The Antiquities of Constantinople

Chap. VII.

Of the Bagnio’s of Zeuxippus and its Statues

THESE Bagnio’s were so call’d, as Cedrinus relates, because they were built in a Place, where formerly had stood the Temple of Jupiter Zeuxippus. This is said of them by Eusebius, who writes, That there are some of Opinion, that the fine Bathing-place at Constantinople took its Name from the famous Painter Zeuxes, whose Pieces adorn’d it. I collect that it stood near the Church of St. Sophia, not only from the Treatise of the ancient Description of the City, which places them both in the same Ward, but also from the Fire which happen’d in the Reign of Justinian, and burnt down, as Procopius observes, the Church of St. Sophia, and the adjacent Buildings, as the Bagnio of Zeuxippus, and the House of Entrance before the Palace; and Zonaras writes, that Severus the Emperor join’d it to the Hippodrom, and built it on the same Spot of Ground, where formerly had stood the Temple of Jupiter. Leontius, a more ancient and judicious Historian, does not join it to the Hippodrom, but makes it to stand near it, as appears by his Verses inscrib’d over a Door of a House, situate between the Zeuxippum and the Hippodrom.

An Inscription of Leontius upon a House call’d the Zeuxippum and the HippodromBetween Zeuxippus’ cool refreshing Baths,And the fam’d Hippodrom’s swift Course I stand.Let the Spectator, when he baths himself,Or sees the struggling Steed panting for Breath,Pay a kind Visit, to enhanse his Pleasures;He’ll find a hearty Wellcome at my Table.Or if more manly Sports his Mind affects,Practise the rough Diversions of the Stadia.

Cedrinus relates, that in this Bagnio there was a pleasant Variety of Prospects of surprizing Art, both in Marble and Stone-work, in Statues of Brass, and Figures of Persons of Antiquity, who seem’d to want nothing but a Soul to animate and enliven them. Among these celebrated Pieces of the most exquisite Workmanship, was the Statue of old Homer, in a thoughtful Posture, just as he was, his Hands folded in his Breast, his Beard carelessly hanging down, his Hair very thin before, his Face wrinkled with Age, and the Cares of the World; his Nose well proportion’d, his Eyes fix’d in their Sockets, as is usual with blind Persons, which he was generally look’d upon to be. Over his close Coat hung a loose Garment, and under his Feet, upon the Pedestal of the Pillar, was a Bridle in Brass. This Place was also beautify’d with the brazen Statues of all those renown’d Personages who had been famous for Wisdom, Poetry, Oratory or Courage, throughout the World, but were all destroy’d by Fire. Among these were the Statues of Deiphobus, Æschines, Demosthenes, Aristotle, Euripides, Hesiod, Theocritus, Simonides, Anaximenes, Calchas, Pyrrhus, Amymone; of Sappho, Apollo, Venus, Chrysa, Julius Cæsar, Plato, Hermaphroditus, Herinna, Terpander, Pericles, Pythagoras, Stesichorus, Democritus; of Hercules, Aurora, Æneas, Creusa, Helenus, Andromachus, Menelaus, Helena, Ulysses, Hecuba, Cassandra, Polyxena, Ajax, Paris, and his Oenone; of Milo, Dares and Entellus, Charidemus, Melampus, Panthous, Demogeron, Isocrates, Amphiaraus, Sarpedon, Achilles, Mercury, Apuleius, Diana, Pherecydes, Heraclitus, Cratinus, Menander, Amphitryon, Thucydides, Herodotus, Pindar, Xenophon, Alcmæon, Pompey and Virgil. There were also many other Statues which have been describ’d in Verse by Christodorus a Poet of Thebes, or, as others report, a Native of Coptos in Ægypt, which, were it not a Work of Prolixity, I would explain to the Reader. There stood near the Bagnio call’d Zeuxippum, a small Bath, taken Notice of by Leontius in the following Lines:

Let not thy stately Walls, O proud Zeuxippum,Resent the Meanness of this little Bath.In Heaven’s high Tower, near the ConstellationOf Ursa Major shines the Polar Star.

There is nothing of the Zeuxippum remaining at present, nor of many other fine Bagnio’s, although we have many Inscriptions relating to them; as of that famous one celebrated by Agathius, in which Venus is said to have bathed her self; also of another call’d Didymum, in which both Sexes used to wash, describ’d in Verse by Paulus Silentiarius, and a third made memorable by an Inscription of the learned Leontius. Besides these, there was another named Cupido, describ’d by the ingenious Marianus; yet are all of them either entirely ruin’d, or so defaced by the Mahometans, that you cannot discover who built them, or to whom they belong’d.

Chap. VIII.

Of the Hospitals of Sampson and Eubulus

THERE was built, as Procopius says, a Hospital for the Relief of poor and sick People. It was founded in ancient Times by a holy Man, whose Name was Sampson. But it did not escape the Flames, occasion’d by a riotous Mob, which burnt down that and the Church of St. Sophia. It was rebuilt by Julian, who beautify’d and enlarged it with a Multitude of small handsome Apartments, and afterwards endow’d it with a yearly Stipend, for the Support and Comfort of the miserable and distressed. But the good Emperor not being content with this Oblation he had made to God, with the Co-assistance of his Imperial Consort Theodora, built over-against it two other Hospitals on the same Ground, where formerly stood the Houses of Isidorus and Arcadius. Thus far Procopius. From whence I would observe, that the Hospital of Sampson was not far from the Church of St. Sophia, and have read in the History of an unknown Author, that it stood over-against it. I am confirm’d in this Opinion by the Authority of Zonaras, who tells us in the like Manner, that there was a Fire occasion’d by a Faction, which burnt down the great Church, that of St. Irene, the Hospital of Eubulus, the Chalca, the Bagnio of Severus, call’d the Zeuxippum, and many other Buildings. This is farther attested by Cedrinus, who speaking of the same Fire, tells us, That a great Part of the City, the Churches of St. Sophia and St. Irene, the Hospitals of Sampson and Eubulus, with the sick People inhabiting them, as also the Augustean Gate-house of the Basilica, the Chalca, the two Portico’s, as far as the Forum, the Octogon and the Bagnio of Zeuxippus, were destroy’d by Fire. After I had made the former Quotation from the printed Works of Procopius, I lighted by chance upon a Manuscript of him, wherein I was inform’d, that the Hospital of Sampson stood between the two Churches of St. Sophia and St. Irene.

Chap. IX.

Of the Statue of Eudoxia Augusta, for which St. Chrysostom was sent into Banishment

Socrates and Sozomen, Writers of sacred History, tells us, that a Silver Statue of Eudoxia Augusta was erected upon a Porphyry Pillar on the South Side of the Church of St. Sophia, though at some Distance from it, near the Senate-House. The People commonly paid their Homage and Acclamations to this Statue. There were publick Entertainments of Dancing, and other mimical Gestures acted before it, according to a Custom which had long prevail’d, of paying Adoration to the Images of Princes. St. Chrysostom reflecting upon this Practice, as contrary to the Precepts of the Christian Religion, publickly condemn’d it in a Sermon. Eudoxia believing her self to be closely struck at in that Discourse, banish’d him. I should here take Notice of the Miliarium and the Basilica, as being near the Church of St. Sophia, but then I shall invert the Method I proposed to observe.

Chap. X.

Of those Parts of the City which are contain’d in the third Ward

THE third Ward is discover’d to have been that Space of Ground upon which stood the Hippodrom, the House of Abraham Bassa, the Gate of Leo, and the Haven which the Inhabitants call the Caterga Limena, where the Three-oar’d Galleys used to anchor, and so on to the Top of the second Hill, as far as the Forum of Constantine. I made this Observation, not only from the Order the Wards stand in, but also from the Treatise of the Description of the Wards, which says, that the third Ward, at the Entrance of it, is a Level Ground, but in the most remote Part of it, it descends with too great a Declivity into the Sea, and contains the Tribunal of the Forum of Constantine, the Circus Maximus, the House of Pulcheria Augusta, the new Port, and the semicircular Portico, made after the Figure of an old Greek Sigma.

Chap. XI.

Of the Hippodrom, its Obelisk, its Statues, and Columns

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

To raise this Four-square Pillar to its Height,And fix it steddy on its solid Base,Great Theodosius try’d, but try’d d in vain.In two and thirty Days, by Proclus’ Skill,The toilsome Work, with great Applause, was finish’d.

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

Difficilis quondam dominis parere serenisJussus, & extinctis palmam portare Tyrannis.Omnia Theodosio cedunt, sobolique perenni:Ter denis sic victus, duobusque diebus,Judice sub Proclo, sublime elatus ad auras.

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

Chap. XII.

Of the Colossus

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

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

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

Chap. XIII.

Of some other Columns in the Hippodrom

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

In the same Range of Obelisks there stands another Pillar. ’Tis made of Brass, but not fluted, but wreath’d round with the Foldings of three Serpents, like those we see in great Ropes. The Heads of these Serpents are placed in a triangular Form, and rise very high upon the Shaft of the Pillar. There are many fabulous and trifling Reports among the Inhabitants, concerning the Erection of this Pillar, which is occasion’d by their Ignorance of the History of their Ancestors. Zosimus, among other Historians, writes, that Constantine the Great plac’d in the Hippodrom the Tripos of Apollo, which was brought from Delphos, and which had on it the Image of that God. Sozomen tells us, that Constantine did not only place the Delphick Tripos in the Hippodrom, but also that celebrated Tripos, which Pausanias the Lacedæmonian General, and the Cities of Greece, upon the Conclusion of the War with the Medes, consecrated to Apollo. Eusebius is more clear upon this Occasion, and says, that Constantine, in some part of Constantinople, see up the Image of Sminthius Apollo, which was a Title given to him; but that in the Hippodrom he placed the Pythian Tripos, round which was wreathed the Figure of the Serpent Python; so that it seems to me very probable, that this was the same Tripos which was plac’d upon the brazen Pillar I am speaking of at Constantinople. Herodotus writes, that the golden Tripos which was at Delphos, was made out of a tenth Part of the Spoils taken from the Persians, and erected upon this Pillar; and adds farther, that when the Persians were routed at the Battle of Platææ, there was found a golden Tripos, which was restor’d to Apollo, and set upon a brazen Pillar, encircled with three Serpents entwin’d, near an Altar. ’Tis a Mistake in those who imagine, that this Pillar was formerly overlaid with Gold, but was plunder’d of it by the Turks; since Pausanias makes it appear, that it was stripp’d of its Gold long before the Turks took Constantinople. After the Battle of Platææ, says he, the Greeks made a common Offering to Apollo, which was a golden Tripos, supported by a brazen Serpent. The Brass, he tells us, remain’d whole in his Time, but the Gold was carry’d off by the Phocean Generals. There are five other Pillars in the same Range. In the Front of the Hippodrom, facing the Propontis, there was a Range of seventeen Pillars of white Marble standing, when first I came to Constantinople. They stood on the South-west Side of the Hippodrom. The Pedestal of each of them is two Foot and ten Digits high, and are all of them supported by arch’d Foundations, which lye Level with the Plain of the Hippodrom, but rise above Ground to the Height of fifty Foot. They are all placed upon a little Wall, which projects two Steps, or square Plinths, the lowermost of which is a Foot and a Digit high; the upper is a Foot and six Digits high, and projects beyond the Pedestal eight Digits. The Pedestals of them are every way five Feet, and seven Inches broad. The lowest Projectures of them, which are placed there for Tores and other Modules, are six Digits and a half high, the upper Projectures of the same Height; the Plinth of the Cornice is eleven Digits in Thickness; the lower Tore seven Digits and a half; the Scotia four Digits; the upper Tore six Digits; the Stone which supports the Shaft is five Digits high, and the Shafts themselves three Foot five Digits in Diameter, and twenty eight Foot in Height. These Pillars were lately taken down, and the Bases of them removed by Order of Solyman the Emperor, to build an Hospital. I was concern’d to see them thus demolish’d, not so much for the Use they were intended, but that some of them were squared out for paving a Bagnio, and that the Capitals, made after the most exact Plans of ancient Architecture, were cut into Rude and ill-shapen Models for covering a Bake-house, and that the Pedestals, and all the Entablature were hewn out, it may be only to build a Wall. The Shafts of the Pillars stood at eleven Foot Distance. I observ’d the Capitals were impair’d by reason of the great Space of Intercolumniation. The Capitals were finish’d after the Corinthian Order, and the Trabeation was beautifully wrought, but was not adorn’d with an Ovolo. There were Iron Rings fix’d to the Architraves, upon which were hung Curtains. Beyond this was another Range of Pillars, which were remaining some time after the Taking of the City by the Turks. Before it was taken by the Gauls and the Venetians, there were in the Hippodrom abundance of Figures of Horses, both in Stone and Brass. There were four in particular of surprizing Skill, which were gilded, equal in Beauty and Workmanship to those which now stand before the Church of St. Marcian at Venice, which, some say, were brought thither from Constantinople. I shall omit the Statues of great Numbers of Emperors and Princes, which were set up in the Circo. Among these stood the Statue of the Emperor Justinian, which has been celebrated in Verse. There were also the Statutes of some Eunuchs, who were most in the Interest and Favour with their Masters. Among others, there was the Statue of Plato the Eunuch, the Emperor’s Chamberlain, who was burnt to Death in the Reign of Basiliscus. There was an Inscription, according to Suidas, fix’d upon the Breast of this Statue, which ran thus; Whosoever shall remove this Statue into another Place, let him be hang’d. Yet was it taken out of the Church of Procopius, and carry’d into the Hippodrom. I have not time to take Notice of the numberless Statues of all the Combatants, Wrestlers, Charioteers, formerly placed in the Hippodrom; of which, though there is nothing remaining at present, yet the Memory of them is still preserved in a small Poem of three hundred Verses, in which some Chariot-Racers are mention’d with particular Honours, though no Notice be there taken of a Person named Thomas, a Man of surprizing Agility and Speed, in that kind of Exercise. I have seen the Fragment of a Stone at Constantinople with this Inscription, Θομᾶ Ἡνιόχου. This probably is the same Person mention’d by the Emperor Theodoric, in a Letter to Faustus a Roman Prætor, in the following Words: Of our Imperial Bounty and Consideration we have given and granted to Thomas, the famous Chariot-Racer, a present Stipend to be continued to him, till we have farther experienced, and been fully satisfied of his wonderful Skill in that Exercise; but having now received ample Testimony of his Superiority in that Performance, and that having left his Countrey, he hath chosen voluntarily to settle himself within our Dominions, we, out of our Imperial Munificence, have encouraged him by a monthly Salary to continue among us. He has, by his frequent Successes, received the repeated Applauses, and stood high in the Favour of the People, whom he has sometimes, though unfortunately, vindicated, and at other times has eminently distinguish’d himself in the Race of the Chariot. Victory so often attended him, that he was look’d upon as a Sorcerer by a Set of People, who would have accounted it the highest Commendation to have been thought so themselves, for the same Reasons. And ’tis no Wonder that Men should ascribe those Excellencies to the Power of Sorcery and Enchantment, which they cannot arrive to themselves, the Sight of a Chariot-Race, in ancient Times, was had in the highest Honour and Esteem, though at present ’tis little better than the Occasion of Buffoonry, an Incentive to trifling Disputes, an Encouragement to Roguery and Sharping, and the constant Source of Broils and Quarrels. Thus far the Emperor: From whose Words I would observe, that the Chariot-Racer here mention’d, who had left Constantinople, probably upon some Party Quarrels among the Chariot-Racers (who were therefore call’d Factions) was also in Danger at Rome, upon the like Account. The Commonwealth both of Rome and Constantinople have not only been often harrass’d with such Commotions, but the Emperors themselves have often fallen into the greatest Danger of losing their Government by them. But all the Diversions of the Circo are now ceased. I was concern’d to see it despoil’d of all its Ornaments, though the Turks of late have begun to build there again. I was the more concern’d, because, by looking casually upon a Medal I had then in my Hand, it put me in mind of Belisarius triumphing in the Hippodrom, after his Victory over the King of the Vandals, as also of the Disgrace and Poverty, notwithstanding his Bravery and Courage, he afterwards fell into by the Jealousy of the Emperor. On one Side of it was stamp’d the triumphant Reception of Belisarius, and on the other this Image, with this Inscription, Gloria Romanorum Belisarius. Procopius writes, That there was a Gate in the Hippodrom call’d the Cochlia, because it had winding Stairs within it. There was also a Passage, through which they went to their Burial-Ground. The same Writer tells us, that in the same Place there was a Portico call’d Venetia, from the Companies or Factions of Chariot-Racers who used to assemble there, and who distinguish’d themselves from other Factions or Companies, by a Sky-colour’d Garment, which was called so from the Venetians, a People that particularly affected that Colour. ’Tis very probable, that the Prasin Faction had also a Portico here. These were another Company of Charioteers, and distinguish’d themselves by a green Livery. The Word Prasina being derived from πράσον in the Greek, which signifies a Leek. Nor is it unlikely, that there were other Companies with Liveries of other Colours, who were not promiscuously crowded together, but seated in their own Apartments in the Portico’s, to see the Races.