Chapter XIV: Book IV: Chap. I (1)

_Of the Eleventh Ward, and of the Fourth and Fifth Hills._

I had been at a Loss to discover the eleventh _Ward_, (which, tho’ the _ancient Description_ of the _Wards_ mentions to have been wider in Compass than the Tenth, and in no Part of it bounded by the Sea; as also that it partly consisted of a Level, and partly of a rising Ground) unless the Author had subjoin’d, that it contain’d also the Church of the _Apostles_, And tho’ at present there’s nothing remaining of that Church, yet I was inform’d by some ancient People of _Constantinople_, who told me, that they remembred it stood upon the Back of the fourth Hill; which fell upon a Hill of the third Valley, near the _Sadlers Shops_, and the Sepulchre of _Mahomet_ the Emperor. I observe from hence, that the eleventh _Ward_ was Part on the Top of the same Hill, and Part on the North Side of it. I shall shew by what follows, that this _Ward_ reach’d to the _Land-Wall_ of the City, which divided the Eleventh, from the fourteenth _Ward_, and which was also itself divided from the City by an intermediate Space of Land. I shall convince the Reader presently, that this _Ward_ was situate on the sixth Hill, without the Walls of the City, and was afterwards wall’d round by _Theodosius_ the _Less_. The Walls built by _Constantine_ are said to have reach’d as far as the Churches of St. _Anthony_, and St. _Mary_, who was call’d _Rabdos_, and from thence to have risen to a _Land-Wall_ call’d _Exacionion_, which took its Name from hence, _viz._ That without the _Land-Wall_ there stood a Pillar, on which was erected the Statue of _Constantine_ the _Great_. Some modern Writers will have it, that he built a Church which he dedicated to the _Holy Trinity_ in a Place call’d the _Exacionion_, now call’d the Church of the _Apostles_; for, if I am not mistaken, the Walls of _Constantine_ were built upon the Borders of the fourth and fifth Hill, near the _Exacionion_, _Cedrinus_ writes, that the Walls of the City, the beautiful Churches, the fine Houses seated in the _Exacionion_ were thrown down by a dreadful Earthquake. They tell us in other Places, tho’ not consistently with themselves, that there were _Portico’s_ which reach’d from the _Miliarium_ to the Street call’d _Taurus_, and to the Gates of St. _John_ the _Baptist’s_ Church near the _Hippodrom_, which are more than a thousand _Roman_ Paces distant from the Church of the _Apostles_, and as far from the Walls of the City which were built by _Constantine_, as may be gather’d from the following Passage of _Sozomen_. _Theodosius_, says this Author, _leading his Army against_ Eugenius, _went a Mile out of the City to the Church of St._ John, _which he had built in the_ Hepdomum. This _Hepdomum_ was a Part of the Suburbs of the City, but is now enclos’d within the Walls, as will appear when I come to speak of it. If the Pillar from whence the _Exacionion_ took its Name, was the same with that high Pillar which stood on the Top of the fifth Hill, and was seen not long since at a great Distance from the City, above all the Houses, we might easily discover, that the Walls built by _Constantine_ did not reach beyond this Pillar, which stood about half a Mile’s distance from the _Church_ of the _Apostles_. I saw this Pillar took to Pieces, and remov’d for building a Mosque, by Order of _Solyman_ the Emperor. The _Base_, the _Pedestal_ and the Foundation of it were of white Marble. The Foundation-Stone alone was so high, that I could not climb it without a Ladder. The _Pedestal_ was four Foot and nine Digits high, and the _Plinth_ one Foot, and six Digits. The _Greeks_ and the _Turks_, each in their Dialect, call’d it the _Pillar_ of the _Virgin_, which I take to be that celebrated by our modern Writers, which they say was erected upon a Hill, and supported the Statue of _Venus_, carv’d in Stone. When the _Ancient Description of the Wards_ tells us, that the eleventh _Ward_ is no Ways bounded by the Sea, it must be so understood as to mean, that the Plain situated between the Bay of _Ceras_, and the Foot of the fourth Hill, was not within the Walls, since the same _Treatise_ mentions, that the City was six thousand one hundred and fifty Foot broad; that is, a Mile and two hundred and thirty Paces; for the Latitude of the _Isthmus_, which stretches itself over the fourth and seventh Hill, thro’ which the old Wall extended itself, exceeds the Breadth abovemention’d. But _Zosimus_, an ancient Historian, says, that _Constantine_ the _Great_ so wholly surrounded the City with a Wall, that it cut off the _Isthmus_ from Sea to Sea. So that upon the whole, there is a Necessity to place the Plain, situate between the Bay, and the Bottom of the fourth Hill, in the tenth _Ward_.

CHAP. II.

_Of the Church of the Apostles, the Sepulchre of_ Constantine _the
Great, the Cistern of_ Arcadius _and_ Modestus, _of the Palace of_
Placilla, _and the_ Brazen Bull.

’Tis attested by _Eusebius_, That _Constantine_ the _Great_ built the Church of the _Apostles_ to a great Heighth, that he incrusted it with all Sorts of variegated Marble, which cast a beautiful Lustre from Top to Bottom; that he adorn’d it with small gilded Roofs, and cover’d it with Plates of Brass deeply gilt, which cast a blazing Reflexion to a great Distance. The upper Part of this venerable Structure, was curiously wrought all round it with Brass and Gold, and was enlightned with Abundance of Lattices and Windows. Round the Church there was a fine Court lying open to the Air. The _Portico’s_ which enclos’d it, stood in a Quadrangular Manner. Near the _Portico’s_ stood the Palace, the _Bagnio’s_, the Cloysters, and many other Houses and Buildings belonging to the Ecclesiasticks, and other Ministers of the Church. These bountiful Benefactions has the pious Emperor handed down to Posterity in Memory of the _Apostles_ of the blessed Saviour of Mankind, to whom also he consecrated twelve Purses of Gold. The Coffin in which he intended to be buried after he was dead, was plac’d by his Order in the Body of the Church, and guarded with the twelve _Apostles_ in Effigy. ’Tis added by _Socrates_, that the Body of _Constantine_ lying in a golden Coffin, was brought into the City by his intimate Friends, and buried in the Church of the _Apostles_. I am inclin’d to believe, that _Zonaras_ never read _Eusebius_, when he tells us, that ’twas buried in the Cloyster of the Church of the _Apostles_, which, he says, was built by _Constantius_ for the Interrment of his Father. Near the broad Way which stretches itself along the Top of the _Promontory_, from the Church of St. _Sophia_, to the Gate of _Adrianople_, (hard by the Place where stood the Church of the _Apostles_,) there is shewn to this Day, a Coffin made of _Porphyry_ Marble, empty; and without a Cover, ten Foot long, and five Foot and a half broad, which the _Greeks_ and _Turks_ say, was the Coffin of _Constantine_ the _Great_; but I cannot vouch for the Truth of it: Yet the Authorities of _Socrates_ and _Eusebius_ seem to be somewhat doubtful, who tell us, that he was buried in a golden Coffin, unless perhaps the golden Coffin was inclos’d in that of the _Porphyry_ Marble. _Zonaras_ is of Opinion, that _Theodora_, the Wife of _Justinian_, built the Church of the _Apostles_; and adds, that there was anciently in the same Place a _Church_ of the _Apostles_, but much Inferior in Beauty and Magnificence to that which stands at present, on the same Ground. _Procopius_ says, that there had been for some Ages, a Church at _Constantinople_ which was much impair’d by Time, and likely to fall, which _Justinian_ order’d to be taken down, rebuilt, and enlarg’d, and made in the Figure of a Cross, the Body of the Church pointing East, and West, and the Part crossing it, North, and South. This Church is well wall’d, and adorn’d within with Ranges of Pillars standing one above another: _Evagrius_ therefore seems to be mistaken, in attributing the Building of this Church to _Justinian_, when it is evident it was built by _Constantine_ the _Great_; and _Procopius_ too grosly flatters _Justinian_ in ascribing to him the Building of many fine Structures, whereas, in reality, he only repair’d them when they were old, or rebuilt them when fall’n too much to decay, or destroy’d by Fire. There’s nothing remaining of this Church at present, no, not even of its Foundation. You see only the Ruines of an old _Cistern_, which supply’d the Church, and the Clergy with Water. There are now standing upon the same Spot of Ground about two hundred _Sadlers Shops_, and _Work-houses_, where they make and sell not only all kinds of Horse-Geer, but also Leathern Bucketts, Quivers, and Trunks. A little above this _Cistern_, stands a Mosque, with a _Caravansera_ adjoining to it, situate on a Plain, which was built with square Stone, after the Form of the Church of St. _Sophia_, out of the Ruins and Sacrilege of the Church of the _Apostles_, and other Christian Churches by _Mahomet_, who took the City. The Roof is of a Semicircular Figure, made of Brick-Work, and cover’d with Lead, as are all the publick Buildings of the _Turks_. ’Tis beautify’d with a very elegant square Porch as broad as the Church itself, pav’d with the finest Marble, and adorn’d with square _Portico’s_. The Arches of them, which bear up the Roof, are supported with very large Pillars of Marble, curiously variegated. In the Middle of it is a Fountain with nine Pipes, whose Waters fall into a great Bason. Round the Mosque is a spacious Court, Part of which is enclos’d with Walls, and Part with long kind of Houses, some of which are inhabited by their Priests, and School-Masters. In the Eastern Part of this Court there’s a Garden, in the Middle of which stands the Sepulchre of _Mahomet_, built in a Cylindric Form of the whitest Marble. ’Tis covered with Lead, lighted with Windows, and has a Door of Entrance into it. In the Middle of this Structure is the Coffin of _Mahomet_, cover’d with Velvet, placed on the Ground on a rich Carpet. The Ground is wholly covered with the most costly Carpets, where the Priests continually sit, and guard the Body Night and Day. A little without the Court are several large _Caravansera’s_, built also with square Stone, which have Court-yards in the Middle of them, and _Portico’s_ surrounded with Marble Pillars. These _Caravansera’s_ have large Gardens adjoyning to them. In short, this Mosque, with the adjacent Buildings round the Court, with the _Caravansera’s_ and Gardens, take up a Space of Ground six Furlongs in Compass. _Mahomet_, the same Emperor, built in this Place, where had formerly been the Old _Cistern_ of _Arcadius_, or _Modestus_, the largest _Bagnio’s_ in all the City. These Baths were of two Kinds, some for Men, and some for Women. They adjoin to each other, but have different Entries without any Passage out of one into the other. I shall only describe the Mens Baths; because the Womens are like them. The first Place you enter is the Room where they undress. From hence you pass into the hot, and from thence into the cold Bath. They all stand in one Range, and are only separated by Walls from each other. The Room where they undress is a square Structure, built of square Stone up to the Roof, which is arch’d and built with Brick; the Inside of which, measuring two hundred and fifty eight Foot in compass, is surrounded with an Ascent of Stone, above six Foot broad, and three Foot high. The Wall of this Room, from the Pavement to the Bottom of the arch’d Roof is thirty seven Foot high. In the Middle of the Floor, which is pav’d with Marble, there’s a large Marble Bason, which is thirty seven Foot in compass, and three Foot deep, which is always supply’d from a Fountain of Spring Water. There are two Doors out of the stripping Room into the hot Bath. This Apartment is a hundred Foot in compass in the Inside of it, and is supported with four Arches, which bear up a _Dome_ at the Top. It contains eight _Cells_ or bathing Rooms; one of which, not above half so large as the rest, has some Privies behind it, which are cleans’d by an Efflux of all the Waters which are turn’d out of the Bath. Six of these _Cells_ have, each of them, a bathing Cistern, and are built in such a Manner, that two of these Arches hang each of them over one bathing Room; from whence you may pass, on the Right and on the Left, into another. The _Cells_ under the other two Arches are so form’d, that that Arch which is nearest the Doors which lead out of the stripping Room into the hot Bath, hangs over a very large bathing Room. ’Tis pav’d with Marble, and the _Turks_ wash their Linen in this Place. A plain Wall arch’d at top parts the hot from the cold Bath. In the Middle of the hot Bath there is a Bason with a Fountain playing. There is but one Door which leads out of the hot into the cold Bath. This Apartment has eight Arches which support its _Dome_, and contains eight bathing Places, which project beyond the Sphere of its _Dome_, and encircle the whole _Bagnio_, which is about ninety Foot in compass. The whole Pavement of it is lay’d with Marble, and in the Middle of it is built an Ascent in the Form of an _Octagon_, which is fifty seven Foot, and nine Inches in Circumference, and two Foot and four Digits high. Round the _Octagon_ there runs a Channel of Water, which is of the same Depth with the Height of the _Octagon_. The four inward bathing Rooms are situate in four Angles, and are each of them every Way eleven Foot and three Digits broad, and these are call’d the _Hot-Houses_ or _Sweating-Bagnio’s_. The Dimension of the two Bathing Rooms, which are situate without the two Arches, is the same. The other six Bathing Rooms are of a Semicircular Figure, and stand under six Arches within the Circle of the _Dome_ of the hot Bath. At the Bottom of the Pillars which support the Arches, they are eleven Foot in length, and five Foot nine Inches in breadth. Every one of these Bathing Rooms has a Marble _Cistern_ wherein they bath; and in one of them above the rest, there is erected a stately Marble Throne. There are no Lights in the Walls either of the hot or cold Baths, tho’ the _Domes_ of them are wholly illuminated with Glass-Windows. The _Stoke-Hole_, which is two Foot and a half in compass, and of the same height, is built without the Baths. They keep a constant Fire in it, which heats a Brazen Vessel, whence it emits its warm Steams thro’ Pipes laid in a strait, and an oblique Manner, by that means heating the Bottom of the _Cisterns_ in which they bath. There is a Rivulet in a Field of the Suburbs, about six Foot in breadth, which runs near the _Stoke-Hole_. There are Pipes laid in this Brook, which convey the Water thro’ the Walls of these Baths into all Parts of them. One of these Pipes which passes thro’ a heated Earthen Vessel, upon turning a Cock, supplies the _Cisterns_ with hot Water; the other Pipe which rises higher, upon the turning of an other Cock, tempers the hot Water according to the Pleasure of the Person who baths in it. But I shall treat of the Use of Bathing, and the Way of building _Bagnio’s_ among the _Turks_ in another Place. I return now to the eleventh _Ward_, which _Procopius_ takes Notice of, when he tells us, that _Theodora_ the Consort of _Justinian_ address’d herself to him in the following Manner: _We have, may it please your Imperial Majesty, other Palaces still remaining, which are call’d the Palaces of_ Helena, _as we have also those of_ Placilla, _the Wife of_ Theodosius _the Great. For as_ Justinus _honour’d his Empress with several noble Palaces, which, after her own Name, were call’d the Palaces of_ Sophia, _so it is highly probable that_ Theodosius _did_ Placilla _the same Honour in building a Palace for her, which was call’d the Palace of_ Placilla. _I am induc’d to believe this, because he passionately lov’d her, and by Reason of that strong Resentment he bore to the People of_ Antioch, _whom he subjected to the Dominion of the_ Laodenses, _for demolishing the Statues of_ Placilla, _plac’d in his own_ Forum, _because he lay’d an additional Tribute upon them_. This Palace may not improperly be call’d also the Palace of _Flacilla_, of whom _Claudian_ speaks in the following Lines:

_’Tis_ Spain _alone, subject to potent_ Rome,
_Which pays her Tribute in her Emperours.
Provision, Taxes, and Confederate Bands_
Rome _by her Arms in ev’ry Nation raises,
Which bows its Head to her superiour Greatness_.
Spain _only furnishes a Race of Princes,
Wise, Bold, and Warlike, form’d for Empire,
And fit to rule the Mistress of the World.
Nor pleas’d alone to send her valiant Sons,
Unless a second Offering she made,
Of princely Mothers, noble Empresses_,
Flacilla, Maria, _pious, humble, good;
And fair_ Serena, _full of blooming Charms_.

The _Brazen Bull_ was plac’d in the eleventh _Ward_. In what Part of that _Ward_ it was plac’d might easily be conjectur’d from a large _Cistern_, which, the modern Historians write, was built near it by _Nicetas_ an Eunuch, in the Reign of the Emperor _Theophilus_, if that _Cistern_ was now in being. If the _Bull_ itself was remaining, or the _Forum_ where it stood, I had heard something of it. _Tzetzes_ in his History writes, that the _Forum Bovis_ was so call’d from the _Brazen Bull_. This _Bull_ is more particularly describ’d by _Zonaras_, who says, _that the Body of the unhappy Tyrant_ Phocas _was burnt at a Place call’d_ Bos, _where there was a Stove, or Fire-Place set up in the Form of a Bull, which was brought from_ Troy. _Cedrinus_ relates, that _Antypas_ the _Martyr_ was burnt to Death in this _Bull_. It is a plain Instance of the Cruelty and Tyranny of some of the Emperors of _Constantinople_, that they us’d to punish Malefactors with a Death so tormenting. The like Example of Barbarity we have in _Perillus_, or rather _Perilaus_, a Brazier of _Attica_, who made a _Brazen Bull_ for the Execution of _Phalaris_, but first suffer’d in it himself. This Piece of Workmanship, says _Pliny_, was preserv’d a long Time, that those, who saw it, might curse the Hand that made it. I am more inclin’d to believe, that this _Bull_ was brought from _Sicily_, or _Italy_. I enquir’d after it, but could hear nothing of it, altho’ the Inhabitants are not ignorant, that there was formerly such a _Bull_ at _Constantinople_, and are us’d to boast of a Prophecy, which has been handed down to them from their Ancestors, concerning such a _Bull_, and lastly, altho’ they believe their own Interpretation of it to be more agreeable to Truth than that of _Tzetzes_, who explain’d it above three hundred and seventy Years ago in the following Manner. There was a mighty Talk of a Prophecy at _Constantinople_ some Time ago, which run in these Words: Βοῦς βοήσει τε, καὶ Ταῦρος δὲ θρηνήσει, _Bos mugiet, Taurus lugebit_. The People conjectur’d from hence, says he, that great Calamities should befall the City, that they should be perplex’d with amazing Fears, that an innumerable Army of _Germans_, and other Nations, should come against the Town; and that they should be all terrify’d and affrighted with strange Dreams, by Reason of the Plundering and Destruction of their City. Upon which, the Wife of the _Grand Hetæriarch_ being in great Consternation, and her Fears and Fancies being encreas’d by some fabulous Verses made upon the Occasion, she imagin’d she dream’d of all that had been the Town-Talk for some Time before. She dream’d that _Constantinople_ was wall’d round with Brick, that near the _Forum Bovis_, or the Place call’d _Bos_, she saw infinite Numbers of arm’d Forces drawn up in Battle array, and that hard by the Street call’d _Taurus_, she saw a Man in a melancholly Posture expressing his Grief in a mournful Tone, and beating his Breast. The credulous Woman believing the Destruction of the City was at hand, told her Dream to _Tzetzes_, who thus interpreted it: _The Brick Walls_, says he, _which you saw denote great Plenty of Provision to_ Constantinople. _You are sensible, Gentlemen_, says he, (speaking to those who stood by him) _how wonderfully that Part of the Prophecy was accomplish’d at that Time. As to that Clause of it, which mentions that abundance of armed Forces shall stand round the_ Bull, _and that a Man in a disconsolate and forlorn Condition shall sit down by the_ Bull, _which is principally intended by the Prophecy, tho’ not yet fulfill’d; this may prove beneficial, and advantageous to every Citizen of us. Therefore hear, O_ Constantinople, _and tell it to others, that this is the Interpretation of_ Tzetzes. _The same Word, which among us_ Greeks _signifies a Bull, signifies also a Cow, and sometimes a Heifer, and by the Word_ Taurus _or_ Bull, _the_ Latins _call the_ Italian _Bull. Our Cow therefore, which is the famous City of_ Constantine, _and which was built by the_ Roman _Bulls of_ Italy, _full of Arms, abounding with Forces, and Plenty of Provision, shall sound an Alarm against our Enemies; and the_ Italian _Bull, which is the Army of the_ Latins, _shall look Pale with Fear, and mourn_. _Tzetzes_, without Question, was a very learned Man, and this Interpretation of the Prophecy was cunning enough; besides that it was a fine Compliment to the Empress, and at the same Time the Historian pleas’d his own Humour in it, in interpreting the Prophecy according to his own Wishes. See how ingenious is the Weakness of Man to impose upon himself! But at that Time there was another Interpretation of this Prophecy, which, in the Event, was much more agreeable to Truth, tho’ _Tzetzes_ took a great deal of Pains to confute, and expose it; and it was the general Opinion of the People of _Constantinople_, that the Army of the _Latins_ would besiege their City, as it happen’d a little Time after, ravaging, burning, destroying every where; throwing some of the Ring-leaders of an arbitrary Party from the Top of _Theodosius_’s Pillar into the Street call’d _Taurus_, and burning others to Death in the _Brazen Bull_. The same Author is no less mistaken in the Interpretation of another Prophecy, which is as follows: _Wo be to thee, O_ Constantinople, _seated on seven Hills, thou shalt not continue a thousand Years_. His Explanation of it is this: _Altho’ it be not thy Fate, O_ Constantinople, _to endure a thousand Years, but to be totally demolish’d, yet this ought to be no Occasion of Grief to thee, but the Cause of Joy; for thou shalt rise again from thy Ruines more beautiful, and more enlarg’d. For thou shalt be destroyed, ev’n to the Advantage of those who shall destroy thee._ This Interpretation is a downright Flattery of the principal Leaders of the several _Factions_ (or Companies of Charioteers) when they were struggling for the Government. But take this Interpretation which Way you will, it seems to be a very wild one. For whether the City was demolish’d by its own Inhabitants, or any foreign Power, it could neither Way be any reasonable Cause of Joy to them. This Prediction of the Oracle was seconded by another Prediction of the _Astronomers_ to the same Purpose. Some Historians have attested, as ’tis confirm’d by _Suidas_, that _Constantine_ the _Great_, after he had finish’d the City, sent for one _Valens_ an _Astronomer_ of great Skill, and commanded him to enquire what Star had the _Ascendant_ at the Birth of the City, and by that means inform him of the Duration of it. _Valens_ predicted that the City would continue six hundred and ninety Years; but that Time is past and gone. Therefore, says _Zonaras_, I must conclude, that this Prophecy of _Valens_ was erroneous, and that there’s little Dependance to be had upon the Rules of _Astronomy_, or otherwise that _Valens_ only meant the Time of her Prosperity, when the Laws of Polity were strictly obey’d, when the publick Peace was preserv’d, when their _Senate_ was in high Estimation among the People, when the Empire flourish’d and was under a regular Administration, and there was no such Thing as Tyranny, and Arbitrary Power among them. But to finish the Oracular Predictions concerning this City, I come now to _Zosimus_, a very ancient Historian, if compar’d with _Tzetzes_, and _Zonaras_. This Author writes, that _Constantinople_ was arriv’d to such a State of Grandeur, and Magnificence, that no City in the World was to be compar’d with it, in point of Greatness, or Prosperity. _And yet_, as he proceeds, _when after a long Search I could find no divine Oracle, or Prophecy presignifying any Increase of Happiness to_ Constantinople, _I at last accidentally, having read many Historians, and other Authors for that Purpose, met with an Oracular Prediction of a Sibyl, nam’d_ Erythræa Phaelles, _or_ Phaenno _of_ Epirus. _This Woman, they tell you, being inspir’d, utter’d Oracles, to which_ Nicomedes, _the Son of_ Prussias, _conforming himself, especially in such Predictions as might be some Advantage to himself, enter’d into a War with his Father_. The Oracle runs thus:

_Attend, great King of_ Thrace, _and learn thy Doom;
Thy stately City soon thou must depart,
And thy defenceless Sheep shall follow thee;
The Savage Lion’s irresistless Power
Shall plunder thee, and ravage all thy Stores.
Thou from thy princely Grandeur soon shalt fall;
The Dogs which now in State stand round thy Throne
Shall rouze the sleepy Wolf, bold to assert
His Liberty, nor drag thy servile Chain._
Bithynia’s _Realm shall then become a Prey
To fierce devouring Wolves, and_ Jove’s _Decree
Transfer thy Empire hence to fair_ Byzantium.
_Happy, thrice happy Monarch would’st thou be,
Could’st thou repel with Force the rav’nous Wolf,
Thus timely warn’d by me: For I am forc’d
To speak, and tell the Will of Heav’n to Man.
Wide Desolation now attends thee_, Thrace;
_A heavy Vengeance waits; long hast thou try’d,
And daringly provok’d the Neighbouring States;
And now a Cloud of Woe hangs o’re thy Head,
Which daily swelling to a larger Size,
Shall burst in Blood, and ruine all about thee_.

This Oracle or Prophecy, says _Zosimus_, truly fore-tells, tho’ in an Ænigmatical Manner, all the Calamities which would befall the _Bythinians_, by Reason of an excessive Tribute which had been demanded of them, and presignifies also their speedy Subjection to the Empire of _Constantinople_. And tho’ this did not happen till a long Time after, yet let no Man from thence infer, that the Time of the Accomplishment of the Prediction was expired before it came to pass. For all Time is but for a Moment with God, who is eternal. _This Interpretation of the Oracle_, says the Historian, _I observed to be true, by comparing the Event of Things with the Words of the Prophecy_; and adds, _that if any other Interpretation seems more agreeable, any one is at his own Liberty to follow it_. And to confirm the more this Explication of it, he tells us, how _Constantine_ the _Great_ and his Sons, oppress’d not only _Bithynia_, but the whole World with severe Exactions, so that whole Cities, unable to pay the Levies, remained desolate. The learned _Tzetzes_ before-mentioned, explains this Oracle in another Manner, and says, that it was delivered by _Phaenno_. _This Sybil_, says he, _was long ago famous for her Oracles, and foretold same Things many Ages since, which were accomplished but a little before the Times we live in; as the Conquest of_ Persia _over the Empire, the Slavery and Subjection of the Emperor to them, his Dethronement by his People and Nobles, the Wars of the_ Scythians _with the Eastern Empire, by whom she seems to mean the_ Turks. Thus far _Zosimus_. This Oracle, tho’ it be very antient, yet, amidst the present Ruins of _Constantinople_, it never appeared so manifest as now.

But to proceed in my Narration of other Monuments of Antiquity; On the Brow of the fourth Hill, which lies Eastward, you see a Church built to the Honour of Almighty God, which has been much celebrated in the Writings of modern Historians. The Walls of it within side are incrusted with several Kinds of Marble: It has two Porches or _Vestibules_, many lesser _Cupola’s_ covered with Lead, the largest of which is supported with four Pillars of red Marble variegated, each of which Pillars measures seven Foot in Circumference. There’s another _Cupola_ which bears upon four Arches, which are supported with four Pillars of _Thebaic_ Marble. On the South Side of the fourth Hill there is erected a Pillar, which nearly resembles that, which was lately, as I observed, standing in the _Exacionion_, but is now removed into the Precinct of the _Seraglio_. Round the _Basis_ of it there runs a Wreath of Laurel-work, and the Standard of the Cross, curiously cut in _Basso Relievo_. At the Foot of the fifth Hill is a double Wall, which encloses a Street now called _Phanarium_, because as the Inhabitants tell you, when the City was formerly besieged, it was built in the Space of one Night by Candle-light. I am induced from the Authority of _Dionysius_ to believe, that _Mellacopsas_ stood near this Street; the Reason why it was so called I have shewn in my _Treatise of the Bosporus_. On the Top of the fifth Hill stands the Palace of _Selimus_ the _Grand Signor_, with a _Caravansera_, and his Tomb. Near it is a very large _Cistern_, in a pleasant Meadow, which is despoiled of its Roof and Pillars.

CHAP. III.

_Of the Sixth Hill, and the Fourteenth_ Ward.

The Author _of the Description of the Wards_ relates, that the fourteenth _Ward_, though it is looked upon as a Part of the City, yet because it is divided from the other _Wards_ by an intermediate Space of Land, and enclosed with its own Walls, makes the Figure of a small City by it self; and adds, among other Particularities, that the Entrance of it, at the Gate, is somewhat upon the Level; but the right Side of it, rising into an Ascent, almost to the Middle of the broad Way, falls into a deep Ascent, and contains a Church, the Palace, _&c._ It is very probable, one would think, or at least it looks to be so, that any one who had never seen _Constantinople_, could learn from this Description in what Part of the City stood the fourteenth _Ward_. But since, nothing of the antient Buildings are remaining there at present, no not so much as the Bridge, or the very Channel of the River; there is some Room for Enquiry, where was the Place of its Situation. For I am entirely ignorant of the Gate whence its Entrance begins, which is somewhat upon the Level. It is possible that I might also discover the Situation of it, if I knew where the right Side of the _Ward_ was, which rose into an Ascent. ’Tis plain that this _Ward_ did not stand on the fifth Hill from hence, that the Author tells us, that it was divided from other _Wards_ by some intermediate Space. Had this _Ward_ been divided from other _Wards_ by a small Tract of Land only, it had been very injudicious in the Inhabitants to have enclosed it with a Wall by it self, when it stood so near the Walls of the City. I would observe farther, that ’tis inconceivable that there could be any Bridge on the fifth, sixth, or seventh Hills of the City, or without the Walls of the City; nor is there any Valley running between the fifth or the third Hill, where there’s any Bridge, or any Water, unless it can be imagined that it had any small Creek, which is now filled up, with a Bridge over it. If it could be supposed that there formerly stood any Bridge beyond the sixth Hill, in the Street called _Avasarius_, we could conclude it to be no other than what was built over the Bay of _Ceras_, near which are still seen the Piles of a Bridge. And in all Probability the sixth Hill was wholly inhabited, by Reason of the Nearness and Goodness of its Roads from _Thrace_. This is the more probable, if it be considered, that the Suburbs called the _Hepdomum_, were seated on the sixth Hill, which excited _Theodosius_ the _Less_, by Reason of its Nearness to _Constantinople_ to enlarge the Walls of the City.

CHAP. IV.

_Of the_ Hepdomum, _a Part of the Suburbs; of the_ Triclinium _of_
Magnaura; _of the_ Cyclobion; _of the Statue of_ Mauritius, _and his
Armory; and of the Place called the_ Cynegium.

The Suburbs, call’d the _Hepdomum_, stood upon the third Hill, which is now enclosed within the Walls of the City. This is plain from the Situation of the Church of St. _John Baptist_, whom, even at this Time, the _Greeks_ call the Πρόδρομος, or _Fore-runner_ of our Saviour. This Church is seated on the Eastern Side of the City. ’Tis almost entirely demolished by the _Mahometans_, and nothing of it remains but a few Marble Pillars, expecting the last Effort of their Sacrilege. This was a costly and magnificent Building, as appears, among other Tokens, from the _Cistern_ of _Bonus_, which was built by a Nobleman of that Name, and seated a little above it. It was three hundred Paces long; its Roof and Columns are entirely ruined, and its Situation at present is turned into a Garden. _Sozomen_ says, that _Theodosius_ the _Great_ brought over the Head of St. _John Baptist_, from a Village call’d _Coslaus_, near _Pantichium_, in _Chalcedon_, and placed it before _Constantinople_ in the _Hepdomum_, and there built a large and handsome Church to the Honour of God. The same Author attests, that _Theodosius_, when he marched his Army against _Eugenius_, as soon as he came out of the City, offered his Prayers to God, in St. _John Baptist_’s Church, which he had built in the _Hepdomum_. _Procopius_ pays too great a Compliment to _Justinian_, when he reports him to have built this Church in the forementioned Suburbs. _Zonaras_ tells us, that in the Reign of _Constantine_ surnamed _Pogonatus_, the _Hagarens_ besieged the City with a numerous Fleet, which extended itself from the _Promontory_ situated in the _Hepdomum_ Westward, as far as the _Cyclobion_. Other _Historians_ mention the same Thing; namely, that they had their Station from the said _Promontory_, or the _Triclinium_ of _Magnaura_, as far Easterly as the Palace call’d _Cyclobion_. From which Passage I would observe by the By, that _Magnaura_ was a Place in the _Hepdomum_. _Cedrinus_ asserts, that _Philip_ of _Macedon_, built there a round Solar, and placed in the Court of it his own Statue, and built an Armory there. Others write, that _Mauritius_ the Emperor built the _Triclinium_ of _Magnaura_, and that he erected his Statue, and built the Armory there. Over the _Triclinium_ are inscribed these Verses;

Upon the _Triclinium_ of _Magnaura_.

Heraclius _and his Son_ Constantine,
_With Conquest crown’d, and loaden with Success,
Under th’ auspicious Influence of the_ Cross,
_Built, with surprizing Speed, this beauteous Structure._

The _Cistern_ of _Magnaura_, which stood near the Palace, was demolished by _Heraclius_; and, as _Cedrinus_ relates, was afterwards cleansed, and rebuilt by Order of _Philip_, King of _Macedon_. Some attest, if not consistently with Truth, yet more appositely, that the Emperor _Anastasius_, when he was expiring at that Place, by a terrible Storm of Wind, Lightning and Thunder, cried out with a loud Voice; _Magnâ perimus aurâ_. _Pulcheria_ the Sister of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, being removed from the Administration of the Government, retired into the _Hepdomum_, and lived privately. _Zonaras_ relates, that _Nicephorus_ the Emperor, surnamed _Phocas_, as he came near to the City, was received by the _Prasine_ Faction, with great Acclamations, and that he was crowned Emperor in the _Hepdomum_ by the _Patriarch_ of _Constantinople_. The Reason why those Suburbs are called the _Hepdomum_, is taken from the Number _Seven_, which was formerly the Number of them. They retained their antient Names, even after they were inclosed within the City. _Procopius_ has it, that _Justinian_, in that _Ward_, which ought to be called the Second, built a Church to St. _Anne_. An unknown Writer of the Empire of _Constantinople_ gives a Reason why it may be called the Second. _In the Place_, says he, _called the_ Second, _there stood the Statue of_ Justinian Rhinometus. Bardus Cæsar Michael, _the Grandfather of_ Theophilus, _demolished and broke it to Pieces_. This Place is called the Second, because when _Justinian_ was banished by _Leo_ the _Patrician_ to _Cherso_, after he had continued there ten Years, he applied himself to _Terbelus_, King of the _Bulgarians_, whose Daughter _Theodora_ he married. The King gave him an Army, which he marched against _Constantinople_ to recover his Empire. But the Inhabitants denying him Entrance, he privately stole into the City through the Passage of an _Aqueduct_ to a Place where was still remaining the Foundation of a Pillar he had set up, and which his Adversary had destroyed. Having recovered his Dominions a second Time, he erected there a second Pillar, and built in the same Place a Church, which was dedicated to St. _Anne_. But, as I observed a little before, _Procopius_ relates, that _Justinian_ built this Church in the second _Ward_, where, I am of Opinion, before the Reign of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, who built the Walls of the City, stood the Suburbs of the seventh Hill, that is, according to _Cedrinus_ and others, in the twelfth _Ward_. There were, say these Writers, most dreadful Earthquakes, which overturned the Wall of the City in the _Exacionion_, and levell’d many beautiful Houses and magnificent Churches in the _Porta Aurea_ of the City; and add that in the second _Ward_, the Shock was felt as far as St. _Anne_’s Church. I mentioned this Observation to many of mine Acquaintance, lest any one should imagine that the δεύτερον χώριον was one of the fourteen _Wards_ mentioned in the _Treatise_, entitled, an _Antient Description of_ Constantinople. I am surprized that _Procopius_, who was so exact in describing so many Buildings of the City, never mentions them, since they are taken Notice of by _Justinian_ in his _Constitutions_. There’s a Church situate on the seventh Hill, between the Palace of _Constantine_, and the _Adrianopolitan Gate_, which though for many Ages it stood within the Walls, yet on three Sides of it, it formerly stood without the Walls of the City, as it was customary to build the _Greek_ Churches. There’s a _Portico_ runs round it. The Walls of it within are incrusted with square Pieces of several Kinds of Marble, the _Fissures_ of which are covered from Top to Bottom with _Modules_ of _Astragals_, some of which are adorned with Berries, and others are work’d round without them. Above these _Incrustations_ rise three _Fasciæ_, and three Ornaments resembling an _Astragal_, two of which are round, and the uppermost of them is of a square Figure. Higher yet are three _Fasciæ_, above these are the _Dentils_, and over the _Dentils_, a _Corinthian Foliage_. It will evidently appear from what I shall mention hereafter, that the Suburbs called the _Hepdomum_, were in the fourteenth _Ward_ of the City, where also stood a Palace. There remains at present, out of many antient Palaces, not so much as the Name of one of them, except that seated on the seventh Hill, which is called the Palace of _Constantine_, besides a few Pillars, and a _Cistern_ in which the Grand _Signor_’s Elephants are stabled. In the Plain upon the Shore, situate at the Foot of the sixth Hill Eastward, is the _Palatine_ Gate called _Cynegion_. Without the Gate is a fine Growth of Plane-Trees. Near the Gate, within the Wall, were formerly three large Arches, now fill’d up, through which the Inhabitants used to sail their Three-oar’d Galleys, into a Creek built within the City for the Conveniency of the neighbouring Palace. This Creek is now entirely ruin’d, and turn’d into a Garden. The _Cynegion_, according to modern Writers, is a Place of some Note, so that even _Suidas_ himself thought it not impertinent to insert in his _Lexicon_ the following Story. _Criminals_, says he, _condemned to dye were thrown into the_ Cynegion, _which was adorned with some Statues_. Theodorus, _the Town-Clerk, going thither with_ Imerius _Keeper of the Records, saw a short, but a very thick Statue. Look upon the Man, says_ Imerius, _meaning himself, who built the_ Cynegion. _I returned in Answer, that_ Maximinus _built it, and that_ Aristides _measured out the Ground; when immediately one of its Pillars fell, which crushed_ Imerius _to Pieces, so that he died on the Spot. Being terrified at the Sight, I hastened to the Church, where I told what had happened. I attested the Fact with an Oath to those who questioned the Relation. Some of the Emperor’s Domesticks and Servants, when their Attendance was over, walked with me to the Place. Being surprized at the Death of_ Imerius, _and the Fall of the Pillar, a certain Philosopher named_ Johannes, _told ’em, that he had discovered from a small Animal, that a Man of some Note should dye_. Philip _of_ Macedon _believing him, ordered the little Creature to be bury’d in the Place, where this Accident happened_. _Justinus_ the _Third_ commanded _Tiberius_ and _Leontius_, after they had reign’d three Years, to have their Chains taken off, ty’d Body to Body, dragged thro’ the _Forum_ and the _Theatre_ by Horses; and after he had trampled upon the Necks of them, he ordered them to be slain in the _Cynegion_, in the Sight of the People. I look upon this _Theatre_ to be that which was called _Theatrum Venatorium_. For as there was such a _Theatre_ at _Rome_, so there was at _Constantinople_. For _Procopius_ reports, that the _Theatres_, _Hippodroms_, and the _Cynegia_, were greatly neglected, and fell to Ruine, thro’ the Avarice of _Justinian_.

CHAP. V.

_Of the_ Blachernæ, _the_ Triclinium _of the_ Blachernæ, _the_
Palace, _the_ Aqueduct _and many other Places of Antiquity_.

The Author of the Book entitled, _The antient Description of the_ Wards attests, that there stood in the fourteenth _Ward_, a Church, but does not name it; nor does he take Notice of the _Blachernæ_, although it was called so before the taking of _Constantinople_ by _Severus_, as I shall immediately make appear. The _Blachernæ_ stood without the Walls, not only in the Time when that Book was wrote, but even in the Reign of _Justinian_, who, as _Procopius_ writes, built a Church, which he dedicated to the _Virgin Mary_, before the Walls of the City, in a Place called the _Blachernæ_. _The Spectator_, says he, _when he enters this Church, will admire its large and bulky Building, yet secure from the Danger of falling by the Strength of its Foundation. You may behold in it_, adds he, _a stately Magnificence, without any Mixture of Gaiety, and too much Embellishment_. ’Tis my Opinion, that _Justinian_ only repaired this Church: For _Zonaras_ reports, that _Pulcheria_, the Wife of _Marcian_, built a Church in the _Blachernæ_, and dedicated it to the _Virgin Mary_. _Pomponius Lætus_ tells us, that this Church was built by _Theodosius_. _Cedrinus_ writes, that _Justin_ the Nephew of _Justinian_, added two Arches to the Church in the _Blachernæ_. So that ’tis plain from what _Procopius_ has wrote upon this Occasion, that the _Blachernæ_ stood without the Walls of the City, as it is no less evident from the Testimony of _Agathius_. _When the barbarous Nations_, says he, _approached_ Constantinople, _by the Permission of_ Justinian, _all the Churches situate without the Walls, from the_ Blachernæ _to the Black-Sea, were stripp’d of their Armaments, which were kept within the City_. There is at present to be seen, near the Gate called _Xylon_, and the Western Angle of the City, between the Foot of the sixth Hill, and the turning of a Mosque, situate within the City, (which the People say was dedicated to the _Virgin Mary_) a Spring now running, which the _Greeks_ tell us was consecrated to her. The Place, where the Spring is, is call’d the _Blachernæ_. Upon my first coming to _Constantinople_, some Remains of it were to be seen, but now there nothing appears even of its Ruines. From the Bottom of the sixth Hill, which rises above the Church in the _Blachernæ_, there shoots an _Aqueduct_ with two Pipes; one of which is stopp’d with a Cock, and the other flows in a constant Stream. I took Notice before, that _Andronicus_ the Emperor brought this _Aqueduct_ from the River _Hydrales_, into the _Ward_ of the _Blachernæ_, where there was no River Water till his Time. The Emperor _Anastasius_ built the great _Triclinium_ in the _Blachernæ_, which went under his Name, even in the Time of _Suidas_. _Zonaras_, and others assure us, that the Emperor _Tiberius_ built the publick Bath in the _Blachernæ_. ’Tis certain from some modern Histories, that there was in the Time of _Zonaras_, even down to the Reign of _Manuel_ the Emperor, an Imperial Palace in that Place. The Reason why ’tis called the _Blachernæ_, is mentioned by _Dionysius_ a _Byzantian_, in his _Navigation of the Bosporus_, from whom I shall just touch upon some Places described by him, which reach from the Foot of the fifth Hill, to the furthermost Angle of the City, and the sixth Hill. _Beyond Mellacopsas_, says he, (this, I took Notice of before, was at the Foot of the fifth Hill) _there are two Places which afford good Sport in Fishing, all the Year. One upon the Shallows under the Promontories, the other under the deep hollow Shores which are never ruffled by the Wind. The first of these is called_ Indigenas, _from some great Man who was a Native there; the other_ Pyracius, _from_ Pyræus, _a Port of_ Athens; _or as some believe, from some antient Inhabitant. There’s a Place between them called_ Cittos, _from the great Plenty of Ivy it produces._ There is also a steep Place called _Camara_, which adjoins that of _Pyracius_. ’Tis much exposed to the Wind, and therefore often feels the Roughness of the Sea. Thence, up higher, stands _Thalassa_, which is the Boundary of the _Ceratine Bay_, where the Rivers begin to flow into it. ’Tis thus called, either by Reason of their Nearness to the Sea, whose Salt Waters they mingle with their Freshness, or because it stands steddy, and more out of the Wind; or rather, because the constant Influx of the Rivers into it, brings down daily a muddy Substance into the Sea, which very much thickens it; though it serves for Nourishment to the Multitudes of Fish with which it abounds. The first Place that stands upon this calm Sea is called _Polyrrhetius_, from a Man named _Polyrrhetus_: The next is _Vateiascopia_, so called from the deep Sea that is about it; a third is the _Blachernæ_, which is a barbarous Word; and the last Place is the Marshes.

CHAP. VI.

_Of the Bridge near the Church of St._ Mamas; _of his_ Hippodrom; _of
the Brazen Lyon, and the Sepulchre of the Emperor_ Mauritius.

Not only some Historians, but also _Suidas_ the Grammarian, have handed it down to us, that near the Church of St. _Mamas_, there stood a Bridge, which had twelve Arches; for there was a great Floud of Waters at that Place. There was also set up at the same Place a brazen Dragon; because ’twas reported that a Serpent had some Time liv’d there, which had deflour’d many Virgins. This Story was occasion’d by the Name of a Man, who was call’d _Basiliscus_, one of _Numerianus Cæsar_’s Life-Guard, who liv’d there, and built a Church, which _Zeno_ afterwards pull’d down. _Constantine_, call’d _Iconomachus_, because he was a profess’d Enemy to Images, order’d one _Andreas_ a Statuary, a Man of some Note in the _Blachernæ_, to be whipt to Death in the _Hippodrom_ of St. _Mamas_. _Zonaras_ tells us, that _Mauritius_ the Emperor was buried in the Church of St. _Mamas_, which was built by _Pharasmenes_, an Eunuch, and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to _Justinian_. _Cedrinus_ writes, that the Church of St. _Mamas_ stood near the Gate call’d _Xylocercon_. Others report, That _Crunna_, King of the _Bulgarians_, surrounded _Constantinople_ with an Army from the _Blachernæ_ to the _Porta Aurea_, and distrusting the Strength of his Forces to take the Town, he hasten’d to this Church, set Fire to a Palace that was near it, and that upon his Retreat, he carry’d off a Brazen Lyon plac’d in the _Hippodrom_, a Bear, a Dragon, and some curious Pieces of Marble. _Sozomen_ speaking of those Persons who were banish’d on St. _Chrysostom_’s Account, says, that when they were got without the Walls they met in a Place situate before the City, which _Constantine_ order’d to be cleans’d, to be pal’d round, and made it into a _Hippodrom_. This, I take it, was the Place which was afterwards call’d the _Hippodrom_ of St. _Mamas_. _Zonaras_ adds upon this Occasion, that _Leo_ the Emperor, scar’d by a Fire, which then rag’d in the City, flew to the Church of St. _Mamas_, and continu’d there for some Time. _Cedrinus_ mentions, that the Emperor diverted himself with Horse-racing, near the Church of St. _Mamas_ the Martyr, situate in the _Stenon_. ’Tis plain from the Authorities abovemention’d, that this Church was seated in the _Blachernæ_, and that there was a Bridge there, as is farther confirm’d by _Johannes Tzetzes_ in his _Variâ Historiâ_, where he says, that the Sea extending itself from the Streights of _Abydus_, to the Bridge of the _Blachernæ_, is call’d the _Hellespont_. ’Tis also evident, that this Bridge stood, where the Stone Piles of the old Bridge (when the Water is low, as ’tis in Summer) are seen at present, and stand between the Suburbs call’d the _Blachernæ_, and the Suburbs, which the _Turks_ call the _Aibasarium_. This, I am confident, is the same Bridge which the ancient Treatise _of the Wards of the City_, calls the Wooden Bridge, and places it in the fourteenth _Ward_, in which, as I observ’d, was the Suburbs call’d the _Hepdomum_. I desire the Reader to remark one Thing from _Suidas_, that St. _Mamas_ Bridge had either twelve Stone Arches, or else, that he was writing of another Church of St. _Mamas_, situate in another Place.

CHAP. VII.

_Of the seventh Hill, the twelfth Ward, and of the Pillar of_
Arcadius.