authority
of the History. _Suidas_ says, that in the _Tribunal_ of the Palace
stood the Statues of _Eudoxia_, and her Emperor _Theodosius_; of
_Marcian_ and _Constantine_, till the Time of _Heraclius_.

CHAP. XIX.

  _Of the_ Basilica, _and the Imperial Walks_.

The _Basilica_, which, as I observed before, stood in the _Forum
Augusteum_, had four Arches, as appears from the ancient following
Inscriptions on them.

Upon an Arch in the _Basilica_ of _Byzantium_.

  _Great_ Theodore, _who beautify’d the City
  With four extensive Arches, highly merits
  The Government of four Imperial Cities_.

And on another Part of the same Arch:

  _You_, Theodorus, _with surprizing Art,
  Once_ Consul, _and thrice_ Prefect _of the City,
  Adorn’d this shining Fane with lofty Pillars,
  Sacred to_ Fortune, _Goddess of the City_.

_Calliades_, General of the _Byzantian_ Army, plac’d the Statues of
_Byzas_ and _Phidalia_ in the _Basilica_, with this Inscription upon
them:

  Calliades _erected here the Statues
  Of_ Byzas, _and his lov’d_ Phidalia.

And on the Statue of _Phidalia_:

  _This is the Statue of the fair_ Phidalia
  _Young_ Byzas’ _Wife, the Work of_ Bupalus.

_Pliny_, among other Statuaries, mentions _Anthermus_ of _Chios_,
and his Sons _Biopalus_ and _Anthermus_. _Dionysius_, a Native of
_Byzantium_ writes, that _Byzas_, from whom _Byzantium_ took its Name,
was the Husband of _Phidalia_, from whom the Port of the _Bosporus_
took the Name of the Port of _Phidalia_, of which I have wrote more
largely in my _Treatise of the Bosporus_. _Suidas_, and some modern
Writers say, that in the _Basilica_, behind the _Miliarium Aureum_,
there was a gilded Statue in the Likeness of a Man, where was also the
_Exammon_ of _Heraclius_, and the Statue of _Justin_ the Emperor in
a kneeling Posture. _Terbelis_ is said to have preached in the same
Place. Here was also placed by the Order of _Severus_, the Figure
of a large Elephant, upon the following Occasion: That an Elephant
being stabled near it, and the House of a Silver-Smith, who worked
in Plate, being robbed, he suspecting the Keeper of the Elephant to
be the Thief, threatned him with Death, unless he would move his
Station; and the Fellow bidding him Defiance, he slew him, and threw
him to the Elephant, at which the Beast being enraged, killed his
Keeper’s Murderer. _Severus_ being acquainted with the Fact, offered
Sacrifices to the Elephant, commanded him and his Keeper to be cast
in Brass, and set up here; where also, as _Suidas_ relates, was the
Statue of _Hercules_, to which the _Byzantians_ paid divine Adoration,
and offered Sacrifice. Afterwards, in the _Consulship_ of _Julian_,
it was moved into the _Hippodrom_; but was originally, with ten other
Statues, brought from _Old Rome_, partly by Sea, and partly by Land
Carriage. Thus it was that _Hercules_, living and dead, travelled the
greatest Part of the World. _Suidas_ writes, that in the Imperial
Walks were placed the _Equestrian_ Statues of _Trajan_, _Theodosius_,
_Valentinian_, _Gibbus_, and _Firmillianus_ the Buffoon. There were
many other Statues of Emperors and Eunuchs set up in this Place, the
most famous of which was the Statue of _Eutropius_, who was Chamberlain
to the Emperor _Arcadius_. The Honour and Opulency of this Eunuch
appeared in numberless gilded Statues, erected to him in every Part
of the City, and the Magnificence and Superiority of the Houses he
built, almost in every Street. This so far encouraged and increased the
Number of the Eunuchs, that even the Boys affected to be so, that they
might become as rich and as honourable as _Eutropius_. The _Basilica_
was so near to the _Miliarium_, and the _Augusteum_, that the Clock
made by the Command of the Emperor _Justin_, _Cedrinus_ places in
the _Miliarium_, others in the _Forum Augusteum_, and others in the
_Basilica_, as is evident from the following Inscription.

On the _Basis_ of the Dial over the Arch in the _Basilica_.

  _This Dial was erected at the Cost
  Of Prince_ Justinus, _and the fair_ Sophia.
  _The Scourge of execrable Tyrants he,
  She the bright Patroness of Liberty.
  Behold the_ Gnomon _cast in shining Brass,
  The certain_ Index _of the flying Hours.
  This was the Invention of the learned_ Julian
  _An honest, upright, and impartial Lawyer_.

CHAP. XX.

  _Of the Imperial Library, and_ Portico; _as also of the Imperial_
  Cistern.

The Imperial Palace, says _Zonaras_, stood near the _Basilica_,
hard by the Brasiers Shops. The _Basilica_ was furnished with many
Volumes, both of human and divine Learning. It was anciently the
Mansion House of some Person of distinguished Knowledge, whom they
called the President or Master. He had under him twelve Assistants,
excellently well skilled in the Art of Reasoning, who were maintained
at the publick Charge. They had each of them several Pupils under
them, who were instructed in the Methods of Argumentation, and were
had in such high Estimation, that upon all important Affairs of State,
the Emperors summoned them to Council. In the Reign of _Basilicus_,
there happened at _Constantinople_ a great Fire, which begun at, and
consumed the Brasiers Shops, with all the adjacent Buildings, burnt
down whole Streets; and among other fine Edifices, destroyed the famous
_Basilica_, which contained a Library of six hundred thousand Volumes.
Among other Curiosities of this Place, was the Gut of a Dragon, a
hundred and twenty Foot long, on which were inscribed in Golden
Characters the _Iliads_ and _Odysses_ of _Homer_. _Malchus_, a learned
_Byzantian_, wrote the History of _Constantinople_, which he brought
down from the Reign of _Constantine_, to the Time of _Anastasius_
the Emperor, in which he very passionately laments the burning of
the publick Library, and the Statues of the _Forum Augusteum_.
_Cedrinus_ speaking of the same Library, gives the same Account of it
with _Zonaras_, almost word for word, and adds, _That this Library
contain’d the Histories of the Atchievements of the greatest Heroes, in
the several Ages of the World_. Many Years after this _Basilica_ was
burn’d down, the Emperor _Leo Conon_, the Students vigorously opposing
his Heresy, order’d the Palace to be fired, and burnt them, and the
Library; which was afterwards rebuilt, and furnished with a most
curious Collection of the best Authors. The _Basilicæ_ at _Old Rome_,
were the Places where they used to plead, to hold their Councils and
_Senates_, and to carry on the Business of Merchandize and Commerce: At
_Constantinople_ they were used as Libraries and Schools of Learning,
as appears by what I have already observ’d, as also from the following
Inscription.

Upon the publick School in _Byzantium_.

  _This Place was built for all th’ unletter’d Youth
  Whose_ Genius _leads ’em to the_ Roman _Law.
  In Pleading skill’d, and fraught with Eloquence,
  They leave these Walls, and plead their Countrey’s Cause._

Modern Writers tell us, that the Place where the Library stood was of
an Octogonal Figure, where there were arch’d _Portico’s_, and a large
Room, where the head Master used to converse with his Assistants.
_Cedrinus_ affirms, that the great Church, the Hospital of _Sampson_,
the Gate-house of the _Basilica_, the _Augusteum_, the _Chalca_, the
two long _Portico’s_, as far as the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, the
_Octogon_, and the _Bagnio’s_ of _Zeuxippus_, were destroy’d by a
Fire, which happen’d in the Reign of _Justinian_. I would observe
from this Passage, that there must of Necessity be two _Octogons_
near one another. For if the _Octogon_, as _Cedrinus_ reports, had
been the same with that where the Library stood, he would not have
omitted to take Notice that the Library was burnt down also in the
Reign of _Justinian_. It is my Opinion, that the Place where the
Library stood, was of a quadrangular Figure, and seems to be the
same Building which _Procopius_ says was encompassed with Pillars
erected in a square Manner. _Zonaras_ mentions nothing of the Form of
the _Basilica_, which contain’d the Library, but only says, that it
adjoin’d to the _Chalcopratia_, or Braziers Shops. _Cedrinus_ calls
the _Basilica_, _Cisterna_, which some Writers erroneously tell us,
was built by _Constantine the Great_. I am confirm’d in this Opinion
from _Procopius_, who says, that near the Imperial _Portico_, where
the Lawyers used to plead, there was a spacious Building of a great
Length and Breadth, encompassed with Pillars in a quadrangular Manner,
situate on a rocky Ground, which was built by _Justinian_ to a great
Height, for preserving the Water in Summer, which was brought into it
by subterraneous Pipes, and in the Winter from the _Aqueducts_, for
the Use of the Poor. _Menander_, surnam’d the _Protector_, says of
himself, that it was once against his Inclinations to enter into the
Litigations of the Law in the Imperial _Portico_, and by the Force of
Pleading, to attempt to reconcile the Jarrings and Contentions of Men.
_Agathius_ plays handsomly upon one _Uranius_ a Native of _Syria_,
who set up for a Physician, although he was entirely ignorant of the
_Aristotelian_ Discipline. This Fellow was blustering, noisy, an
impudent Pretender to infallible Cures, and very talkative, among other
Places, in the Imperial _Portico_; and speaking of himself, he tells
us, that he has often from Morning to Night read over many Law Books,
and Discourses of Trade and Commerce in the Imperial _Portico_’s. From
these Passages it is observable, that the Imperial _Portico_, and the
Imperial _Cistern_, stood in the same Place. The Imperial _Portico_
is not to be seen, though the _Cistern_ is still remaining. Through
the Carelesness and Contempt of every thing that is curious in the
Inhabitants, it was never discover’d, but by me, who was a Stranger
among them, after a long and diligent Search after it. The whole Ground
was built upon, which made it less suspected there was a _Cistern_
there. The People had not the least Suspicion of it, although they
daily drew their Water out of the Wells which were sunk into it. I went
by Chance into a House, where there was a Descent into it, and went
aboard a little Skiff. The Master of the House, after having lighted
some Torches, rowing me here and there across, through the Pillars,
which lay very deep in Water, I made a Discovery of it. He was very
intent upon catching his Fish, with which the _Cistern_ abounds, and
spear’d some of them by the Light of the Torches. There is also a small
Light which descends from the Mouth of the Well, and reflects upon the
Water, where the Fish usually come for Air. This _Cistern_ is three
hundred and thirty six Foot long, a hundred and eighty two Foot broad,
and two hundred and twenty four _Roman_ Paces in Compass. The Roof, and
Arches, and Sides, are all Brick-work, and cover’d with Terrass, which
is not the least impair’d by Time. The Roof is supported with three
hundred and thirty six Marble Pillars. The Space of _Intercolumniation_
is twelve Foot. Each Pillar is above forty Foot nine Inches high.
They stand lengthways in twelve Ranges, broad-ways in twenty eight.
The _Capitals_ of them are partly finish’d after the _Corinthian_
Model, and part of them not finish’d. Over the _Abacus_ of every Pillar
is placed a large Stone, which seems to be another _Abacus_, and
supports four Arches. There are abundance of Wells which fall into the
_Cistern_. I have seen, when it was filling in the Winter-time, a large
Stream of Water falling from a great Pipe with a mighty Noise, till the
Pillars, up to the Middle of the _Capitals_, have been cover’d with
Water. This _Cistern_ stands Westward of the Church of St. _Sophia_, at
the Distance of eighty _Roman_ Paces from it.

CHAP. XXI.

  _Of the_ Chalcopratia.

It is plain from what has been observed, that the _Chalcopratia_,
or Places where they work’d their Brass, stood near the _Basilica_.
_Cedrinus_ reports, That _Theodosius the Less_ built the Church of the
_Chalcopratia_, and dedicated it to the Virgin _Mary_. Others say,
that the _Jews_, who had lived there from the Time of _Constantine the
Great_, had obliged _Theodosius the Less_ to retire from thence, and
built that Church; and that afterwards, when it had been shatter’d by
an Earthquake, it was rebuilt by _Justin Curopalatos_, tho’ _Zonaras_
is of another Opinion. _Theodosius the Great_, says he, _marching into
the Western Parts, the_ Jews _took the Opportunity, and made_ Honoratus
_the Prefect of the City, their Friend, and obtain’d of him the
Freedom to build a Synagogue in the_ Chalcopratia: _The People being
enraged at this, set it on fire, and burnt it down. When_ Theodosius
_was made acquainted with the Fact, he lay’d a Fine upon those who were
concern’d in it, and gave them a fresh Licence to build another. St._
Ambrose, _who was then Bishop of_ Milan, _being inform’d of the Matter,
lay’d before_ Theodosius _the Greatness of the Crime, in suffering the_
Jews _to build a Synagogue in the very Centre of the Queen of Cities,
upon which he remitted the Fine, and stopp’d their Proceedings_.
There are no Braziers Shops in this Place at present, they being
removed into another part of the City, tho’ I was inform’d by some
of the Inhabitants, that not many Years since they follow’d their
Trade near the _Chalcopratia_. The _unknown Author_ of the History of
_Constantinople_, describing the Boundaries of _Old Byzantium_, tells
us, _That the_ Chalcopratia _were not far from the_ Miliarium. Others
say, that they were near the Church of St. _Sophia_. _Strabo_ speaking
of the Palace of _Alexandria_, relates, that in Conformity to this at
_Constantinople_, it had a Library, a _Portico_, a Convocation-House,
or Place of Assembly upon publick Affairs, and a large publick
Foundation for the Encouragement of Persons of Literature and Science.

CHAP. XXII.

  _Of the_ Portico’s _situate between the Palace, and the_ Forum _of_
  Constantine.

Besides the Imperial _Portico_, which stood near the Library, there
were also other _Portico’s_ at a little Distance from it, which reach’d
from the Palace to the _Forum_ of _Constantine_. The first Fire, which
happen’d in the Reign of _Justinian_, consumed the Palace and the
Church of St. _Sophia_, both the long _Portico_’s, as far as the _Forum
of Constantine_. _Cedrinus_ says, that besides these, it destroy’d also
the _Chalca_ and the _Augusteum_. The Fire that happen’d afterwards
in the Reign of _Basiliscus_, began at the _Chalcopratia_, burnt down
the two adjoining _Portico’s_, all the neighbouring Buildings, the
_Basilica_, in which was the Library, two _Portico’s_ which stood
between the Palaces, and all the fine Ornaments of the _Lausus_. These
_Portico’s_ have been often burnt, and as often rebuilt; first of
all by _Justinian_, then by others, and last by _Domninus_, which is
confirm’d by a modern Historian, who says, That when _Constantinople_
was taken by the _Gauls_ and the _Venetians_, the cover’d _Portico_’s
of _Domninus_ reaching on both Sides of the Way, from the _Miliarium_
to the Forum of _Constantine_, were burnt to the Ground. Some say,
That in the Time of _Constantine the Great_, _Eubulus_ built four
double _Portico’s_, which were arch’d at Top, and reach’d from the
Palace to the Land Wall of the City; one of which stretch’d as far
as the Church of St. _Anthony_, at the End of the City, another from
the Port of _Sophia_, to the Church named _Rabdon_; the other two
extended themselves from the _Chalca_, and the _Miliarium_ to the
_Forum_ of _Constantine_, the Street call’d _Taurus_, and the _Brazen
Bull_. All of them were paved with square Marble, and adorn’d with
infinite Numbers of Statues. These Relations, though they come from
unknown Authors, who, as I have sometimes observed, have not so
strictly adhered to Truth, yet seem to carry with them a good Face of
Probability, since it is evident from Historians of more Veracity, how
industrious _Constantine_ was in adorning the City; and ’tis no less
evident from the _Treatise of the ancient Description of the Wards_,
that _Constantinople_, in the Reigns of _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_,
had no less than fifty two publick _Portico’s_, five of which the
Author places in the fourth _Ward_, in which stood the _Basilica_,
the Imperial _Portico_, and the _Portico_ of _Fannio_; besides which,
he places four large _Portico’s_ in the sixth _Ward_. In the same
_Ward_ he places another large _Portico_. He adds, that the seventh
_Ward_ abounds with _Portico’s_, and that the eighth _Ward_ had six
_Portico’s_ more. In the ninth _Ward_ were two large _Portico’s_. The
tenth had six, the eleventh four. From which it is credible, that the
_Portico’s_ stood very thick from the _Chalca_ to the Land Wall, but I
cannot say they were contiguous beyond the _Taurus_.

CHAP. XXIII.

  _Of the_ Miliarium Aureum _and its Statues, and of the_ Fortune _of
  the City, and her Statue_.

The _Miliarium Aureum_ was a gilded Pillar, from whence they used
to adjust the Mensuration of their Miles, and the Distances from
the City. _Pliny_ tells us, that it was set up at _Rome_ in the
highest Ground of the publick _Forum_; but whether the _Miliarium_ at
_Constantinople_ was like that of _Rome_, the _Greek_ Historians have
been so far from declaring their Opinions concerning it, that in all
their Writings they have not so much as mention’d the Name of it. Yet
it seems very probable to me, that it was like it, and was also seated
in the _Forum_, or near it. For the _Ancient Description of the Wards_
places it in the _Ward_ where the _Forum Augusteum_ and the _Basilica_
stood, to which it adjoin’d. They who have written the History of
the Atchievements of _Alexius Comnenus_ the Emperor, tell us, that
at Break of Day, the Forces of _Alexius_, marching out of the great
Palace, under the Command of _Sabatius_ their General, enter’d the
Church of St. _John_ the _Divine_, and when they had got to the Top of
the Church, they express’d themselves in a provoking manner, so that a
Battle began about three in the Morning, and that many People in the
_Forum_ were wounded, who fought from the Roof of the _Miliarium_, and
the Top of St. _John_’s Church. The Inhabitants say, that this was the
Church where the Elephants of the _Grand Seignor_ are now stabled. ’Tis
near the _Hippodrom_, and the _Forum Cupedinis_, famous for Niceties,
situate near the Church of St. _Sophia_, and was formerly called the
_Forum Augusteum_. But to come closer to the Point: _Suidas_ says,
_That in the_ Basilica, _behind the_ Miliarium, _were placed a gilded
Statue of a Man, as also of an Elephant and his Keeper_; others, with
more Probability, say, that these Statues were erected behind the
_Basilica_, near the _Miliarium_. _Suidas_ adds, that the Statue of
_Theodosius_ was placed in the _Miliarium_, and that upon the setting
it up, he distributed large Donations of Corn among the People. Upon
the _Equestrian_ Statue of _Theodosius_, not remaining at present, were
inscrib’d these Verses.

  _Not the bright Sun, which gilds the Eastern Sky,
  With greater Lustre shines, than_ Theodosius.
  _See how he sits aloft in radiant Arms,
  And with mild Aspect views his loving People!
  The fiery Steed, pleas’d with the Royal Burthen,
  In warlike Posture seems to move, and live._

_Suidas_ proceeds farther, and tells us, that the Statues of _Sophia_,
the Consort of _Justin_ the _Thracian_, of his Daughter _Arabia_, and
his Niece _Helena_; as also the _Equestrian_ Statues of _Arcadius_ and
_Theodosius_ his Son, were placed in the _Miliarium_, near the Statue
of _Theodosius_ the _Great_. _Cedrinus_ writes, that there stood two
Statues above the Nich of the _Miliarium_, one of _Constantine_ the
_Great_, the other of his Mother _Helena_, with a Cross between them:
Behind them was placed the Statue of _Trajan_ on Horse-back, and that
near him was placed the Statue of _Ælius Hadrianus_. _Suidas_ adds,
that the Cross which was placed between _Constantine_ and _Helena_, had
this Inscription; _una sancta, & duo celeres Cursores_. From whence it
is evident, that the _Forum_, the _Miliarium_, and the _Basilica_ stood
so near together, that they are not only placed by different Authors
in different Places, but sometimes by one and the same Historian.
The same Writer says, that there was also in the _Miliarium_ a great
Piece of Antiquity, which was a Chariot drawn by four Fallow Horses,
supported by two square Pillars, in the Place where _Constantine_
was received by his Army with joyful Congratulations, after he had
conquered _Azotium_; but originally, because _Byzas_, the Founder of
_Byzantium_, had there been highly applauded by the People. The Chariot
of the Sun was carried into the _Hippodrom_, in which was seated a
small Statue, made by the Order of _Constantine_. This Statue was the
_Fortune_ of the City, which on great Festivals, and the Day of the
Celebration of the Foundation of the City, was set up with a Cross on
her Head, in the _Senate-House_. _Julian_ the Apostate demolished it
in the same Place, where _Arius_ died in a miserable Manner, which
was at a small Distance from the _Senate-House_. In the same Place,
the pious Emperor _Theodosius_ had ordered the Statues of _Arius_,
_Macedonius_, _Sabellius_, and _Eunomius_, which were cut in Marble,
to be placed in a sitting Posture on the Ground, to be polluted with
the Excrements, and receive the Curses of the People, in Token of
their flagrant Perfidiousness. Other Historians say, that the Statue
of the _Fortune_ of the City was brought from _Rome_ by _Constantine_
the _Great_, and placed in a Nich in the Palace. _Zosimus_ writes, that
_Constantine_ placed the _Fortune_ of _Rome_, on the Side of one of the
four _Portico’s_ that surrounded the great _Forum_. ’Tis very probable,
that the People of _Constantinople_ celebrated a Festival in Honour of
her, as was customary at _Old Rome_, both by Natives and Foreigners,
the same Day, in which the _Palilia_, (the Festivals of _Pales_) were
celebrated. _Socrates_ tells us, that _Julian_, when he was publickly
sacrificing to the _Fortune_ of _Constantinople_, in the _Basilica_,
where her Statue was set up; _Mares_, the Bishop of _Chalcedon_, being
led thither by the Hand, for he was blind with Age, sharply reprimanded
him, and called him an Apostate from the Christian Religion. _Julian_
in Return, called him a blind old Fellow, adding sarcastically this
Question; _Is your God, the Galilean, able to cure you?_ For thus, by
Way of Contempt, he used to call our Saviour. Upon which the good old
Bishop replied, _I thank my God, who has taken my Sight from me, so
that I cannot behold the Man who is fallen into so great an Apostacy_;
upon which _Julian_ was silent. _Zonaras_, and some Historians who
lived before him, have recorded, That in the Time of _Anastasius_, the
Statue of _Fortune_, made in Brass, stood with one Foot in a brazen
Ship, and was placed in some Part of the City; but that when this Ship
began to decay with Age, or some Parts of it were stolen, or shattered
by Treachery, it happened, that no Ships of Burthen came into the
Port of _Constantinople_, but that upon their Arrival near the City,
a Storm prevented their coming into Harbour; and if their Cargo was