The Antiquities of Constantinople

Chap. XVIII.

Of the Imperial Palace, the Basilica; of the Palace of Constantine, and the House of Entrance nam’d Chalca

NOT far from the Forum Augusteum, as Procopius writes, stood a Palace, the Statelyness and Magnificence of which the Reader may easily guess at from the Description he gives of the Vestibulum, or the House of Entrance into it. This Vestibulum is call’d the Chalca, which is made after this Manner. There are four strait Walls carried up to a great Height in a quadrangular Figure, from each Angle of which there projects a Stone Building curiously finish’d, which rises with the Wall from Top to Bottom, no ways intercepting the beauteous Prospect before you, but seeming rather to add to the Pleasure and Agreeableness of it. Above this Building are raised eight Arches, supporting the Roof, which rises into a globular Height most beautifully adorn’d. The Roof of it is not furnish’d with fine Paintings, but shines with Mosaick Work of all sorts of Colours, in the several Figures of Men, and other Kinds of Creatures. The Historian at large has explain’d the Designs, which are the Scenes of War, of Battles, and the Surrender of many Towns, both in Africa and Italy. Among other Curiosities are describ’d the Victories of Justinian under his General Belisarius, and his triumphant Return to the Emperor. The Courage and Chearfulness of his Army is expressed in a lively Manner. The General is figured in an humble Posture, as making an Offering to him of all the Kings, the Kingdoms, and other rich Spoils he had taken from the Enemy. In the Middle of the Work is represented the Emperor and his Empress Theodora in a pleasant gay Humour, celebrating a Festival in Honour of his Victory over the Goths and Vandals, and bringing great Numbers of Captives before him. The whole Senate is described round them, joining in the Celebration. They all look chearful and merry, smiling, and highly pleased with the Honour they have to attend the Emperor on so important an Occasion. I would here observe, that as Papinius in his Sylvæ calls the Basilica of Paulus, the Palace of Paulus, so the House, which Procopius calls Βασιλεῖον went by the Name both of the Basilica and the Palace. And I am confirm’d in this Opinion from Cedrinus, who says, That the Fire which happen’d in the Reign of Justinian, burnt down the Porch, or House of Entrance into the Basilica, the Basilica itself, and the brazen Covering of the Palace of Constantine the Great, which from that Time to this Day, is call’d the Chalca, because it is cover’d with Plates of Brass gilded. What Cedrinus calls the Basilica, Procopius, in his Book De Ædif. Justiniani, calls τὰ Βασιλεῖα, when speaking of the Fire above-mention’d, he tells us, That it consumed the Gate-houses τῶν Βασιλείων, and that in particular which was call’d Chalca: The same Writer adds a little lower, that the Emperor commanded Belisarius to go to the Chalca, and the other Houses of Entrance seated by it. From which Words it is observable, that Procopius seems to believe, that there were other Houses of Entrance into the Palace, though in the Beginning of this Chapter he mentions only the Chalca. It is my Opinion, that the House where the Emperor dwelt was first call’d the Basilica; that afterwards, when the great Houses, where the Merchants assembled for Trade and Commerce, were call’d Basilica, the Emperor’s House was call’d Βασιλεῖον; and, at last, the Palace. If there was any Difference between the Basilica and the Palace, yet the Basilica was either a part of the Palace, or built near to it, as the Reader may see in the Ancient Description of the Wards, which places the Augusteum and the Basilica in the same Ward. As this Treatise takes no Notice in this Ward either of a Palace or a Court, but only of a Basilica, it seems to intimate, that the Basilica was the Palace itself. But whether the Basilica was within or without the Palace, it is certain it was near it, because they were both destroy’d by Fire, by reason of their Vicinity to one another; and the Rules of Architecture prescribe, that it be built near a Market, which is always near the Palace; and that it be built warm, that the Merchants may manage their Business there in Winter Time, without any Molestation from the Severity of the Weather. Julius Pollux is of the same Opinion, who says, That the Stadia, the Hippodrom, the Senate-House, the Forum, the Court, the Imperial Portico, and the Tribunal, ought to stand near the Theatre. Cedrinus writes, that the beautiful Structure of the Chalca was built by one Ætherius a famous Architect, by the Command of the wife of Emperor Anastasius, as appears from a Greek Inscription upon it, which runs thus:

Upon a Building in the Palace, call’d ChalcaI am the Palace of fam’d AnastasiusThe Scourge of Tyrants; none surpasses me,In Beauty, and in wonderful Contrivance.When the Surveyors view’d my mighty Bulk,My Height, my Length, and my extensive Breadth;’Twas thought beyond the Reach of human PowerTo roof at Top my widely gaping Walls.But young Ætherius, ancient in his Art,This Building finish’d, and an Offering madeTo our good Emperor.Not Italy, with all its Glory shewsA Structure so magnificent and great;Not the proud Capitol of ancient RomeWith all its gilded Roofs can rival me.The costly Galleries of Pergamus,Ruffinus’ Walks, and stately Portico’sCrowded with Art, and marbled ImagesSubmit to my superior Workmanship.Not the fam’d Temple, which at Cyzico,By Adrian built, stands on a lofty Rock,Nor Ægypt’s costly Pyramids, nor at RhodesThe mighty Colosse equal me in Greatness.When my good Emperor, in hostile Manner,Quell’d the Isaurian Faction, thus he rais’d meIn Honour of Aurora, and the Winds.

Some modern Historians will have it, that Constantine the Great first built the Palace of Chalca. I should be inclinable to disbelieve them, but that I am induced to think it was so, when I observ’d the brazen Tyles gilded with Gold, resembling those of the Capitol, and a Forum of Old Rome, whose Buildings Constantine was proud to imitate, as near as he could. I could never learn, who it was who remov’d the Tyles of the Chalca; though it is not improbable, but that they were spoiled by the Fire. ’Tis related by Procopius, that Genseric plunder’d half the Roman Capitol of the gilded Plates of Brass that cover’d it, and that Constantine the Third, the Nephew of Heraclius, carry’d off the Silver Plates which were laid over the Pantheon. At a small Distance (on the South-west Side of the Church of St. Sophia) from the Water-Pipes of an Aqueduct running from a Conduit situate in the Forum Augusteum, where was erected the Pillar of Justinian, are still remaining seven Corinthian Pillars, on the Shaft of one of which is cut the Name of Constantine, with the Signal of the Cross he saw in the Heavens, with this Inscription, ἐν τούτῳ νίκα. The Basis and Shaft of these Pillars are buried, at the Bottom of them, under Ground, to the Depth of six Foot, which I discover’d, when I casually fell into the Foundation of the Walls, which were built between them. I could not see the Plinth of the Base of any of them, because it was cover’d with Earth; yet I perceiv’d the lowermost Tore, which was eight Digits in Thickness, and seven in Height. The Stone at the Bottom of the Shaft was nine Inches broad. Every Pillar is thirty Foot and six Digits high: In short, the whole Pillar, Capital and Pedestal, is about forty six Foot and a half in Height. The Bottom of the Shaft, which I measured just above the Stone it bears upon, is eighteen Foot in Circumference. The Pillars stand at the Distance of twenty Foot and ten Digits from each other. The Inhabitants say, that these Pillars stood within the Palace of Constantine; others say, that they formerly supported a Bridge, over which you passed, as you went from the Palace to the Church of St. Sophia. But there is nothing of Truth in either of these Opinions; for ’tis plain from what I observed before, that they stood in the Forum Augusteum. So that I am inclined to believe, that they supported the Arches of the Portico’s, in which the Statues of Constantine the Great, his Mother Helena, and other Statues were placed. From what I have said, the Reader may trace the Beauty and Grandeur of the Palaces at Constantinople, as well as from Zosimus, who says, that Constantine built some Palaces at Constantinople, little inferior to those of Rome. Eusebius reports, that he illustrated and adorn’d New Rome, and the Imperial Palace, in other respects, besides those I have mention’d, but that in the finest Buildings of his Palace, and in the Middle of all his gilded Roofs, he fix’d a Cross set with several Kinds of the richest Jewels, shining with massy Gold; intimating thereby, that he look’d upon the Cross as the Defence and Bulwark of his Government. St. Jerome tells us, That he stripp’d almost every City of its Curiosities and Ornaments, to adorn his New Rome. Eusebius also mentions the Statues of the Muses, which he caused to be fix’d up in his Palace. Sozomen writes, that by the Command of Constantine, all that was valuable in the Temples of the Ancients under his Government, and all the brazen Statues of the nicest Workmanship were brought to Constantinople, to beautify the City; which, he tells us, remain’d in the publick Ways, in the Hippodrom, and in the Palace, down to his Time. But not only Constantine the Great, but many other Emperors of Constantinople ravaged the whole World for the Decoration of this City. Among these was Constantine the Third, the Nephew of Heraclius, who plunder’d ancient Rome of all its brazen and Marble Statues, ship’d off all the costly Furniture of their Temples, and made more Havock there in the Space of seven Days, than the barbarous Nations did in the Space of two hundred and fifty Years; for so many Years was the Roman Empire in its Declension before that general Pillage. Iornandes, no indifferent Writer of the Getick History, reports, That Theodorick Prefect of Constantinople was adopted, and made Consul by the Emperor Zeno, who honour’d him with an Equestrian Statue, which was erected before the Palace. Tzetzes, in his various History, tells us, that even in his Time, the Head of Apollo, made by Phidias in the Likeness of the Sun, remain’d in the Palace. Suidas relates, that the Statue of Pulcheria, the Daughter of Arcadius, was placed in the Chalca, near the Walks of Ariadne the first Wife of Zeno, and that the Statues of Zeno himself were set up in the Imperial Gate-house of Chalca; as were also two other Statues on foot, erected upon a small Pillar, with Elegies inscrib’d upon them, composed by Secundus the Philosopher. I have seen in the History of no creditable Author, tho’ well known to the People of Constantinople, that Justinian erected on the left Side of the Chalca, seven Statues in Honour of his Relations, some of Brass, and some of Marble, and that he had also set up two Horses in the Nich before the Chalca, as also some gilded Heads of Women, in the frightful Likeness of Medusa; I could mention others, but that I do not much depend upon the Authority of the History. Suidas says, that in the Tribunal of the Palace stood the Statues of Eudoxia, and her Emperor Theodosius; of Marcian and Constantine, till the Time of Heraclius.

Chap. XIX.

Of the Basilica, and the Imperial Walks

THE Basilica, which, as I observed before, stood in the Forum Augusteum, had four Arches, as appears from the ancient following Inscriptions on them.

Upon an Arch in the Basilica of ByzantiumGreat Theodore, who beautify’d the CityWith four extensive Arches, highly meritsThe Government of four Imperial Cities.And on another Part of the same Arch:You, Theodorus, with surprizing Art,Once Consul, and thrice Prefect of the City,Adorn’d this shining Fane with lofty Pillars,Sacred to Fortune, Goddess of the City.

Calliades, General of the Byzantian Army, plac’d the Statues of Byzas and Phidalia in the Basilica, with this Inscription upon them:

Calliades erected here the StatuesOf Byzas, and his lov’d Phidalia.And on the Statue of Phidalia:This is the Statue of the fair PhidaliaYoung Byzas’ Wife, the Work of Bupalus.

Pliny, among other Statuaries, mentions Anthermus of Chios, and his Sons Biopalus and Anthermus. Dionysius, a Native of Byzantium writes, that Byzas, from whom Byzantium took its Name, was the Husband of Phidalia, from whom the Port of the Bosporus took the Name of the Port of Phidalia, of which I have wrote more largely in my Treatise of the Bosporus. Suidas, and some modern Writers say, that in the Basilica, behind the Miliarium Aureum, there was a gilded Statue in the Likeness of a Man, where was also the Exammon of Heraclius, and the Statue of Justin the Emperor in a kneeling Posture. Terbelis is said to have preached in the same Place. Here was also placed by the Order of Severus, the Figure of a large Elephant, upon the following Occasion: That an Elephant being stabled near it, and the House of a Silver-Smith, who worked in Plate, being robbed, he suspecting the Keeper of the Elephant to be the Thief, threatned him with Death, unless he would move his Station; and the Fellow bidding him Defiance, he slew him, and threw him to the Elephant, at which the Beast being enraged, killed his Keeper’s Murderer. Severus being acquainted with the Fact, offered Sacrifices to the Elephant, commanded him and his Keeper to be cast in Brass, and set up here; where also, as Suidas relates, was the Statue of Hercules, to which the Byzantians paid divine Adoration, and offered Sacrifice. Afterwards, in the Consulship of Julian, it was moved into the Hippodrom; but was originally, with ten other Statues, brought from Old Rome, partly by Sea, and partly by Land Carriage. Thus it was that Hercules, living and dead, travelled the greatest Part of the World. Suidas writes, that in the Imperial Walks were placed the Equestrian Statues of Trajan, Theodosius, Valentinian, Gibbus, and Firmillianus the Buffoon. There were many other Statues of Emperors and Eunuchs set up in this Place, the most famous of which was the Statue of Eutropius, who was Chamberlain to the Emperor Arcadius. The Honour and Opulency of this Eunuch appeared in numberless gilded Statues, erected to him in every Part of the City, and the Magnificence and Superiority of the Houses he built, almost in every Street. This so far encouraged and increased the Number of the Eunuchs, that even the Boys affected to be so, that they might become as rich and as honourable as Eutropius. The Basilica was so near to the Miliarium, and the Augusteum, that the Clock made by the Command of the Emperor Justin, Cedrinus places in the Miliarium, others in the Forum Augusteum, and others in the Basilica, as is evident from the following Inscription.

On the Basis of the Dial over the Arch in the BasilicaThis Dial was erected at the CostOf Prince Justinus, and the fair Sophia.The Scourge of execrable Tyrants he,She the bright Patroness of Liberty.Behold the Gnomon cast in shining Brass,The certain Index of the flying Hours.This was the Invention of the learned JulianAn honest, upright, and impartial Lawyer.

Chap. XX.

Of the Imperial Library, and Portico; as also of the Imperial Cistern

THE Imperial Palace, says Zonaras, stood near the Basilica, hard by the Brasiers Shops. The Basilica was furnished with many Volumes, both of human and divine Learning. It was anciently the Mansion House of some Person of distinguished Knowledge, whom they called the President or Master. He had under him twelve Assistants, excellently well skilled in the Art of Reasoning, who were maintained at the publick Charge. They had each of them several Pupils under them, who were instructed in the Methods of Argumentation, and were had in such high Estimation, that upon all important Affairs of State, the Emperors summoned them to Council. In the Reign of Basilicus, there happened at Constantinople a great Fire, which begun at, and consumed the Brasiers Shops, with all the adjacent Buildings, burnt down whole Streets; and among other fine Edifices, destroyed the famous Basilica, which contained a Library of six hundred thousand Volumes. Among other Curiosities of this Place, was the Gut of a Dragon, a hundred and twenty Foot long, on which were inscribed in Golden Characters the Iliads and Odysses of Homer. Malchus, a learned Byzantian, wrote the History of Constantinople, which he brought down from the Reign of Constantine, to the Time of Anastasius the Emperor, in which he very passionately laments the burning of the publick Library, and the Statues of the Forum Augusteum. Cedrinus speaking of the same Library, gives the same Account of it with Zonaras, almost word for word, and adds, That this Library contain’d the Histories of the Atchievements of the greatest Heroes, in the several Ages of the World. Many Years after this Basilica was burn’d down, the Emperor Leo Conon, the Students vigorously opposing his Heresy, order’d the Palace to be fired, and burnt them, and the Library; which was afterwards rebuilt, and furnished with a most curious Collection of the best Authors. The Basilicæ at Old Rome, were the Places where they used to plead, to hold their Councils and Senates, and to carry on the Business of Merchandize and Commerce: At Constantinople they were used as Libraries and Schools of Learning, as appears by what I have already observ’d, as also from the following Inscription.

Upon the publick School in ByzantiumThis Place was built for all th’ unletter’d YouthWhose Genius leads ’em to the Roman Law.In Pleading skill’d, and fraught with Eloquence,They leave these Walls, and plead their Countrey’s Cause.

Modern Writers tell us, that the Place where the Library stood was of an Octogonal Figure, where there were arch’d Portico’s, and a large Room, where the head Master used to converse with his Assistants. Cedrinus affirms, that the great Church, the Hospital of Sampson, the Gate-house of the Basilica, the Augusteum, the Chalca, the two long Portico’s, as far as the Forum of Constantine, the Octogon, and the Bagnio’s of Zeuxippus, were destroy’d by a Fire, which happen’d in the Reign of Justinian. I would observe from this Passage, that there must of Necessity be two Octogons near one another. For if the Octogon, as Cedrinus reports, had been the same with that where the Library stood, he would not have omitted to take Notice that the Library was burnt down also in the Reign of Justinian. It is my Opinion, that the Place where the Library stood, was of a quadrangular Figure, and seems to be the same Building which Procopius says was encompassed with Pillars erected in a square Manner. Zonaras mentions nothing of the Form of the Basilica, which contain’d the Library, but only says, that it adjoin’d to the Chalcopratia, or Braziers Shops. Cedrinus calls the Basilica, Cisterna, which some Writers erroneously tell us, was built by Constantine the Great. I am confirm’d in this Opinion from Procopius, who says, that near the Imperial Portico, where the Lawyers used to plead, there was a spacious Building of a great Length and Breadth, encompassed with Pillars in a quadrangular Manner, situate on a rocky Ground, which was built by Justinian to a great Height, for preserving the Water in Summer, which was brought into it by subterraneous Pipes, and in the Winter from the Aqueducts, for the Use of the Poor. Menander, surnam’d the Protector, says of himself, that it was once against his Inclinations to enter into the Litigations of the Law in the Imperial Portico, and by the Force of Pleading, to attempt to reconcile the Jarrings and Contentions of Men. Agathius plays handsomly upon one Uranius a Native of Syria, who set up for a Physician, although he was entirely ignorant of the Aristotelian Discipline. This Fellow was blustering, noisy, an impudent Pretender to infallible Cures, and very talkative, among other Places, in the Imperial Portico; and speaking of himself, he tells us, that he has often from Morning to Night read over many Law Books, and Discourses of Trade and Commerce in the Imperial Portico’s. From these Passages it is observable, that the Imperial Portico, and the Imperial Cistern, stood in the same Place. The Imperial Portico is not to be seen, though the Cistern is still remaining. Through the Carelesness and Contempt of every thing that is curious in the Inhabitants, it was never discover’d, but by me, who was a Stranger among them, after a long and diligent Search after it. The whole Ground was built upon, which made it less suspected there was a Cistern there. The People had not the least Suspicion of it, although they daily drew their Water out of the Wells which were sunk into it. I went by Chance into a House, where there was a Descent into it, and went aboard a little Skiff. The Master of the House, after having lighted some Torches, rowing me here and there across, through the Pillars, which lay very deep in Water, I made a Discovery of it. He was very intent upon catching his Fish, with which the Cistern abounds, and spear’d some of them by the Light of the Torches. There is also a small Light which descends from the Mouth of the Well, and reflects upon the Water, where the Fish usually come for Air. This Cistern is three hundred and thirty six Foot long, a hundred and eighty two Foot broad, and two hundred and twenty four Roman Paces in Compass. The Roof, and Arches, and Sides, are all Brick-work, and cover’d with Terrass, which is not the least impair’d by Time. The Roof is supported with three hundred and thirty six Marble Pillars. The Space of Intercolumniation is twelve Foot. Each Pillar is above forty Foot nine Inches high. They stand lengthways in twelve Ranges, broad-ways in twenty eight. The Capitals of them are partly finish’d after the Corinthian Model, and part of them not finish’d. Over the Abacus of every Pillar is placed a large Stone, which seems to be another Abacus, and supports four Arches. There are abundance of Wells which fall into the Cistern. I have seen, when it was filling in the Winter-time, a large Stream of Water falling from a great Pipe with a mighty Noise, till the Pillars, up to the Middle of the Capitals, have been cover’d with Water. This Cistern stands Westward of the Church of St. Sophia, at the Distance of eighty Roman Paces from it.