Chapter I: Preface

In the following pages I venture to take part in the task of identifying the historical sites of Byzantine or Roman Constantinople, with the view of making the events of which that city was the theatre more intelligible and vivid. The new interest now taken in all related to the Byzantine world demands a work of this character.

The attention I have devoted, for many years, to the subject has been sustained by the conviction that the Empire of which New Rome was the capital defended the higher life of mankind against the attacks of formidable antagonists, and rendered eminent service to the cause of human welfare. This is what gives to the archæological study of the city its dignity and importance.

Only a portion of my subject is dealt with in the present volume—the walls of the city, which were the bulwarks of civilization for more than a thousand years, and the adjoining sites and monuments memorable in history.

While availing myself, as the reader will find, of the results obtained by my predecessors in this field of research, I have endeavoured to make my work a fresh and independent investigation of the subject, by constant appeals to the original authorities, and by direct examination of the localities concerned. The difficult questions which must be decided, in order that our knowledge of the old city may be more satisfactory, have been made prominent. Some of them, however, cannot be answered once for all, until excavations are permitted.

By the frequent quotations and references which occur in the course of the following discussions, the student will find himself placed in a position to verify the statements and to weigh the arguments submitted to his consideration. All difference of opinion leading nearer to the truth in the case will be welcomed.

My best thanks are due to the friends and the photographers who have enabled me to provide the book with illustrations, maps, and plans, thus making the study of the subject clearer and more interesting. The plan of the so-called Prisons of Anemas by Hanford W. Edson, Esq., the sketches by Mrs. Walker, the photographs taken by Professor Ormiston, and the maps and plans drawn by Arthur E. Henderson, Esq., are particularly valuable. I wish to express my gratitude also to the many friends who accompanied me on my explorations of the city, thereby facilitating the accomplishment of my work, and associating it with delightful memories.

ALEXANDER VAN MILLINGEN.

Robert College, Constantinople, _September, 1899_.

CONTENTS

I. THE SITE OF CONSTANTINOPLE—THE LIMITS OF BYZANTIUM 1

II. THE CITY OF CONSTANTINE—ITS LIMITS—FORTIFICATIONS—INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT 15

III. THE THEODOSIAN WALLS 40

IV. THE GATES IN THE THEODOSIAN WALLS—THE GOLDEN GATE 59

V. THE GATES IN THE THEODOSIAN WALLS—_continued_ 74

VI. REPAIRS ON THE THEODOSIAN WALLS 95

VII. THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (TEKFOUR SERAI) 109

VIII. THE FORTIFICATIONS ON THE NORTH-WESTERN SIDE OF THE CITY, BEFORE THE SEVENTH CENTURY 115

IX. THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS 122

X. THE TOWER OF ANEMAS: THE TOWER OF ISAAC ANGELUS 131

XI. INMATES OF THE PRISON OF ANEMAS 154

XII. THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR HERACLIUS: THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR LEO THE ARMENIAN 164

XIII. THE SEAWARD WALLS 178

XIV. THE WALLS ALONG THE GOLDEN HORN 194

XV. THE WALLS ALONG THE GOLDEN HORN—_continued_ 212

XVI. THE WALLS ALONG THE SEA OF MARMORA 248

XVII. THE HARBOURS ON THE SEA OF MARMORA 268

XVIII. THE HARBOURS ON THE SEA OF MARMORA—_continued_ 288

XIX. THE HEBDOMON 316

XX. THE ANASTASIAN WALL 342

TABLE OF EMPERORS 344

INDEX 349

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

MAP OF CONSTANTINOPLE IN 1422. (_By Bondelmontius_) _Frontispiece_

BUST OVER THE GATE OF GYROLIMNÈ xi

INSCRIPTION FROM THE STADIUM OF BYZANTIUM _To face_ 14

MAP OF BYZANTINE CONSTANTINOPLE “ 19

MAP OF THE LAND WALLS OF CONSTANTINOPLE “ 41

PORTION OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS (BETWEEN THE GATE OF THE DEUTERON AND YEDI KOULÈ KAPOUSSI) _To face_ 46

PORTION OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS (FROM WITHIN THE CITY) “ 52

AQUEDUCT ACROSS THE MOAT OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS “ 56

COIN OF THE EMPEROR THEODOSIUS II. “ 56

PLAN OF THE GOLDEN GATE “ 60

THE GOLDEN GATE (INNER) “ 64

THE GOLDEN GATE (OUTER) “ 68

YEDI KOULÈ KAPOUSSI “ 72

THE GATE OF THE PEGÈ “ 76

THE GATE OF RHEGIUM “ 78

THE GATE OF ST. ROMANUS 80

THE GATE OF CHARISIUS 80

VIEW ACROSS THE VALLEY OF THE LYCUS (LOOKING NORTH) 86

THE (SO-CALLED) KERKO PORTA 93

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE GATE OF RHEGIUM _To face_ 96

TOWER OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS (WITH INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPERORS LEO III. AND CONSTANTINE V.) _To face_ 98

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPERORS LEO III. AND CONSTANTINE V. 99

MONOGRAMS ON NINTH TOWER, NORTH OF THE GATE OF PEGÈ 100

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPERORS BASIL II. AND CONSTANTINE IX. 101

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE IX. 102

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR ROMANUS 102

DIAGRAM SHOWING THE INTERIOR OF A TOWER IN THE THEODOSIAN WALLS _To face_ 102

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR JOHN VII. PALÆOLOGUS 105

DIAGRAM SHOWING APPROXIMATE SECTION AND RESTORATION OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS _Facing_ 106

DIAGRAM SHOWING APPROXIMATE ELEVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS _Facing_ 107

SKETCH-PLAN OF THE BLACHERNÆ QUARTER _To face_ 115

THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (SOUTHERN FAÇADE) _To face_ 110 THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (NORTHERN FAÇADE) _To face_ 111

MONOGRAM OF THE PALÆOLOGI 112

THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (VIEW OF INTERIOR) _To face_ 112

MONOGRAM FOUND IN THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS 113

PLAN OF THE PALACE OF PORPHYROGENITUS, AND ADJOINING WALLS _To face_ 115

THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (FROM THE WEST) 118

BALCONY IN THE SOUTHERN FAÇADE OF THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS _To face_ 118

TOWER OF THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS 122

THE PALÆOLOGIAN WALL, NORTH OF THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS _To face_ 126

THE GATE OF GYROLIMNÈ 126

GENERAL VIEW OF THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS 128

PLAN OF THE SO-CALLED PRISON OF ANEMAS 131

THE L-SHAPED CHAMBER IN UPPER STORY OF “THE TOWER OF ANEMAS” 137

“THE TOWER OF ANEMAS” AND “THE TOWER OF ISAAC ANGELUS” (FROM THE SOUTH-WEST) _To face_ 138

“THE TOWER OF ANEMAS” AND “THE TOWER OF ISAAC ANGELUS” (FROM THE NORTH-WEST) _To face_ 144

VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF “THE PRISON OF ANEMAS” (BEING THE SUB-STRUCTURES WHICH SUPPORTED THE PALACE OF BLACHERNÆ) _To face_ 150

CHAMBER IN “THE PRISON OF ANEMAS” 156

ENTRANCE OF PASSAGE FROM THE STAIRWAY IN “THE TOWER OF ANEMAS” TO CHAMBER D IN “THE TOWER OF ISAAC ANGELUS” _To face_ 162

CORRIDOR IN THE ORIGINAL WESTERN TERRACE WALL OF THE PALACE OF BLACHERNÆ (LOOKING SOUTH-WEST) _To face_ 162

GENERAL VIEW OF THE WALLS OF THE CITY FROM THE HILL ON WHICH THE CRUSADERS ENCAMPED IN 1203 _To face_ 166

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR ROMANUS 169

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR MICHAEL III. _To face_ 184

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS 187

COAT-OF-ARMS OF ANDRONICUS II. PALÆOLOGUS 189

BAS-RELIEF, ON THE TOWER EAST OF DJUBALI KAPOUSSI, REPRESENTING THE THREE HEBREW YOUTHS CAST INTO THE FIERY FURNACE OF BABYLON, AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL 191

NIKÈ (FORMERLY NEAR BALAT KAPOUSSI) _To face_ 198

PORTION OF THE CHAIN STRETCHED ACROSS THE ENTRANCE OF THE GOLDEN HORN IN 1453 _To face_ 228

INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THEODOSIUS II. AND THE PREFECT CONSTANTINE;_TO FACE_ 248 INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR THEOPHILUS; _TO FACE_ 248 INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR ISAAC ANGELUS _To face_ 248

PORTION OF WALLS BESIDE THE SEA OF MARMORA 262

CHATEAU AND MARBLE TOWER NEAR THE WESTERN EXTREMITY OF THE WALLS BESIDE THE SEA OF MARMORA _To face_ 266

MAP OF THE SHORE OF CONSTANTINOPLE BETWEEN THE SERAGLIO LIGHT-HOUSE AND DAOUD PASHA KAPOUSSI _To face_ 269

MARBLE FIGURES OF LIONS ATTACHED TO THE BALCONY IN THE PALACE OF THE BUCOLEON _To face_ 272

RUINS OF THE PALACE OF THE BUCOLEON 274

PORTION OF THE PALACE OF HORMISDAS 277

RUINS OF THE PALACE OF HORMISDAS _To face_ 282

TOWER GUARDING THE HARBOUR OF ELEUTHERIUS AND THEODOSIUS 297

PORTION OF THE WALL AROUND THE HARBOUR OF ELEUTHERIUS AND THEODOSIUS 299

MAP OF THE TERRITORY BETWEEN THE HEBDOMON AND THE CITY WALLS _To face_ 316

TRIUMPHUS THEODOSII 330

TRIUMPHUS HERACLII 334

BYZANTINE CONSTANTINOPLE.