Chapter XVIII: Book IV: Chap. I (5)

_The Church of St._ Achatius.] This good Man suffered Death at _Constantinople_, as I just observed, upon a Nut-tree, which _Nicephorus_ says, remained in the Middle of the Church, sacred to his Memory in the Reign of _Arcadius_, though he was martyr’d in the Time of _Dioclesian_ an hundred Years before. For, speaking of _Procopius_ the Tyrant, The Church, says he, which was demolished with Age, was rebuilt, and beautified by _Justinian_. And _Procopius_ the Historian tells us in _Lib. de Ædif Just._ That _Justinian_ rebuilt it from the Ground, and that it cast such a Lustre, that it struck the Spectators with Admiration, its Marble being very glossy, and white as Snow. He adds farther, that this Church was called the _Martyrdom_ of St. _Achatius_, because he was buried there, which happened on the sixth of _May_.

_The_ Bagnio’s _of_ Constantine.] _Gyllius_ says they were the _Bagnio’s_ of _Constantius_, and which, indeed, are often mentioned by _Sozomen_, _Socrates_, and _Suidas_; but ’tis more probable that these _Bagnio’s_ were built by _Constantine_, who was indefatigable in beautifying the City with many Decorations.

_The House of_ Placidia Augusta.] This Lady was the Daughter of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, who afterwards resided in _Italy_, with her Brother _Honorius_.

_The House of_ Augusta Eudocia.] She was the most learned Woman of her Age, and wrote the Life of _Christ_ in _Greek Hexameters_, after the Manner of _Homer_. At last being suspected by her Husband of Adultery, and divorc’d, she went to _Jerusalem_, but upon the Death of _Theodosius_, as _Zonaras_ and _Nicephorus_ write, returned again to _Constantinople_.

The Eleventh _Ward_.

_The eleventh_ Ward, _much wider in Compass than the former, is, in no part of it, bounded by the Sea. The whole of it, level and rising Ground, contains, the Church of the_ Apostles; _the Palace of_ Flacilla; _the House of_ Augusta Pulcheria; _the Brazen Bull; the Cistern of_ Arcadius; _the Cistern of_ Modestus; _five hundred and three great Houses; four large_ Portico’s; _fourteen private Baths; one publick, and three private Mills; and seven_ Gradus. _It has one_ Curator; _one_ Vernaculus; _thirty seven_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The Church of the_ Apostles.] _Cedrinus_ and _Eusebius_ write, that this Church was rebuilt by _Constantine_. _Eusebius_, _Lib._ IV. _Cap._ 58. _de Vita Const._ says, that to perpetuate the Memory of the _Apostles_, he began to build a Church, in the City called after his own Name. When he had built the Church to a very great Height, he beautify’d it with Stones of all Kinds, and inlay’d it with Variety of the most delicate Marble, from the Pavement to the Top of the Church; and having closed the Roof with Arches of the best Workmanship, he gilded it over. The Top of the Church, on the Outside of it, was cover’d with Brass, to secure it from the Violence of the Weather, part of which was also gilded; so that the amazing Splendour of it, reflected the Rays of the Sun to a very great Distance. The inward part of the Church he cover’d with Net-work, which was artificially made of Brass and Gold. Thus beautifully was the Church adorn’d by the great Care and Application of the Emperor. Before it stood a spacious Court, with an open Gallery round it. The Church and the Gallery were wholly surrounded with _Portico’s_. The Palace, the _Bagnio’s_, the Walks, and many Houses built for the Accommodation of those who look’d after them, had all of them the Conveniency of some _Portico_. In this Church was laid the Body of _Constantine_, in a golden Chest, the twelve _Apostles_ standing round his Tomb. This is attested by _Socrates_. This Church was afterwards rebeautified by _Justinian_. For _Procopius_, _Lib. de Ædif. Just._ speaks of it thus: There was, says he, an ancient Church at _Constantinople_, just sinking with Age. This Church, for the Reverence he bore to it, was repair’d by _Justinian_, where the Masons and Workmen found three wooden Chests or Coffins, which proved by their Inscriptions, that the Bodies of St. _Luke_, St. _Andrew_ and _Timothy_, were interr’d there, and which were viewed by _Justinian_, and the _Christians_ of those Times, with the greatest Admiration.

_The Palace of_ Flacilla.] If we read it _Falcilla_, it is meant of another Daughter of _Arcadius_; if _Placilla_, she was the Wife of _Theodosius the Great_, whom _Paulus Diaconus_ calls _Flacilla_.

_The Brazen Bull._] This Bull, _Cedrinus_ writes, was brought from _Troy_. There was, says he, a Stove in which St. _Antipas_ the Martyr was burnt to Death. Some are of Opinion, that this Stove was the _Brazen Bull_ here mention’d, which was invented by _Perillus_, who was forced to undergo the same Torment by _Phalaris_, a cruel Tyrant of _Agrigentum_. _Zonaras_ relates, that _Phocas_ the Tyrant was burnt in a Bull, _i. e._ in a brazen Stove made in the Shape of a Bull, brought from _Pergamus_, which Place gave its Name to a Place near _Constantinople_.

_The Cistern of_ Modestus.] _Modestus_ was first chief Governour of the East, and was afterwards, _Præfectus Prætorio_, or General of the Life-Guard to _Valens_. As he was an _Arian_, he persecuted the Catholicks. Afterwards he was recovered from a dangerous Illness by the Prayers of St. _Basil_, as ’tis recorded by _Gregory Nazianzen_ in his Funeral Oration upon him. I take this to be the same Person who built the Cistern here mention’d.

The Twelfth _Ward_.

_The twelfth_ Ward, _from the Entrance of the City at the_ Porta Aurea, _is a long way upon the Level. ’Tis extended on the left Side of it by a gentle Descent, and is bounded by the Sea. This_ Ward _is better guarded, and more handsomly beautified than any other, the Walls rising higher here than in any other part of the City. It contains the_ Porta Aurea; _the_ Portico’s _of_ Troas; _the_ Forum _of_ Theodosius; _A Column with winding Stairs in its Inside; the Mint, or Treasury; the Port of_ Theodosius; _eleven Streets; three hundred and sixty three great Houses; three large_ Portico’s; _five private Baths; five private Mills, and nine_ Gradus. _It has one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _thirty four_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The_ Porta Aurea.] The _Greeks_ call it ὡραία both on the account of its own Beautifulness, and that of the neighbouring Buildings; so that it is a palpable Mistake in those who call it _Porta Neoria_ from the Dock, which is near to it. I take this to be the same Gate which _Zonaras_ mentions in his Life of _Leo_ the Philosopher. He calls it the Western Gate of the Golden _Triclinium_, from whence it is call’d the _Porta Aurea_, as is observ’d by _Nicetas_ in his Life of _Alexius Ducas, Marzulfus_, and in the _History_ of their Atchievements, after they had taken the City; as also by _Nicephorus Gregoras_, in his _Treatise_ entituled, _The Entry of_ Michael Palæologus _into the City_. In this Gate it is reported, the Elephants were stabled, which were much like those with which _Theodosius_ made his publick Entry into _Constantinople_, as ’tis mention’d by _Cedrinus_. Some Historians tell us, that they were transported to _Constantinople_ from the Temple of _Mars Atheniensis_. This Gate stood Easterly, facing the Sea, and as _Nicephorus_ observes, overlook’d the Imperial Citadel through the City to a great Distance, and that from thence you might look very far backwards into the Inland Countries. This Gate, in a direct Line, was distant from the Sea-shore fourteen thousand and seventy five Feet, so that the City was about three Miles in Length.

_The_ Portico’s _of_ Troas.] I believe these _Portico’s_ took their Name either from the People of _Troas_, who, while they continued there, built them; or from some Part of the City so call’d, or because some Goods and Merchandize were imported thither from _Troas_, as I observed before of the Granaries of _Troas_.

_A Column with winding Stairs on its Inside._] Upon this Pillar was erected the Statue of _Theodosius_, which, as _Zonaras_ writes, was near the _Porta Aurea_, and fell down in the Reign of _Leo Isaurus_. _Gyllius_ is of Opinion, that this was the Statue of _Arcadius_, that the Shaft of it, with the Pedestal and Capital, consisted of twenty one Stones; and adds, that the Battels of _Theodosius_ were carv’d upon it.

The Thirteenth _Ward_.

_The thirteenth_ Ward _is call’d the_ Sycæne Ward, _which is divided from the City by a narrow Bay of the Sea, and maintains an Intercourse with it by Boats, and small Vessels. It stands wholly upon the Side of it, except a broad Tract of Land, which lies Level, at the Foot of it, near the Sea-shore. It contains one Church, the_ Bagnio’s _and_ Forum _of_ Honorius; _A Theatre; A Dock for Ship-building; four hundred and thirty one great Houses; one large_ Portico; _five private_ Bagnio’s; _one publick, and four private Mills; with eight_ Gradus. _It has one_ Curator, _one_ Vernaculus, _thirty four_ Collegiati, _and five_ Vico-Magistri.

NOTES.

_The_ Sycene Ward.] This _Ward_ is a _Peninsula_ divided from _Constantinople_ by a small Bay of the City. ’Tis at present call’d _Galata_, or _Pera_. _Stephanus_ (_de Urbibus_) tells us, that _Sycæ_ is a small City over against New _Rome_, which in his Time was called _Justiniana_. But _Justinian_ himself, _Novel._ 59. _Cap._ 5. places it so far within the new Walls of the City, that, as he says, it ought to be looked upon as a Part of it. It was named by the _Greeks_ _Sycæna_, from the great Produce it bears of the best _Figs_, as is observed by _Cedrinus_ and _Dionysius_ a _Byzantian_. ’Tis not inhabited at present by the _Franks_, for so the _Greeks_ call the _Latines_. _Gyllius_ is of Opinion that it was called _Galata_, because _Brennus_, Captain General of the _Gauls_, whom the _Greeks_ call Γαλάται marched thither with his Army. It was also called _Pera_, that is, the _Ferry_, or _Peræa_, and stood on the other Side of the Water; as _Josephus_ relates, that _Judæa_ was on the other Side of _Jordan_; and as _Strabo_ mentions a Place, which he says was on the other Side of _Euphrates_. _Anastasius_ in his _Constitutions_ calls it _Sycæ_, or the _Ferry_ of _Sycæ_, where he commands the Dead to be bury’d without Fee, or Reward. ’Tis divided by a Hill that runs from North to South, and is bounded on each Side by two Vales, of a Mile in Length. Its Walls are four Thousand four Hundred Paces in Compass. Near to it, _Justinian_ in his 159ᵗʰ _Nov._ seems to fix the Suburbs called _Coparium_: And _Socrates_ in his 30ᵗʰ _Chap._ of his _Eccles. Hist._ tells us, that there’s a Place just against the City, which is called _Sycæ_. The Church of the _Novatians_ was translated hither in the Reign of _Constantine_.

_It maintained an Intercourse with_ Constantinople, _by Boats and small Vessels_.] There were in the Bay here many Thousands of small Boats, far exceeding the Number of those which are at _Venice_ to carry Passengers from one Shore to the other, so that this _Peninsula_ might reasonably be looked upon as a Part of the City. ’Tis almost surrounded with Mountains, at the Foot of which, towards the Sea, it lies all upon a Level to the opposite Shore. It contained a Church, the _Forum_, and Theatre of _Honorius_, and many other Ornaments and Curiosities in common with other _Wards_. There stood here a magnificent Church dedicated to St. _Irene_, which was built by _Pertinax_, who had pass’d the Consular Dignity, and was then _Patriarch_ of _Constantinople_: And _Constantine_, when he had beautified the _Ward_ with many stately Buildings, enclosed it with a Wall, as ’tis recorded by _Cardinal Baronius_ in his _Annals_ of the Year 314.

_The Dock._] There was also a Place in this _Ward_ where they built their Ships.

The Author has taken no Notice of two Streets which belonged to this _Ward_, and which would complete the Number of three hundred and twenty two Streets, mentioned in the Conclusion of his _Treatise_; but without the Addition of them, we can reckon them three hundred and twenty and no more.

The Fourteenth _Ward_.

_Although this_ Ward _is look’d upon to be a fourteenth Part of the City, yet because it is divided from the other_ Wards _by an intermediate Space of Land, and enclosed within its own Walls, it makes the Figure of a small City by it self. The Entrance of it at the Gate is somewhat upon the Level; but the right Side of it, rising into an Ascent, almost to the Middle of the broad Way, falls into a deep Descent, and ends afterwards near the Sea in a Plain. It contains a Church; the Palace; a_ Nympheum; _some Baths; a Theatre; a_ Lusorium; _a Wooden Bridge; eleven Streets; a hundred and sixty seven great Houses; two large_ Portico’s; _five private Baths; one publick, and one private Mill; with five_ Gradus.

NOTES.

_The fourteenth_ Ward, _which is enclosed within its own Walls, makes the Figure of a kind of small City by it self_.] It was antiently looked upon to be a small City, because one of the Emperors had built there an Imperial Citadel. ’Tis very mountainous about it, and it descends towards the Sea, into the Bosom of a Plain. The Name of the Church in this _Ward_ is not known at present.

_A Palace._] This is the Place of Imperial Residence, which was antiently called _Palatium_, because _Augustus_ dwelt in Mount _Palatine_ at _Rome_. The Dwelling-House of _Romulus_ was also called by the same Name. Wherefore, says _Dion_, speaking of _Augustus_, let the Emperor be where he pleases, yet the Place where he constantly dwells, is always called his Palace.

_A_ Lusorium.] This probably was the same Place with the _Ludus Venatorius_, in which the Combatants exercised themselves before they engaged with wild Beasts; yet is it more probable, that it was so called from the _Naves Lusoriæ_, which were built there, of which _Marcellinus_ takes Notice in his _sixth Book_, as also the _Code_ of _Theodosius de Lusoriis Danubii_.

_A Wooden Bridge._] _Suidas_ writes, that near the Church of St. _Mamas_, there was a Bridge which consisted of twelve Arches, for there was a great Flood of Waters there. I believe this was after chang’d into a Stone Bridge.

_Five_ Gradus, _or Stairs_.] At the End of this _Ward_, after the five _Gradus_, I would correct the Omission of my Author, by comparing this with the other _Wards_, and adding one _Curator_, one _Vernaculus_, thirty seven _Collegiati_, and five _Vico-Magistri_.

The Author, in his following summary View of the City, mentions five hundred and sixty _Collegiati_, but to complete the Number of them, there are wanting seven. _Theodosius_ the _Less_ has added three in _Lib. de Commer. & Mercat._ and makes the Number of them to be five hundred and sixty three.

_A Summary View of the whole City._

_Having taken a particular View of the City, as divided into_ Wards, _I shall now_, continues my Author, _give the Reader a more large and general Description of it, to shew that its Beauty and Magnificence is not only to be ascribed to Art and good Workmanship, but that Nature herself by the Mediation of the Elements, has happily contributed to its Security and Defence. The divine Providence has with so much Wisdom consulted the Preservation of its Inhabitants, even to future Ages, that a long Tract of Land, in the Nature of a_ Promontory, _full of Windings and Harbours in its Sides, facing the Chaps of the_ Black-Sea, _narrow in Breadth, is strongly fortified by the Sea. The_ Isthmus, _the only Part of the City not bounded by the Sea, is at the same Time strengthened with a double Wall with numerous Towers on its Ramparts. The City thus enclosed and defended, contains in the Whole the following Buildings. Five Palaces; fourteen Churches; five divine Houses of the_ Augustæ; _three of the most illustrious Ladies_; _eight_ Bagnio’s; _two_ Basilica’s; _four_ Fora’s; _two Senate-Houses; five Granaries, or Store-Houses; two Theatres; two_ Lusoria; _four Havens; one_ Circo; _four Cisterns; four_ Nymphea; _three hundred and twenty two Streets; four Thousand three hundred and eight large Houses; fifty two_ Portico’s; _a hundred and fifty three private Baths; twenty publick, and a hundred and twenty private Mills; a hundred and seventeen_ Gradus; _five Flesh Markets; one_ Porphyry _Pillar; two Pillars with winding Stairs; one_ Colossus; _one Golden_ Tetrapylum; _the_ Forum _of_ Augustus; _the Capitol; the Mint, or Treasury; and three_ Gradus _by the Sea-Shore. It was under the Care and Government of fourteen_ Curators, _fourteen_ Vernaculi, _five hundred and sixty_ Collegiati, _and sixty five_ Vico-Magistri. _The Length of the City from the_ Porta Aurea _in a direct Line to the Sea-Shore, is fourteen Thousand and seventy five Feet; the Breadth of it, six Thousand one Hundred and fifty_. Thus concludes the Author of the Description, I shall now go on with my

NOTES.

_It has five Palaces._] Old _Rome_, instead of these, has one Thousand one hundred and eighty Houses.

_Fourteen Churches._] _Rome_ had four Hundred and twenty four Temples.

_Five divine Houses of the_ Augustæ, _and of those who bore the Title of the Most Illustrious three_.] The Houses of those Ladies, who bore the Title of _Augustæ_ were called Divine. They had also other Marks of Imperiality and Honour conferr’d upon them. By the Mistake of the Writer these Houses were reckoned six, though they were no more in Number than five only, _viz._ two of _Placidia_, two of _Pulcheria_, and one of _Eudocia_, the Wife of _Theodosius_. As to the Houses belonging to the Ladies, entitled the _Most Illustrious_, one of them belonged to _Marina_, and the other two to _Arcadia_, and bore the same Title with themselves.

_Eight_ Bagnio’s.] _Victor_ writes, that at _Rome_ there were eleven.

_Two_ Basilica’s.] There were ten of them at _Rome_.

_Four_ Fora’s.] At _Rome_ there were eleven; _Victor_ says nineteen.

_Two Senate-Houses._] At _Rome_, as _Victor_ says, there were three; one stood between the _Capitol_, and the _Forum Romanum_, where was the Temple of _Concord_; another by the _Porta Capena_, and a third in the Temple of _Bellona_, which stood in the _Circo_ of _Flaminius_, where the Foreign Ambassadors resided, because they would not allow them Admittance into the City.

_Five Granaries._] At _Rome_ there were two hundred and ninety two.

_Two Theatres._] At _Rome_ there were three.

_Two_ Lusoria.] At _Rome_, according to _Victor_, there were sixteen.

_Four Havens._] At _Rome_ there was but one.

_One_ Circo.] At _Rome_ there were two.

_Four Cisterns._] At _Rome_ there were none.

_Four_ Nymphea.] At _Rome_ there were fifteen.

_Three hundred and twenty two Streets._] At _Rome_ four Hundred and twenty four.

_Four Thousand three hundred and eighteen large Houses._] At _Rome_ there were forty six Thousand six hundred and two _Insulæ_, and one Thousand seven hundred and eighty large Houses. The Houses here mentioned were large roof’d Buildings, tyl’d at Top four Ways; the _Insulæ_ were roof’d Buildings, tyl’d only before and behind.

_Forty two_ Portico’s.] At _Rome_ there were six only.

_A hundred and fifty three private Baths._] At _Rome_ there were eight hundred and fifty six.

_Twenty publick, and a hundred and twenty private Mills._] At _Rome_ two hundred and fifty four.

_A hundred and seventeen_ Gradus.] At _Rome_ none.

_Five Flesh-Markets._] At _Rome_ two only.

_Five hundred and sixty_ Collegiati.] It is apparent that thirty seven of them are omitted in the last _Ward_. There was no such Office at _Rome_, yet there were, instead of them, Watchmen divided into seven Companies, whose Business, according to _Dion_ and _Suetonius_, was much the same with that of the _Collegiati_.

_Sixty five_ Vico-magistri.] It should be read seventy; for five of them are omitted in the last _Ward_. At _Rome_ the Number of _Collegiati_ was six hundred and seventy two.

_A Porphyry Pillar._] There was no such Pillar, as _Cedrinus_ says, at _Rome_, tho’ this was brought from thence. _Gyllius_ writes, that this Pillar was made of square marble Stones, and that it stood in the _Hippodrom_.

_Two Pillars with Winding-Stairs in the Inside of them._] There was the same Number at _Rome_.

_One_ Colossus.] At _Rome_ there were two. ’Tis omitted in the _Description of the Wards_, as many other Things of Note are.

_The Golden_ Tetrapylum.] _Gyllius_ quotes an unknown Author who will have this _Tetrapylum_ to have been a Quadrangle with _Portico’s_ round it, having Four Gates, and was formerly call’d _Quadrivium_. The _Latines_ call it a _Stadium_. But there’s no such Place to be found in the _Wards_ of the City, unless it be the _Stadium_ in the Fourth _Ward_, which is omitted in the _Summary View_ of the City. _Cedrinus_, in his Life of _Leo Magnus_, mentions this _Tetrapylum_. _Evagrius_ in the _twenty eighth Chapter_ of his _third Book_ tells us, that it was built by the Senator _Mammianus_, in the Reign of _Zeno_. He built, says he, two stately _Portico’s_ of exquisite Workmanship, and beautify’d them with a neat glossy Marble. As to the _Tetrapylum_ built by _Mammianus_, there are not, as _Gyllius_ tells us, the least Remains of it. _Victor_ writes, that there was a _Pentapylum_ in the tenth _Ward_ of _Rome_.

_The_ Augusteum.] This was the _Forum_ of _Augustus_.

_The Capitol._] At _Rome_, as _Victor_ writes, there were two; the old and the new _Capitol_.

_The Mint, or Treasury._] There was no such Place at _Rome_.

_Three_ Gradus _by the Sea-Shore_.] There were no such _Stairs_ at _Rome_, yet they had their _Lakes_, their _Naval Fights_, &c.

The City is reported to have had twenty three Gates. _Laonicus Chalcondylus_, in his History of the _Ottomans_, tells us, that _Constantinople_ contains in compass a hundred and eleven Furlongs, which is more than thirteen _Italian_ Miles. ’Tis generally thought to be eighteen Miles in Circumference. Besides the foremention’d Curiosities, _Constantinople_ has been famous for the _Aqueduct_ of _Hadrian_, which furnish’d the Palace, the _Nymphea_, and the _Bagnio’s_ with a Sufficiency of Waters, as _Theodosius_ mentions in a Letter to _Cyrus_, _Prefect_ of the City. The _Bagnio’s_ of _Achilles_ are also mention’d by him, where he says, that these _Bagnio’s_ were supply’d with Water convey’d into them from the said _Aqueduct_ by leaden Pipes. _Cedrinus_ says, that these _Bagnio’s_ were built near the _Strategium_, and took their Name from an Altar, which was dedicated to _Ajax_ and _Achilles:_ And _Cassiodorus_ relates, that the Fire, which happen’d in the Reign of _Constantine_ the _Great_, burnt down the City, as far as the _Bagnio’s_ of _Achilles_.

_Some Account of the_ Suburbs _as they are mention’d in the_ Codes
_and_ Law-Books.

_Procopius_ tells us, in his first Book _de Ædif. Justin._ that the _Hepdomum_ was one Part of the Suburbs of _Constantinople_. _Justinian_, says he, built another Church dedicate to St. _Theodora_ in a Place call’d the _Hepdomum_, which in the _Greek_ signifies the _Seventh_. _Zonaras_, in the Life of _Phocas_, mentions the same Thing, as does also _Cedrinus_ in the Life of _Arcadius_ and _Justin_, with many others. In this Place were many Laws enacted; and _Zonaras_ writes, that _Theodosius_ the _Great_ built a Church there, in Honour of St. _John Baptist_. _Gyllius_ says, that ’tis at present enclos’d within the Walls of the City, that it stands upon the sixth Hill, and that ’tis call’d _Hepdomum_, or _Seventh_, as denoting the Number of the Suburbs of the City.

_The_ Blachernæ.] This is another Part of the Suburbs, mention’d by _Justinian_ in his 151ˢᵗ _Nov._ where he says, that _Hierius_ bequeath’d by Will to his Son _Anthemius_ the Suburbs in the _Blachernæ_. _Zonaras_ writes, that _Pulcheria_, the Sister of _Theodosius_ the _Less_, built a Church to the _Blessed Virgin_ in this Place, which, as _Procopius_ tells us, was repair’d by _Justinian_. _Cedrinus_ observes, that the Emperor _Justin_, Nephew of _Justinian_, enlarg’d it with two Arches. _Suidas_ reports, that _Anastasius_ the Emperor built there a large _Triclinium_ and _Tiberius_ a _Bagnio_, as _Zonaras_ writes. It took its Name of the _Blachernæ_, as _Gyllius_ believes, upon the Authority of _Dionysius_ a _Byzantian_ Writer, from some Person, who was formerly a kind of a petty King there. It was situate near the Sea, in the Place, as _Nicephorus_ observes in his 15ᵗʰ _Book_ _Chap._ 25ᵗʰ _of his Eccl. Hist._ where _Leo_ the _Great_ built a Church to the Virgin _Mary_.

The _Monastery_ of _Studius_ was another Part of the Suburbs of _Constantinople_, in which, as _Justinian_ observes, in his 6ᵗʰ _Chap._ _Novel_ 59ᵗʰ. was kept a large Bier, for the Burial of the Dead. The following Account is given of _Studius_ by _Nicephorus_, in his 15ᵗʰ _Book_, _Chap._ 25ᵗʰ _of his Eccles. Hist._ An eminent Citizen of _Rome_, says he, nam’d _Studius_, came from thence to _Constantinople_, where he built a Church to the Memory of St. _John Baptist_, and that divine Service might be celebrated there with more Decency and Solemnity, he took some Monks out of the Monastery of the Ἀκοίμητοι, who were so call’d, because some of them were always _waking_ to attend divine Worship. The heavenly-minded _Marcellinus_ built them a Monastery, in which they continually sang Hymns to God, their Society being divided into three Tribes for that Purpose. Thus far _Nicephorus_. Upon this Occasion _Studius_ was made _Consul_, as appears by an Inscription over the Gate of his own Monastery, which runs thus:

_This Pyle was rais’d by_ Studius’ _bounteous Hand:
Great Actions greatest Honours should command.
In just Acknowledgment, the grateful Town,
Repay’d the Founder with a_ Consul’s _Gown_.

This happen’d in the Reign of _Leo_ the Emperor.

The _Coparia_, as is plain from the 159ᵗʰ _Nov. of Justinian_, was another Part of the Suburbs, and was bequeath’d, as appears by the Codicil of _Hierius_’s Will to his Niece.

There was also another Part of the Suburbs in the _Promontory_ of the Creek of _Sosthenium_, which was formerly in the Possession of _Ardaburus_, General of the Army to _Theodosius_ the _Less_. The Right of it afterwards came to _Hierius_, who was _Præfectus Prætorio_, or General of the Life-Guard to the Emperor _Zeno_. _Nicephorus_ in the 50ᵗʰ _Chap. of his_ 7ᵗʰ _Book of Eccl. Hist._ gives this Reason why it was call’d _Sosthenium_, ’Tis recorded, says he, that the _Argonauts_ of _Greece_, when they arriv’d here, began to plunder the Countrey, but were defeated by _Amycus_, who was then Governor of the Place, and being dispers’d, they wander’d about till they came to a woody unhospitable Place, where they took shelter in a large Thicket of Trees; that in this Calamity _Virtue_ came down to them from Heaven in a human Shape, having Wings like an Eagle, and by her Oracle foretold, that if they would venture another Battle, they should conquer _Amycus_. Directed by this Advice, they engag’d them again, obtain’d an entire Victory over them, slew him, and all his Forces; and that to express their Gratitude to the _Vision_, they built a Temple, and erected a Statue to her, in the Shape she appear’d to them, which gave the Place the Name of _Sosthenium_, because they _secur’d_ themselves by the second Battle.

Bytharium, _or_ Philotheum.] This was also another Part of the _Suburbs_, and is mention’d as such in 159ᵗʰ _Nov. of Justinian_.

The _Porta Veneta_ is mentioned by _Procopius_ in his _History of the_ Persian _War_; who, speaking of some military Officer, tells us, that when he came to the _Porta Veneta_, which stands on the Right Hand of the Palace, he halted and determin’d to march to _Hypalium_. This Gate seems to take its Name from the _Suburbs_ call’d _in Venetis_, probably because the _Venetian Faction_, a Company of Chariot-Racers dress’d in _Sky-colour’d_ Cloths, dwelt there.

_Procopius_ also takes Notice of the _Pontichium_ by the Ferry, and also of the _Rusiniana_, as two other Parts of the _Suburbs_. These Places he mentions in his 1ˢᵗ _Book of the_ Persian _War_; as does also _Sozomen_ in the 21ˢᵗ _Chap._ _Book_ the 8ᵗʰ.

_Of the present Buildings of_ Constantinople.

_Gyllius_ assures us, that the whole City, at present, is under a visible Decay, as to its Buildings; that the Houses are low and mean, and that there’s little or nothing to be seen of its ancient Beauty and Magnificence, except in a few of their _Basha’s_ Houses, their _Mosques_, their _Bagnio’s_, and their _Caravansera’s_, which are all very noble Buildings, and are as follows.

There are at least three hundred _Mosques_ built with Marble, cover’d with Lead, and shining with glossy marble Pillars.

There are above a hundred publick _Bagnio’s_, both for Men and Women, which are very spacious.

There are also about the same Number of _Caravansera’s_; the most eminent of which are adorn’d with Fountains, which are constantly supply’d with Water from the Fields adjoining the _Suburbs_, and which also supply the whole City.

BYZANTIΩN

B Y]

* * * * * *

Transcriber’s note:

The original spelling, hyphenation, punctuation has been retained except for apparent typographical errors.

The chapter headings and page numbers have been added to the CONTENTS, by the transcriber, for the following:

A DESCRIPTION
Of the CITY of CONSTANTINOPLE,
As it stood in the REIGNS of
ARCADIUS and HONORIUS.

In the Preface of the Translator the author’s birthplace is given as “Abi”. This has been corrected to read “Albi” (in South-West France).