Chapter XIII: Book III: Chap. I (2)

When I was quite out of Heart as to Discovery of the seventh _Ward_, and the _Taurus_, without which no Discovery could be made of the eighth _Ward_, I made the best Enquiry I could after some other Buildings, which might lead me into the Knowledge of them. And after I had searched for the Situation of the Pillar of _Theodosius_ for a considerable Time, I was informed by some antient Persons, that it stood on the Top of the _Promontory_, where the Plain of the third Hill extends it self, which is near the New _Bagnio_ built by _Bajazet_ the Emperor, who had demolished that Pillar above forty Years before I came to _Byzantium_, that he might build his _Bagnio_ with more Convenience. Beyond that Bath, Northward, there is a broad Way, where there are three Booksellers Shops, and an antient Cistern; more towards the South is the _Seraglio_. This broad Way widens Eastward into a large _Area_, at the farther End of which is the Sepulchre of _Bajazet_ the Emperor, with a Mosque, and a _Caravansera_. _Cedrinus_ relates, that this Pillar of _Theodosius_ is, in all Parts, like that which was erected by _Arcadius_, and is still standing in the _Xerolophum_, which I shall have Occasion to describe hereafter. _Zonaras_ writes, that the Pillar in the _Taurus_, erected at the Expence of _Theodosius_, whereon were expressed the Trophies he took, and his well-fought Battles with the _Scythians_, and barbarous Nations, with his own Statue at the Top of it, was thrown down by an Earthquake, the same Year that _Old Rome_ was taken. _Anastasius_ the Emperor ordered many curious Pieces of Brass Workmanship to be demolished, and new cast into his own Statue. Among these was a famous Statue of _Constantine the Great_, which, with other Statues, made a large _Equestrian_ Statue, which was gilded, dignified with his own Name and Title, and placed on the same Pillar, where before had stood the Statue of _Theodosius_. I would observe here by the By, that the Street called the _Taurus_ was the same Place, where the Pillar of _Theodosius_ stood; and from hence I would observe farther, that the seventh _Ward_ stood on the Top and Sides of the third Hill. And although the seventh _Ward_ does not contain the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_, yet it is not improbable that it was but at a small Distance from it, not only if we consider how exactly _Constantinople_ emulated _Old Rome_; but also, if any Dependence may be had on the Authority of _Evagrius_, who asserts, that the Fire which happened in the Reign of _Leo_, burnt down all the Edifices from the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, to the _Forum_ of _Taurus_. _An antient Native of_ Constantinople _informed me, that in his Time the_ Forum _of_ Taurus, _and the Pillar of_ Theodosius _stood in the same Place, and that it was like the_ Hippodrom, _full of wild and uncultivated Trees. And because it was only a Shelter for Thieves and Robbers, the Emperor_ Mahomet, _who took the City, voluntarily bestowed the Ground on those who would build upon it_. That the _Forum Pistorium_, or Bread-market, stood on Part of the Ground of the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_, or at least was very near to it, I conjecture from _Zonaras_, who says, that as the Emperor _Nicephorus Phocas_ was coming out of his Palace, situate at the _Golden Fountain_, and near the _Porta Aurea_, the People pursued him grievously with Railery and Invective from the _Forum Pistorium_, as far as the Pillar of _Constantine_. The _unknown Author_ of the History of _Constantinople_ is of the same Opinion, as to the Situation of the _Taurus_, and the Pillar, and tells us, _That the Pillar stood in a paved Court, near the_ Forum Pistorium; and adds, _that in the same Place there was a square Building, with four Gates, and four_ Portico’s _round it, which he calls the_ Tetrapylum, _which before was called_ Quatrivium. _Cedrinus_ places the _Tetrapylum_ not far from the _Forum_ of _Taurus_, when he tells us, that the Fire in _Leo_’s Time, destroyed two large Churches, adorned with all Kinds of curious Stones; one not far from the _Tetrapylum_, the other adjoining to the _Forum_ of _Taurus_. The same Author, speaking of another Fire, which happened in the same Emperor’s Reign, writes, that it consumed all the Buildings from the _Tetrapylum_, covered with Plates of Brass, to the Church. The Author of the _Description of the Wards_ writes, that there was in _Constantinople_ one gilded _Tetrapylum_, but does not mention in what _Ward_ it stood. _Johannes_ the _Rhetorician_ (as he is cited by _Evagrius_) tells us, that in the Reign of _Zeno_ the Emperor, one _Mamianus_, an eminent Senator, built at _Constantinople_ some handsome _Portico’s_, and that between two of them he built a _Tetrapylum_, as a Boundary to both, which he splendidly adorned with Brass and Marble Pillars; and adds, that in his Time the _Portico’s_ bore the Name of some Emperor, and that large Stones of _Proconnesian_ Marble, the Reliques of their antient Beauty and Magnificence, lay on the Ground, but that there was not the least Sign of the _Tetrapylum_ remaining. The _unknown_ Author abovementioned says, that in this _Tetrapylum_, over the Pillars, there was a Chamber, where the Empress, and the Relations of the Emperor deceased, received the News of his Death; and having their Faces veiled, bewailed his Departure till six o’ Clock in the Evening, when meeting the Corpse passing by, they attended it to the Church of the _Apostles_, where they usually buried their Emperors. The _Tetrapylum_ seems to me to have formerly been the Temple of _Janus Quadrifrons_, and stood near the _Capitol_. It had, like that of _Old Rome_, four Doors, denoting the four Seasons of the Year. For _Janus_ takes his Name _ab eundo_, and therefore all _Passages_ are said to be sacred to him, and the Doors of all Temples are called _Januæ_. Some Authors tell us, that in the _Forum Pistorium_ there was a quadrilateral _Pyramid_. _Cedrinus_ defines this _Tetrasceles_ to be a quadrilateral Engine, invented to shew in what Point of the Compass the Wind stood, and adds, that _Theodosius the Great_ erected a Machine in the Form of a _Pyramid_, adorned with several Figures of Animals, of Plants, of Fruits, of gilded Bunches of Pomegranates, and naked _Cupids_, in _Basso Relievo_. Some of these _Cupids_ were cut in a gay smiling Humour, some of the Uppermost were wantoning, and playing their little Tricks with those who were below them, while others were dancing. There was carved upon it a Set of young Fellows playing upon brazen Pipes. On the Top of the _Pyramid_ was a Vane, or Weathercock, which shewed in what Corner the Wind sat. The Statues of _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_ were placed near the Statue of _Theodosius_ their Father; that of _Arcadius_ in an Eastern, and that of _Honorius_ in a Western Nich. _Socrates_, who has wrote the _History of the Christians_, tells us, that _Valens_ the Emperor built out of the Ruines of _Chalcedon_, a large _Aqueduct_, which he brought into the City, and which supplied a very capacious Cistern, built by _Clearchus_, who was _Prefect_ of _Constantinople_, and which, in his Time, was called the _Cistern_, or, as the original Word in _Socrates_ seems more properly to signifie, the _Lake_ of _Theodosius_. _Zonaras_ and _Cedrinus_ call this Lake a _Nympheum_, and add to the Authority of _Socrates_, that the _Prefect_ of the City celebrated there a great Festival, and very splendidly entertained all the People. I would remark from these Citations, that the Place which _Socrates_ calls the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_, is called by _Zonaras_ and _Cedrinus_, the _Taurus_, and that they are both the same _Forum_, and that the _Nympheum_ here mentioned is different from the _Nympheum_ which is situate near the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, over against the Senate-House, and where they usually solemnized their Weddings, as has been observed before. The Author of the _Antient Description, &c._ writes, that the _Carosian Bagnio’s_ were so called from _Carosia_, the Daughter of the Emperor _Valens_; but he does not tell us in what Part of the third Hill they stood, nor could I discover when I was at _Constantinople_, whether they are entirely in Ruines, and others built in the Room of them, (as there are very large ones at present on the Top and the Sides of the third Hill, which the _Turks_ have built) or not. The same Author places the Churches of St. _Hirena_ and _Anastasia_ in the seventh _Ward_, but does not mention in what Part of it. Nor is it possible to find out their Situation, but from the Historical Accounts we have received of it, which say, that when the City was taken by the _Franks_ and the _Venetians_, a Fire began at the Synagogue of the _Saracens_, in that Part of the City which declines towards the Sea Northward, very near to the Church of St. _Hirena_. That this Church stood within the Precinct of the _Seraglio_, I was first informed by some antient People of the City; I afterwards took Notice of a lofty Tower which stood without the Precinct of the _Seraglio_, which was situate on the East Side of the third Hill. It was a square Building, and is still called by the Vulgar _Hirene_; but whether it was the Church of St. _Hirene_, or the Empress _Hirena_, I cannot tell. I find among the Monuments of antient Learning, that there were three Churches at _Constantinople_ dedicated to St. _Hirena_. The first was called the Old Church of St. _Hirena_, which, as _Socrates_ writes, was built by _Constantine the Great_, and stood near the Church of St. _Sophia_. The second, I am now speaking of, stood on the third Hill; and the third, as _Procopius_ says, was built by _Justinian_, at the Mouth of the Bay called _Ceras_, or _Cornu_, and was called the Church of St. _Hirena_ the Martyr. Some Authors write, that the Church of _Anastasia_ was built in that Place, where the new _Bezestan_, or new _Basilica_ now stands: Others that it was situate near the Cistern, supported with Abundance of Marble Pillars, and stands between the _Basilica’s_ of the _Forum_, and the Tomb, and _Caravansera_ of _Bajazet_ the Emperor. _Sozomen_ writes, that when St. _Gregory_ went from _Nazianzum_ to _Constantinople_, he preached in a small Church built by his Auditors, which was afterwards very much enlarged by succeeding Emperors, and was also beautified and adorned in the most expensive Manner, and was called the Church of St. _Anastasia_. Whether it was so called, because St. _Gregory_ by his Sermons preached in this Church had revived the _Constitutions_ and _Decrees_ of the Council of _Nice_; or whether, as he adds, it went by that Name, because a Woman big with Child, falling from the upper Gallery, and dying upon the Spot, was restored to Life again by the joint Prayers of the Congregation then present, I shall not determine. However ’tis plain from this Passage of _Sozomen_, that those Historians are grievously in the wrong, who say, that this Church was built in Memory of St. _Anastasia_, a _Roman_ Saint. In my Treatise of the _Thracian Bosporus_, I have shewn, that on the North Side of the third Hill there rise some Rocks from the lowermost Eminencies of it, which were call’d _Scironides_, by those who first transplanted a Colony from _Megara_ and _Corinth_, to _Byzantium_. These Rocks were so call’d, because of the Resemblance they bear to the _Scironides_, which grow between _Corinth_ and _Megara_. I shall take the Freedom here just to mention what’s worth observing on the third Hill. On the Top of it stands the Tomb of _Bajazet_ the Emperor, near a _Caravansera_, and a large Mosque which was built by him, after the Likeness of the Church of St. _Sophia_, which is roof’d with Brick-work, and cover’d with Lead. It has a large Porch or _Vestibule_, pav’d with white Marble, and is surrounded with four _Portico’s_, which are supported with Columns of the choicest Marble. In the Middle of it is a fine Fountain, which falls into a large Bason, which emits the falling Water through several little Cocks. The Mosque and _Vestibule_ is surrounded on three Sides with a large _Area_, which is enclosed partly with Walls, and partly with a _Caravansera_; and on the fourth Side ’tis encompass’d with a Garden adjoining, in the Middle of which is the Tomb of _Bajazet_, in a small Edifice built in a cylindrick Form. On the Top of the third Hill stands the _Seraglio_, where the Emperor’s Concubines constantly reside; ’tis enclos’d with a high Wall, which, at my first Arrival at _Constantinople_, was more than two Miles in Compass. The present Emperor _Solyman_ has taken up a Place in the Middle of this Precinct, where he is laying a Foundation for a _Caravansera_, and his future Sepulchre, which are now building with the most elegant Marble, brought from several Parts of the _Turkish_ Dominions, so that you may see infinite Kinds of it lying about the Building, not lately dug out of the Quarry, but such as for many Ages has been used in the Palaces of several Princes and Emperors, not only at _Byzantium_, but in _Greece_, and all _Ægypt_. In the seventh _Ward_ I saw three ancient Cisterns, not taken Notice of in the _Description of the Wards_; one in the _Forum_ of _Taurus_, another between the Tomb of _Bajazet_ and the _Bezestan_, both of which are supported with Marble Pillars. The third was built on a Clift of the third Hill, which faced the North, of which there are yet remaining six _Corinthian_ Pillars, very large and tall, made of _Arabian_ Marble, and curiously wrought. Below the _Base_ of the _Pedestal_ was lay’d an Earthen Pipe which convey’d Water into a Cistern made of Brick, whose Roof also, which is Brick-work, is supported with twenty square Brick Pillars. A little above the Cistern there was formerly a Court belonging to a _Christian Church_, which the _Turks_ demolish’d, to repair and beautify their own Houses. On that Side of the Hill which extends itself Westward, there stands a Mosque, whose _Vestibule_ is supported with twelve Pillars, six of which are of _Arabian_ Marble. Above this Mosque there stands another, which is also supported with Pillars, and was formerly a Church dedicated to St. _Theodorus_. This however is not the same Church which _Procopius_ says _Justinian_ built in a Place call’d _Rhessium_. There is another Christian Church, now a Mosque, standing between the _Seraglio_, and the Tomb which the Emperor _Solyman_ built for his Son _Mahomet_, which is incrusted with several Kinds of Marble, curiously variegated.

CHAP. VII.

_Of the eighth_ Ward, _and the Hind-part of the third Hill_.

I cannot find by the _Ancient Description of the Wards_, that the eighth _Ward_ was situate on the South Side of the third Hill, though it says, that the eighth _Ward_, on the Side of the _Taurus_, is not bounded by the Sea, and may be look’d upon to be rather a narrow than a broad Piece of Ground, though this Defect is sufficiently amended by its great Length. For by this Description of it, I am left altogether in Suspence, whether it lye North or South. But I discover the Situation of the eighth _Ward_ from hence, that the Author _of the Description_ tells us, that it contained part of the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, and a _Portico_ on the left Side of it, as far as the _Taurus_, and that the seventh _Ward_ stretch’d itself from the right Hand of the Pillar of _Constantine_, to the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_. I observe from these Authorities, that part of the _Promontory_, which reaches from Sea to Sea, situate between the _Porphyry_ Pillar and the _Taurus_, was divided into the North and South Side, and that the _Portico’s_ on the right and left extending themselves from the Pillar of _Constantine_ to the _Taurus_, parted the seventh and eighth _Ward_, the former of which contain’d the right Hand _Portico’s_, and the latter, the left. There’s nothing to be seen of these _Portico’s_ at present, but only the broad Way which runs from the Church of St. _Sophia_ to the Land-Wall. This _Ward_ contains also the _Capitol_, and the _Basilica_ of _Theodosius_ both of which, ’tis very probable, stood near the Pillar and _Forum_ of _Theodosius_. It is no less evident from _Zonaras_ and _Cedrinus_, that the Fire in _Leo_’s Time consumed the Senate-House, built for the Dispatch of publick Business by the great Council of the Empire, and for the Conveniency of the Emperor, when _Consul_, to preside over them. This Senate-House, as the same Authors add, had twelve Pillars curiously variegated, made of _Trojan_ Marble, which were twenty five Foot high, the Roof of it being supported with four Arches. This House, according to these Writers, was about two hundred and forty Foot long, and a hundred and fifty Foot broad. I am inclin’d to believe, from what I have mention’d upon this Occasion, that it was either the _Capitol_, or the _Basilica_ of _Theodosius_. For it is plain from modern _Historians_, that these two Structures, by whomsoever they were rebuilt after the Fire, lost their Names, and they tell us, that in the _Taurus_ there was a Palace, and a Place for the Entertainment of Strangers. And these Authorities are strengthen’d by some ancient People of _Constantinople_, who attest, that in their Remembrance, near the _Mint-House_, where they now coin their Money, there stood a spacious Palace, inhabited, as some say, by _Mahomet_ who took the City, before he built the great enclosed Palace which stands upon the first Hill, and that some of the _Sultans_ have since beautified their Palaces out of the Ruins of the former. The Place of Entertainment, or rather the Church, which stood to the South-west of the _Taurus_, I saw entirely demolish’d, and the Pillars of it carried off, to build a _Caravansera_, which the Emperor _Solyman_ erected in Memory of his Son, whom he dearly lov’d. I leave it to the _Greek_ Priests to make the Enquiry, whether this was not the same with the Church of St. _Paul_, which stood in the seventh _Ward_, though I could never yet meet with one of them, who could give me Insight into this Matter.

CHAP. VIII.

_Of the ninth Ward; of the Temple of_ Concord; _of the Granaries of_
Alexandria _and_ Theodosius; _of the Baths of_ Anastasia, _of the
House of_ Craterus; _of the_ Modius, _and the Temple of the_ Sun
_and_ Moon.

That the ninth _Ward_ was situate behind the third Hill, partly on the Clifts which lye under the Ridge of it, and partly on those which lye at the Bottom of it, and partly on the Shore of the _Propontis_, extending itself as far as the Gardens call’d _Blanchæ_; I am convinced, among other Authorities, principally by the Author _of the Description_, &c. who says, that the ninth _Ward_ is all a Declivity, and bounded by the Sea, as also from the Account he gives of the eighth _Ward_, which as it is not terminated on the Side of the _Taurus_, by any Part of the Sea, I have Reason to believe, took up the Plain on the Top of the third Hill, but not the Descents below it, and that the ninth _Ward_ lies partly under the eighth, on that Side of it, which extends from the _Taurus_ Southward towards the Sea of the _Propontis_, and was partly situate also on the two Declivities; one of which descends from the _Taurus_ to South, South-west, the other from the Houses of the _Janizaries_ to the South. You may also discover by the Situation of the Temple of _Concord_, where the ninth _Ward_ stood, which though it be not expressly declared by the Author _of the Description_; yet Reason, and the Authority of other Writers, will lead us into that Discovery. For _Evagrius_, describing the Fire which happen’d in _Leo_’s Time, says, that it raged in a frightful Manner on the North Side of the City, from the _Bosphorian_ Haven to the old Temple of _Apollo_; on the South, from the Port of _Julian_, to the Houses seated at a small Distance from the Temple of _Concord_; and in the Middle Part of the City, from the _Forum_ of _Constantine_ to the _Taurus_; and farther, that it extended itself in Length to the Distance of five Furlongs. From hence it is discoverable, that the Fire destroy’d all that Part of the ninth _Ward_, through which you may draw a strait Line from the _Taurus_ to the _Propontis_. And this would evidently appear to any one, who would walk the five Furlongs from the _Forum_ of _Constantine_ to the _Forum_ of _Taurus_, and there fix a Mark, and should afterwards walk Westward from the Port of _Julian_, through the Plain on the Sea Shore, to the Distance of five Furlongs more, and should there fix another Mark, and should compare that Mark with another fix’d at the _Taurus_, he would vary very little as to the Situation of the Temple of _Concord_. But that, and the Church of St. _Thomas_ the _Apostle_ are now entirely in Ruins. If we consider the Rules generally observed in Architecture, ’tis reasonable to believe, that the Granaries of _Theodosius_ stood near the Port of _Theodosius_, which was situate in the Gardens now call’d _Blanchæ_. There was no Port either in the eighth or ninth _Ward_, but in that Part of the twelfth _Ward_ which adjoins to the ninth, is the Port of _Theodosius_, of which I shall speak more largely hereafter. Above the _Blanchæ_ to the North, there stands a Temple upon an Eminence, call’d _Myreleos_; in the Inside of which was a Cistern, the Roof of which is supported with about sixty Marble Pillars. In the Place of this Cistern there was formerly a Granary, which _Suidas_, though very improperly, calls _Horeium_. The Statue of _Maimus_, says he, who march’d his Army against the _Scythians_, stood in the _Horeium_, (which was before the House of _Craterus_, now of _Myreleus_) near the _Modius_, and the Brazen Hands. This _Modius_, or Bushel, was a settled Measure, or Standard, according to which they bought and sold their Corn. The Emperor _Valentinian_ made a Law, that twelve Bushels should be sold at such a Sum; a certain Sea-faring Man, acting in Violation of this Law, forfeited his right Hand. This, they tell you, was the Reason why _Valentinian_ order’d two brazen Hands to be set up in a Nich of some Place in the _Amastrianum_, and the brazen Bushel to be placed between them. Others say, that _Valentinian_ commanded, that this Bushel should not be sold by the Strike, but in full Measure; and that a certain Offender lost both his Hands, for not observing this Order. _Cedrinus_ writes, that some Places here were call’d the _Amastrianum_, from a sorry abandon’d Fellow, a Native of _Amastrum_, who laying under the deepest Scandal for cursing the _Paphlagonians_, and to escape the Punishment of Homicide, fled for Shelter to _Constantinople_. The same Author writes, that in the same Place there was a very large Temple of the _Sun_ and _Moon_, where were carved, at the Charge of _Phidalia_, the _Sun_ riding in a white Chariot, and the _Moon_ as his Spouse sitting by him. Below these Figures, near the Ground, was cut a powerful Prince, prescribing the Rules of Obedience to his People. Near his Throne was carv’d a _Jupiter_, in a recumbent Posture, which was the Work of _Phidias_. If the House before mention’d was the House of the learned _Craterus_ a Sophist, there was erected his _Suggestum_, or Desk, which has been celebrated in Verse by _Julian_ the _Ægyptian_. Besides the Curiosities, the ninth _Ward_ also contain’d the famous Baths of _Anastasia_, which took their Name, as _Marcellinus_ says, from _Anastasia_ the Sister of _Constantine_. _Sozomen_ writes, that _Marcian_ the _Grammarian_ was Tutor to the two Daughters of the Emperor _Valens_, _Anastasia_ and _Carosia_; and that the Baths which went by their Names, were standing in _Constantinople_ in his Time.

CHAP. IX.

_Of the third Valley, and the tenth_ Ward; _of the House of_
Placidia, _and her Palace; of the_ Aqueduct _of_ Valentinian, _the_
Bagnio’s _of_ Constantine, _and the_ Nympheum.

That the tenth _Ward_ extended itself towards the North, and that it was situate in the third Valley, and on the East Side of it; as also on the Top of the _Promontory_, rising above the third Valley, is evident from the Author of the _Description of the Wards_, who writes, that the tenth _Ward_ is divided from the ninth by a broad Way; that it lies much more upon the Level; that ’tis in no part of it uneven, but near the Sea Shore; that ’tis of a proportionable Length and Breadth; and that it contains the Church of St. _Achatius_, the _Bagnio’s_ of _Constantine_, the House of _Placidia Augusta_, and many other fine Buildings. But I could not find, after the utmost Search and Enquiry, the Situation of any of them; so that I was obliged to have Recourse to the Authority of Historians who had wrote of these Matters; and in consulting them, I could not but take Notice of a Mistake in the Author _of the Description_, &c. who says, that this _Ward_ contain’d the _Bagnio’s_ of _Constantine_, whereas I cannot find, that _Constantine_ ever had any _Bagnio’s_ at _Constantinople_, but that _Constantius_ had. For _Sozomen_, speaking of those Persons, who, favouring St. _Chrysostom_ and his Doctrine, were expelled the City, says, _That perceiving the People to be furiously enraged against them, they did not assemble the next Day in the great Church, but celebrated the Holy Communion in a_ Bagnio, _which was called the_ Bagnio _of_ Constantius. Suidas _reports, that_ Elladius Alexandrinus _wrote a Description of the_ Bagnio’s _of_ Constantius, _in the Time of_ Theodosius _the_ Less. Socrates _relates, that_ Valens _the Emperor commanded the Walls of_ Chalcedon _to be taken down, and the Stones to be carried to_ Constantinople _to build a_ Bagnio, _which was to be called the_ Bagnio _of_ Constantius; and adds, _That in one of these Stones was cut a Prophecy, which had been hid for many Ages, but was then explained_, viz. _That when the City abounded with Water, a Wall would be of some Service to a_ Bagnio, _and that numberless Nations of the_ Barbarians, _should invade the Territories of the_ Romans, _make great Devastations there, but at last should be overcome_. The Prophecy, as described by _Socrates_, is as follows:

_When tender Virgins shall in Circles dance
Around the publick Cistern, and with Flowers
Dress the capacious Vessel, when the Streets
Shall be with fragrant Sweets, and Garlands crown’d,
When rising Waters shall o’reflow its Top,
And a Stone-Bason made to catch them in;
A mighty Host, in shining Armour clad,
A wild and warlike Race, shall come from far,
And pass the rapid_ Danube’s _silver Streams_:

Scythia, _and_ Mæsia’s _Lands unmeasurable
Shall be despoiled by their All-conquering Sword:
All_ Thrace _shall fear, the fatal Period’s come_.

_Zonaras_ and _Cedrinus_ write this Prophecy the same Way, but differ in the _Greek_ from _Socrates_, and put for δροσερὴν, ἱερὴν, for λουτροῖο, λουτροῖσι, for ἄγρια μαρμαίροντα, ἄγρα μαργαίνοντα, for καλιρόοιο, κιμμερίοιο. This Prophecy is thus interpreted by _Socrates_, who tells us, that it was fully accomplished, when _Valens_ built an _Aqueduct_, which supplied the City with Plenty of Water, when the _Barbarous_ Nations invaded the Territories of _New Rome_. However, it is capable of being interpreted in another Manner. For after _Valens_ had brought the _Aqueduct_ into _Constantinople_, _Clearchus_, the _Prefect_ of the City, built a large Cistern in the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_, into which the _Aqueduct_ emptied it self, and the People were there entertained at a jovial Feast, and that therefore it was called the _plentiful Cistern_, which they tell you, was foretold by the Prophecy in the Lines abovementioned. But some Part of this Prophecy was not fulfilled till some Time after, when the Wall of _Chalcedon_ was pulling down by the Order of _Valens_. At this Time the People of _Nicomedia_, of _Nice_, and _Bithynia_, petitioned the Emperor against it, who being highly displeased with them for it, could hardly be prevailed upon to comply with their Petition; and therefore to disengage himself from an Oath he had made to demolish the Wall, he ordered other Stones to be placed in their Room, as fast as the old ones were taken down. So that you may see at present, what a mean Superstructure is railed upon the Remains of the old Wall, which consisted of Stones of the largest, and most wonderful Size. _Zonaras_ and _Cedrinus_ record it also, that _Valens_ to express his Resentment against the People of _Chalcedon_, for giving Protection to his Enemy _Procopius_, commanded the Walls of their City to be demolished, and an _Aqueduct_ to be made of their Stones, which the former Historian sometimes calls the _Aqueduct_ of _Valens_, and the latter sometimes the _Aqueduct_ of _Valentinian_; and adds, among other Passages of the History before mentioned, that according to the Prophecy, the _Barbarous_ Nations made their Incursions into _Thrace_, but were afterwards defeated. The _Aqueduct_ of _Valentinian_, which is highly arched, passing thro’ the tenth Ward, reaches from the Sides of the fourth, to the Side of the third Hill. I should be much surprized, that the Author _of the Description of the Wards_, who has taken Notice of the Granaries of _Valentinian_, has not mentioned it; but that I am sensible he has omitted many other Monuments of _Antiquity_, which were in Being in his Time. In the Reign of _Constantine_, the Son of _Leo_ the Emperor (who was a declared Enemy to Images in Churches) and in the Year of our Lord 759, there was so great a Drought at _Constantinople_, that the Dew ceas’d to fall from Heaven, and all the Cisterns, _Bagnio’s_, and Fountains of the City were dry’d up; which the Emperor observing, he began to repair the _Aqueduct_ of _Valentinian_, which continued in good Order, till the Reign of _Heraclius_, when it was demolished by the _Avares_. Upon this he sent for Workmen from many Places to rebuild it; from _Asia_ and _Pontus_ he had a Thousand Builders, and two hundred White-washers; from _Greece_ five hundred Brick-makers, and from _Thrace_ a Thousand Day-labourers, over whom there presided a Nobleman, and some of the principal Men of the City, as Surveyors of the Works. When the _Aqueduct_ was finished, the City was again supplied with Water, which was conveyed into the Town through a Passage lying between the ninth and the tenth Ward. There are many subterraneous _Aqueducts_ which run through six of the Hills, but the _Aqueduct_ of _Valentinian_ has its Course above Ground, which the Historians, who have wrote of the _Actions_ of _Andronicus_ tell you, passed through the Great _Forum_, that the Water of it was clear and pleasant, that it was repaired and enlarged by _Andronicus_ himself, and that he encreased its Current by the River _Hydrales_. At the Spring-head, from whence this _Aqueduct_ arose, he built a Tower and a Palace, where he used to divert himself in the Summer. He also brought the Water from the same River into the _Blachernæ_, which is a Part of the _Suburbs_. The Tower was ruined by _Isacius_ his Successor, in pure Resentment to his Memory. We are told by _Procopius_, that _Justinian_ repaired the Church of _Achatius_, when injured by Time; that he placed white Marble Pillars round it, and that he paved and incrusted the Sides of it with the same kind of Marble, so that the whole Building was beautifully white. There were two _Portico’s_ adjoyning to the Church, one which opening to the _Forum_, is encompassed with Pillars. This Passage is not inserted in the printed Edition of _Procopius_, which induced me the more to take Notice of it here. _Cedrinus_ writes, that the Church of St. _Achatius_ stood in a Place called the _Heptascalum_; others say, that it stood in the _Scala_; but no body at present knows where that Place was. However, if any one hereafter should have the Curiosity to enquire where this Church stood, I would advise him to take along with him the following Direction. Let him enquire where the great House stands, which Historians call the _Carya_, because there stands in the _Area_ of it a Nut Tree, upon which, they tell you, that _Achatius_ was put to Death, and upon that Occasion, that a Church was built in Memory of him, which some think, was situate in the _Neorium_, because they have seen it in some Authors, that the Image of St. _Achatius_, made with Glass Stones, and inlay’d with Gold, was placed in the Church of the _Neorium_. But the Person of whom this is spoke was another _Achatius_, who, not only, as many Historians, but as _Suidas_ the Grammarian tells us, was Bishop of _Constantinople_ in the Time of _Leo Marcellus_, but a Man of so proud and haughty a Spirit, that he commanded many of his Pictures to be placed in Churches, while he was yet alive, from whence he was called _Doxomanes_. The House of _Placidia_, I have observed before, stood in the first _Ward_, so that it may be questioned, whether it ought to be read _Domus Placidiæ_, or _Placillæ_, or _Placidæ_; for _Agathius_ takes Notice of the Palaces of _Placidæ_ or _Placidi_, in the following Inscription.

The learned _Agathius_ upon a Picture in the Palace of _Placidia_,
set up by the Gentlemen of the LONG ROBE, or new _Chancery_.

_The learned Sages of the Law have plac’d
At their Expence, great_ Thomas’ _Picture here,
Near that which represents his Royal Mistress.
This mighty Honour he’s entitl’d to,
In that he serv’d his Prince with Faithfulness,
And was the constant Guardian of his Throne:
His Prudence fill’d the Royal Treasury,
And rais’d th’ Imperial Family, yet higher.
To celebrate his Worth, for Times to come,
His Picture shines amongst our Emperors._

Beyond the Rocks called _Scironides_, _Dionysius_ mentions a long Shore in a Plain of the third Valley, and the fourth Hill, which is looked upon as a remarkable Place for Fishing; for ’tis a very deep and a very still Water, which was antiently call’d _Cycla_, because the _Greeks_ had formerly hemm’d in there the _Barbarians_. There is also in the same Place, an Altar dedicated to _Minerva Dissipatoria_, which was erected in Memory of that Action. Beyond _Cycla_ is a Creek called _Melias_, another famous Place for Fishing, which is enclosed with several Rocks, and a Ridge of the _Promontory_ hanging over the Sea. There is no Creek in this Valley at present. Time has filled it up, as we learn from _Strabo_, who writes, that this Creek was called _Ceras_, because it had many Inlets into the Shore in the Form of a Deer’s Horn, but there’s scarce any Appearance of them at present. _Zosimus_, who wrote his History in the Reign of _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_, tells us, that _Constantinople_ was then so crowded with Inhabitants, that the Emperors did not only enlarge the Walls beyond those of _Constantine_, but that they built upon Timber Foundations over the Sea. This Method of Building, ’tis probable, very much contributed in Time to incumber and stop up these Inlets of the Creek. At the End of the Creek called _Melias_, is a Place which goes by the Name of Κῆπος, because ’tis very good Garden Ground. Beyond the Garden is a Place named _Aspasius_; but of this I have spoken in my _Treatise_ of the _Bosporus_.

_The End of the Third Book._

THE ANTIQUITIES OF CONSTANTINOPLE.