The Antiquities of Constantinople

Chap. XIV.

Of the Church of Bacchus, the Court of Hormisda, and the House of Justinian

IT is observable from the Situation of the Church of Bacchus and Sergius, now standing on the Plain between the Propontis and the Hippodrom, that the Imperial Palace, and the House Justinian lived in, before he was Emperor, stood near it. Procopius writes, that Justinian built a Church, and dedicated it to St. Peter and St. Paul. It stood near the Imperial Court, where formerly had stood a Palace built by Hormisda. This, Justinian made a Mansion-house for himself, that the Beauty and Elegancy of its Building might be an Ornament to the Palace.

After he had arrived to the Imperial Dignity, he built other fine Palaces about it, and near it built another Church in honour of two illustrious Saints, Sergius and Bacchus. These Churches which are both of them equally beautiful, stood on the same Compass of Ground, nor is there any material Difference between them. They shine alike with the most glossy Marble; both are curiously gilded, and adorn’d with the richest Offerings, nor is there any thing wherein they do not resemble each other, but that one is built lengthways, and the other in a semicircular manner. They are both wonderful in their kind, and are a great Ornament not only to the Palace, but to the whole City: Procopius adds a little farther, that Justinian chang’d the House, which was call’d the House of Hormisda, into a more magnificent Figure, and join’d it to the Palace. I am of Opinion, that this Hormisda, whom he dignifies with the Title of Prince, was the Son of a King of Persia, who, as Marcellinus reports, when Constans the Son of Constantine came to Rome, and glorying how far he would transcend Hormisda in his immoderate Schemes of Building, being unable to accomplish his Designs, he was content, he said, in an humble manner, only to have such another Horse made as stood in the Forum of Trajan. The Story coming afterwards to Hormisda’s Ear, he reply’d in a jocular manner, Let him try first, if he can build a Stable for him. Cedrinus explains more at large how near the House of Justinian was to the Church of Bacchus: Justinian, says he, built the Church of Sergius and Bacchus, which on the Sea-side of it, is near the Palace, and built also another Church by it, on the same piece of Ground, on which had stood his own House: In building these two Churches, and in founding a Monastery, which he fill’d with Men of sound Learning, and exemplary Conversation, he laid out his whole Estate, and all he was worth, till he arrived to the Imperial Dignity. There is nothing remaining at present of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, but the Church of Sergius and Bacchus are yet standing. It goes still under its ancient Name, though the Turks have changed it into a Mosque. ’Tis covered at top with a Brick Roof, and bears upon eight Pilasters; between the Pilasters there are two Ranges of Pillars of the Ionick Order. In the lowest Range, there are sixteen Pillars which bear upon the Pavement: Six of these Pillars are of Green Marble, and ten of white streak’d with Red Veins. The upper Range consists of eighteen Pillars, eight of which are Green, ten White Marble, and are vein’d as the other. The Capitals of the lower are adorn’d with Ovolo’s at the Bottom of them. The upper part of them is cover’d with a Foliage. The Volutæ of the upper Range of Pillars project from the four Angles of the Capitals, but the Ovolo’s project from the Sides of them, which are also cover’d with a Foliage of fine Workmanship. The Architraves over the Capitals of the lower Range are finished with the nicest Art. There is a noble Piece of Sculpture in this Church. ’Twas done by Zoophorus, who has carved round the Church some Greek Verses, in the largest Characters. The Tops of the Pilasters are shaded with a Vineal Foliage, intermixed with cluster’d Grapes, which denote, that the Church was dedicated to Bacchus.

Chap. XV.

Of the Port of Julian, and Sophia; of the Portico nam’d Sigma, and the Palace of Sophia

NEAR the Church of Bacchus, stood the Port of Julian. This is plain from the Account we have of the Fire, which happen’d in the Reign of Leo the Great, and as Evagrius tells us, began on the North-side of the City, and destroy’d all before it, from the Bosporian Port, to the old Temple of Apollo; and that on the South-side of the City, it made the same Havock from the Port of Julian, to the Houses near the Temple of Concord. Zonaras writes, who has described the Devastations of that Fire, that it burnt with great Fury from the Bosporium to the Church of St. John the Calybite, and on the South from the Church of St. Thomas to the Church of the renowned Martyrs, Sergius and Bacchus. The Church of St. Thomas stood near the Temple of Concord. The Account which Cedrinus gives of this Fire is, that it took its Course round the City quite from the Northern to the Southern Shore, as far as the Church of Sergius and Bacchus. The Emperor Anastasius fortified the Port of Julian, and secured it by a strong Wall. It was afterwards called the Port of Sophia, according to Cedrinus, who writes, That Justin the Nephew of Justinian, built a Palace in the Port of Julian, which he ordered to be cleansed, and that he commanded his own, and the Statue of Sophia his Consort to be erected there, and from thence gave it the Name of the Port of Sophia. The Inscription on the Statue of Justin placed here is as follows:

I Theodorus, Prefect of the City,Here, on the Shore, erect this lofty Statue;It represents the Emperor Justinus.May his kind Presence guard, and ever shedIts peaceful Influence o’er the neighbouring Ports.

Procopius writes, that the Church of the Martyr Thecla stood near this Port. Some modern Historians tell us, that Belisarius set Sail from this Port, when he went to Battel against the Vandals. But I cannot conceive what Reason they have for that Opinion, unless it be from some Words of Procopius, who says, that Justinian commanded the Ship, in which the General sail’d, to be brought near the Palace, and that there Epiphanius Bishop of Constantinople, as was customary upon such Occasions, put up a Prayer for his Success, and that then Belisarius went off with his Wife Antonina. There were indeed some Palaces near this Port, but there were also other Palaces near the Bay, which was full of Havens, from whence, at a little Distance, stood the House of Belisarius. Suidas confirms it, that Anastasius fortify’d this Harbour, and made a Pier there; and Zonaras attests, that Justin built there some Palaces, and call’d them the Palaces of Sophia, from the Name of his Consort, whom he passionately loved. Many Historians are of Opinion, that these Palaces stood near the Port of Sophia; but I am induced to think, both from Reason and the Authority of learned Men, that it was not so. For Zonaras, among others, writes, that Justin built these Palaces against the City, and Agathius, a much ancienter Writer, and who was living at the Time they were built, wrote the following Inscription, which was fix’d upon them. From whence the Reader may observe, that they were not seated near the Propontis, adjoining to which was the Port of Sophia, but opposite to the City, near the Shore of the Bosporus, where the Continent is divided into two Parts.

Agathius Scholasticus upon the Palaces of SophiaWhere the streight Sea divides the Continents,These gilded Palaces the Emperor builtFor his dear Consort, fair Sophia’s Use.The Wonders of thy Beauty, potent Rome,Europe, and Asia, half th’ extended WorldWith Pleasure view, and silently admire.

The Word which in the Original Inscription is wrote δέρκεαι, Zonaras writes δέρκεται. ’Tis easy to discover from these Verses, that the Palace of Sophia was not seated near the Bosporus, but without the Walls of the City, waich is attested by Cedrinus, and many other Historians, in their Descriptions of the hard Frost, which happen’d in the Reign of Leo Copronymus, by which the Bosporus was frozen so hard, that whosoever had a mind to pass over from the Palace of Sophia to the City, or from Chrysopolis to the Church of St. Mamas, or repass to Galata on the Shore of the Bosporus, might cross over the Ice without the least Danger. The Port of Sophia, before it was call’d the Port of Julian, seems to me to be the same, which was formerly called the Neorium, and which the ancient Description of the Wards places in the same Ward with the Hippodrom; but whether it be one, or either of these, it is now fill’d up; or if it was that Port which stands West of the Church of Bacchus, ’tis now almost demolish’d, and enclosed with a Wall. There is only a small Part of it remaining, which is a standing Water, where the Women wash their Linnen. The People tell you, that they have seen some Three-Oar’d Gallies which have been sunk there. ’Tis call’d at present by the Inhabitants Caterga limena, or the Port of the Three-Oar’d Gallies; whether it be the same Port, which is standing on the East of the Church of Bacchus, near the Gate of the City call’d Porta Leonis, which Name it took either from a Lion near it, which was carved in Stone, or from the Emperor Leo, who, they tell you, had a Palace there, I shall not determine. Nicephorus, an Historian of modern Date, tells us, that an Emperor of Constantinople, when besieged by the People of Italy, summoned a Multitude of Smiths into the Morion, which ran round the Hippodrom. I could never discover at Constantinople the Place which was called the Pyctacia; yet I cannot but take Notice from Cedrinus, and other modern Historians, that in the Place which they called the Pyctacia, there was a Pillar which supported the Statue of Leo the Emperor, the Consort of Verina. This Statue, as some write, was erected by his Sister Euphemia, a Lady of great Wisdom and Continency, near her own House, where Leo every Week, used to pay her a Visit. All Persons who laboured under Afflictions of any Kind, laid their Petitions to the Emperor, upon the Steps of this Pillar. The Apparitors took them up, and when the Emperor waited upon his Sister, they presented them to him. Budæus says, that the Pyctacia, or as he calls them, the Pystacia, were Briefs; though I see no Reason why they may not also be called Petitions. For as Pyctium signifies a Book, I do not see why Pyctacium may not signify any smaller Writing. The Greeks at present generally call their Letters Pyctacia. In an History written by an unknown Author, I have read, that Eudoxia had set up her own Statue, made of massy Silver, in a Place called the Pyctacium. If the Author be not mistaken, I should take this to be the same Statue which stood near the Church of St. Sophia, by which, as I have shewn before, stood the Statue of Eudoxia. I have seen a small Treatise of Constantinople, which says, that Constantine the Great built a Church to St. Euphemia, near the Hippodrom, which was afterwards turned into an Armory by Constantine, surnamed Copronymus, a professed Adversary to Images in Churches, and who cast the Reliques of St. Euphemia into the Sea. Suidas writes, that the Statue of Euphemia (the Consort of the Emperor Justin, who was a Thracian) was placed in the Church of St. Euphemia, which she her self had built. Some modern Writers say, that in the Time of Basilius the Emperor, there was a great Earthquake which overturned the Church of St. Polyclete, and killed all that were in it; and that from that Time it was called Sigma. I am more inclined to believe, that it took its Name from a Portico so called, many Ages before this Earthquake, because it was built after the Similitude of the Letter Sigma, and is placed in the antient Description of Constantinople, in the same Ward with the Hippodrom. Cedrinus seems to take Notice of this Place. They dragged, says he, Michael the Emperor in his Monks Habit, by the Heels, out of the Monastery of Studius, through the Market, and leading him beyond the Monastery called Periblepton, in a Place called Sigma, they put out both his Eyes. The same Author tells us, that Basilius the Emperor, a Native of Macedon, rebuilt from the Foundations, a Church to the Honour of the Blessed Virgin, which was called Sigma. Chrysaphius Zomas, an Eunuch, set up the Statue of Theodosius the Less, in a Place called Sigma. Some Writers affirm, that Constantine the Great built a Church to St. Stephen, in a Place called Sigma. The Sigma therefore here intended, must needs be another Place in the City, distinct from that which I observed was in the third Ward, and ought to be written with the Letter e, as Segma; by Reason, as I hinted just now, that the Fall of the Church of St. Polyclete by an Earthquake, crushed to Death all that were in it.

Chap. XVI.

Of the Fourth Ward

IF the Miliarium Aureum had been now in Being, or the People of Constantinople had preserved the Memory of its Situation, we might easily discover, from the antient Description of the Wards, (which tells us, that the fourth Ward extended it self, the Hills rising on the Right and Left, from the Miliarium Aureum to a plain level Ground) that it was in the first Valley, or on the Ridge of the Hill that arises just above it. Nor could we have failed to make the like Discovery from the Remains of the Augustæum, the Basilica, the Nymphæum, and other fine Buildings, had they not been entirely buried in their own Ruins. But since no Observations at present can be made that Way, I was in Suspense, whether or no the Valley, where the fourth Ward stood, was not the same Valley which I had described at the first; because it is common to other Vales, to have Hills rising on the right and left. And when I had sufficiently instructed my self from the Writings and Histories of learned Men, what Monuments of Antiquity had formerly been in the fourth Ward, and where they had stood, I was soon sensible that the fourth Ward stood in the first Valley, and on the Sides of it, and on the Hill near to the Church of St. Sophia, as the Reader will perceive from the following History.

Chap. XVII.

Of the Forum called the Augustæum, of the Pillar of Theodosius, and Justinian, and the Senate-House

Procopius writes, that the Forum which was formerly called the Augustæum, was surrounded with Pillars, and was situate before the Imperial Palace. Not only the Forum is at present quite defaced, but the very Name of it is lost, and the whole Ground where it stood is built upon. The Palace is entirely in Ruines, yet I collect from the Pedestal of a Pillar of Justinian lately standing, but now removed by the Turks, which Procopius says was built by Justinian in the Augustæum, and Zonaras in the Court before the Church of Sophia, that the Augustæum stood where there is now a Fountain, at the West End of the Church of St. Sophia. Suidas says, that Justinian, after he had built the Church of St. Sophia, cleansed the Court, and paved it with Marble, and that it was formerly called the Forum Augustæum; and adds, that he erected his own Statue there. Procopius writes, That there was a certain Forum facing the Senate House, which was called by the Citizens the Augustæum; where are seven Stones, so cemented together in a quadrangular Manner, and are so contracted one within another the upper within the lower Stone, that a Man may conveniently sit down upon every Projecture of them. I was more induced to give this Account from Procopius, of the Pedestal, because I do not find it in his printed Works. Upon the Top of it, says he, there’s erected a large Pillar, composed of many Stones covered with Brass, which did at once both strengthen and adorn them. The Plates of Brass did not reflect so strong a Lustre as pure Gold, yet was it, in Value, little inferior to Silver. On the Top of the Statue was set a large Horse in Brass, facing the East, which indeed afforded a noble Prospect. He seemed to be in a marching Posture, and struggling for Speed. His near Foot before was curvated, as though he would paw the Ground; his off Foot was fixed to the Pedestal, and his hind Feet were so contracted, as though he was prepared to be gone. Upon the Horse was placed the Statue of the Emperor. ’Twas made of Brass, large like a Colossus, dress’d in a warlike Habit like Achilles, with Sandals on his Feet, and armed with a Coat of Mail, and a shining Helmet. He looked Eastward, and seemed to be marching against the Persians. In his left Hand he bore a Globe, devised to signify his universal Power over the whole World. On the Top of it was fixed a Cross, to which he attributed all his Successes in War, and his Accession to the Imperial Dignity. His right Hand was stretched to the East, and by pointing with his Fingers, he seemed to forbid the barbarous Nations to approach nearer, but to stand off at their Peril. Tzetzes, in his Various History, describes what kind of Helmet he had upon his Head. The Persians, says he, generally wore a Turbant upon the Head. When the Romans obtained any Victory over them, they plundered them of these Turbants, which they placed upon their own Heads. They are, says he, of the same Shape with that, with which the Statue of Justinian, erected upon a large Pillar, is crowned. Cedrinus relates, that Justinian held the Globe in his Silver Hand. Zonaras writes, that Justinian, in the seventeenth Year of his Reign, set up this Pillar, in the same Place, where formerly had stood another Pillar of Theodosius the Great, bearing his Statue in Silver, made at the Expence of his Son Arcadius, which weighed seven Thousand four Hundred Pounds. When Justinian had demolished the Statue and the Pillar, he stripped it of a vast Quantity of Lead, of which he made Pipes for Aqueducts, which brought the Water into the City. This ill Treatment of Theodosius by Justinian, was revenged upon him by the Barbarians; for they used his Pillar in the same Manner, and stripped it of the Statue, the Horse, and the Brass wherewith it was covered, so that it was only a bare Column for some Years. About thirty Years ago the whole Shaft was taken down to the Pedestal, and that, about a Year since, was demolished down to the Basis, from whence I observed a Spring to spout up with Pipes, into a large Cistern. At present there stands in the same Place a Water-House, and the Pipes are enlarged. I lately saw the Equestrian Statue of Justinian, erected upon the Pillar which stood here, and which had been preserved a long Time in the Imperial Precinct, carried into the melting Houses, where they cast their Ordnance. Among the Fragments were the Leg of Justinian, which exceeded my Height, and his Nose, which was above nine Inches long. I dared not publickly measure the Horse’s Legs, as they lay upon the Ground, but privately measured one of the Hoofs, and found it to be nine Inches in Height. Suidas, and some modern Historians allure us, that it was called the Forum Augustæum, because the Curatores, and Sebastophori, on the fifteenth Day of October, used to dance in the Market Place there, in Honour of Augustus; or because the Statues of Constantine, and his Mother Helena, were set up in an arched Gallery which stood here. Zosimus, a more antient Historian than Procopius, asserts, that Constantine built a round Market, with four Portico’s, two in a Row, above each other; and that he roofed two of them with Proconnesian Marble, that you might pass from them unto the Portico of Severus, and from thence beyond the Bounds of the antient City; and adds, that this Market stood in a Place, to which there was a Passage thro’ a Landgate adjacent. This is the same Market which is intended by the unknown Author of the History of Constantinople, where he tells us, that Constantine built a Market in a circular Manner. The same Author tells us in another Place, that when he was at Constantinople, Constantine had surrounded the great Forum with four Portico’s and placed at both Ends of one of them, which you ascend by many Steps, two Statues: At one End was placed the Statue of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods, (the same Statue, which those who sailed with Jason, placed on Mount Dindymus) rising above the City of Cyzicus. They tell you, that for her Neglect in paying divine Worship to the Gods, the Statue was defaced; and that her Hands, which before held the Reins of two Lyons which stood before her, were changed into a petitioning Posture. This Statue at the same Time faced and adorned the City. At the other End of the Portico he placed the Fortune of the City, though Suidas relates, that the Fortune of the City stood in a Nich of the Miliarium. If this Statue was set up here by Constantine, I should think, that both the Markets mentioned by Zosimus are one and the same. But to me they seem to be different; because Zosimus tells us in one Place, that Constantine built a Market with two Portico’s round it, and afterwards, that he built a Market with four Portico’s round it; unless he reckons in the Account, the Portico’s of Severus and Constantine, from whence there was a free Entrance into other Portico’s. On the East Side of the Forum Augusteum, Procopius writes, that Justinian built a large Court, where the Senate used to assemble, and celebrate an Anniversary Festival every new Year. Before the Senate-House stand six Columns, two of which support the Western Wall, in the Middle of it. The other four stand at a little Distance from it. These Pillars are all of white Marble, and I look upon them to be the largest in the World. The other six support a Portico, which runs round the Top of a large Building. The upper Part of the Portico is adorned with Marble elegantly variegated, and equal to that of the Columns, and is furnished with an infinite Variety of curious Statues. I am of Opinion, that Justinian did not build this Senate-House, but that he rebuilt the old Senate-House, which was burnt down by the Fire, which consumed the Church of St. Sophia, and the Baths of Zeuxippus. For Sozomen writes, that Constantine the Great built the Great Council-Hall, which was called the Senate-House, and ordered it to be held in equal Dignity, and honoured it with the same publick Celebration of the Feast of the Calends, with that of antient Rome. He tells us where this great Court stood, when he writes, that the silver Statue of Eudoxia Augusta was placed upon a Porphyry Pillar, on the South Side of the Church of St. Sophia, beyond the high Pulpit, which faces the Senate-House. Socrates tells us, that it was neither erected near, nor at any considerable Distance from the Church of St. Sophia; but beyond the broad Way, as Suidas observes, which runs between them both. In the Tribunal of the Palace, says he, stood the Pillar of Eudoxia, the Wife of Theodosius. The Treatise of the antient Description of the Wards places the Senate-House, the Tribunal with Porphyry Steps, and the Basilica, all in the same Ward. Sozomen clearly points out the Situation of the Senate-House, where he says, that when a Tumult arose concerning the Expulsion of St. Chrysostom, the great Church was all on a sudden in a Blaze, which burnt down the Buildings upon the Walks, and the Great Senate-House, lying to the South of them. There are some Remains of the Walls of the Senate-House still standing, southerly of the Church of St. Sophia, beyond the Way that leads from the Imperial Gate to the Forum of Constantine.