BYZANTINE CONSTANTINOPLE
BYZANTINE CONSTANTINOPLE
THE WALLS OF THE CITY AND ADJOINING HISTORICAL SITES
BY
ALEXANDER VAN MILLINGEN, M.A. PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, ROBERT COLLEGE, CONSTANTINOPLE
WITH MAPS, PLANS, AND ILLUSTRATIONS
LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET 1899
All rights reserved
Ἐγὼ δὲ ὧς μητέρα φιλῶ καὶ γὰρ ἐγενόμην πὰρ᾽ αὐτῇ καὶ ἐτράφην ἐκεῖσε, καὶ οὐ δύναμαι περὶ αὐτὴν ἀγνωμονῆσαι.
EMPEROR JULIAN, Epistle 58.
PREFACE.
In the following pages I venture to take part in the task of identifying the historical sites of Byzantine or Roman Constantinople, with the view of making the events of which that city was the theatre more intelligible and vivid. The new interest now taken in all related to the Byzantine world demands a work of this character.
The attention I have devoted, for many years, to the subject has been sustained by the conviction that the Empire of which New Rome was the capital defended the higher life of mankind against the attacks of formidable antagonists, and rendered eminent service to the cause of human welfare. This is what gives to the archæological study of the city its dignity and importance.
Only a portion of my subject is dealt with in the present volume—the walls of the city, which were the bulwarks of civilization for more than a thousand years, and the adjoining sites and monuments memorable in history.
While availing myself, as the reader will find, of the results obtained by my predecessors in this field of research, I have endeavoured to make my work a fresh and independent investigation of the subject, by constant appeals to the original authorities, and by direct examination of the localities concerned. The difficult questions which must be decided, in order that our knowledge of the old city may be more satisfactory, have been made prominent. Some of them, however, cannot be answered once for all, until excavations are permitted.
By the frequent quotations and references which occur in the course of the following discussions, the student will find himself placed in a position to verify the statements and to weigh the arguments submitted to his consideration. All difference of opinion leading nearer to the truth in the case will be welcomed.
My best thanks are due to the friends and the photographers who have enabled me to provide the book with illustrations, maps, and plans, thus making the study of the subject clearer and more interesting. The plan of the so-called Prisons of Anemas by Hanford W. Edson, Esq., the sketches by Mrs. Walker, the photographs taken by Professor Ormiston, and the maps and plans drawn by Arthur E. Henderson, Esq., are particularly valuable. I wish to express my gratitude also to the many friends who accompanied me on my explorations of the city, thereby facilitating the accomplishment of my work, and associating it with delightful memories.
ALEXANDER VAN MILLINGEN.
Robert College, Constantinople, September, 1899.
CONTENTS
I. THE SITE OF CONSTANTINOPLE—THE LIMITS OF BYZANTIUM 1
II. THE CITY OF CONSTANTINE—ITS LIMITS—FORTIFICATIONS—INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT 15
III. THE THEODOSIAN WALLS 40
IV. THE GATES IN THE THEODOSIAN WALLS—THE GOLDEN GATE 59
V. THE GATES IN THE THEODOSIAN WALLS—continued 74
VI. REPAIRS ON THE THEODOSIAN WALLS 95
VII. THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (TEKFOUR SERAI) 109
VIII. THE FORTIFICATIONS ON THE NORTH-WESTERN SIDE OF THE CITY, BEFORE THE SEVENTH CENTURY 115
IX. THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS 122
X. THE TOWER OF ANEMAS: THE TOWER OF ISAAC ANGELUS 131
XI. INMATES OF THE PRISON OF ANEMAS 154
XII. THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR HERACLIUS: THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR LEO THE ARMENIAN 164
XIII. THE SEAWARD WALLS 178
XIV. THE WALLS ALONG THE GOLDEN HORN 194
XV. THE WALLS ALONG THE GOLDEN HORN—continued 212
XVI. THE WALLS ALONG THE SEA OF MARMORA 248
XVII. THE HARBOURS ON THE SEA OF MARMORA 268
XVIII. THE HARBOURS ON THE SEA OF MARMORA—continued 288
XIX. THE HEBDOMON 316
XX. THE ANASTASIAN WALL 342
TABLE OF EMPERORS 344
INDEX 349
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
MAP OF CONSTANTINOPLE IN 1422. (By Bondelmontius) Frontispiece
BUST OVER THE GATE OF GYROLIMNÈ xi
INSCRIPTION FROM THE STADIUM OF BYZANTIUM To face 14
MAP OF BYZANTINE CONSTANTINOPLE “ 19
MAP OF THE LAND WALLS OF CONSTANTINOPLE “ 41
PORTION OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS (BETWEEN THE GATE OF THE DEUTERON AND YEDI KOULÈ KAPOUSSI) To face 46
PORTION OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS (FROM WITHIN THE CITY) “ 52
AQUEDUCT ACROSS THE MOAT OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS “ 56
COIN OF THE EMPEROR THEODOSIUS II. “ 56
PLAN OF THE GOLDEN GATE “ 60
THE GOLDEN GATE (INNER) “ 64
THE GOLDEN GATE (OUTER) “ 68
YEDI KOULÈ KAPOUSSI “ 72
THE GATE OF THE PEGÈ “ 76
THE GATE OF RHEGIUM “ 78
THE GATE OF ST. ROMANUS 80
THE GATE OF CHARISIUS 80
VIEW ACROSS THE VALLEY OF THE LYCUS (LOOKING NORTH) 86
THE (SO-CALLED) KERKO PORTA 93
INSCRIPTIONS ON THE GATE OF RHEGIUM To face 96
TOWER OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS (WITH INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPERORS LEO III. AND CONSTANTINE V.) To face 98
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPERORS LEO III. AND CONSTANTINE V. 99
MONOGRAMS ON NINTH TOWER, NORTH OF THE GATE OF PEGÈ 100
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPERORS BASIL II. AND CONSTANTINE IX. 101
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE IX. 102
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR ROMANUS 102
DIAGRAM SHOWING THE INTERIOR OF A TOWER IN THE THEODOSIAN WALLS To face 102
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR JOHN VII. PALÆOLOGUS 105
DIAGRAM SHOWING APPROXIMATE SECTION AND RESTORATION OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS Facing 106
DIAGRAM SHOWING APPROXIMATE ELEVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE THEODOSIAN WALLS Facing 107
SKETCH-PLAN OF THE BLACHERNÆ QUARTER To face 115
THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (SOUTHERN FAÇADE) To face 110 THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (NORTHERN FAÇADE) To face 111
MONOGRAM OF THE PALÆOLOGI 112
THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (VIEW OF INTERIOR) To face 112
MONOGRAM FOUND IN THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS 113
PLAN OF THE PALACE OF PORPHYROGENITUS, AND ADJOINING WALLS To face 115
THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS (FROM THE WEST) 118
BALCONY IN THE SOUTHERN FAÇADE OF THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS To face 118
TOWER OF THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS 122
THE PALÆOLOGIAN WALL, NORTH OF THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS To face 126
THE GATE OF GYROLIMNÈ 126
GENERAL VIEW OF THE WALL OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS 128
PLAN OF THE SO-CALLED PRISON OF ANEMAS 131
THE L-SHAPED CHAMBER IN UPPER STORY OF “THE TOWER OF ANEMAS” 137
“THE TOWER OF ANEMAS” AND “THE TOWER OF ISAAC ANGELUS” (FROM THE SOUTH-WEST) To face 138
“THE TOWER OF ANEMAS” AND “THE TOWER OF ISAAC ANGELUS” (FROM THE NORTH-WEST) To face 144
VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF “THE PRISON OF ANEMAS” (BEING THE SUB-STRUCTURES WHICH SUPPORTED THE PALACE OF BLACHERNÆ) To face 150
CHAMBER IN “THE PRISON OF ANEMAS” 156
ENTRANCE OF PASSAGE FROM THE STAIRWAY IN “THE TOWER OF ANEMAS” TO CHAMBER D IN “THE TOWER OF ISAAC ANGELUS” To face 162
CORRIDOR IN THE ORIGINAL WESTERN TERRACE WALL OF THE PALACE OF BLACHERNÆ (LOOKING SOUTH-WEST) To face 162
GENERAL VIEW OF THE WALLS OF THE CITY FROM THE HILL ON WHICH THE CRUSADERS ENCAMPED IN 1203 To face 166
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR ROMANUS 169
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR MICHAEL III. To face 184
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR MANUEL COMNENUS 187
COAT-OF-ARMS OF ANDRONICUS II. PALÆOLOGUS 189
BAS-RELIEF, ON THE TOWER EAST OF DJUBALI KAPOUSSI, REPRESENTING THE THREE HEBREW YOUTHS CAST INTO THE FIERY FURNACE OF BABYLON, AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL 191
NIKÈ (FORMERLY NEAR BALAT KAPOUSSI) To face 198
PORTION OF THE CHAIN STRETCHED ACROSS THE ENTRANCE OF THE GOLDEN HORN IN 1453 To face 228
INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THEODOSIUS II. AND THE PREFECT CONSTANTINE;_TO FACE_ 248 INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR THEOPHILUS; TO FACE 248 INSCRIPTION IN HONOUR OF THE EMPEROR ISAAC ANGELUS To face 248
PORTION OF WALLS BESIDE THE SEA OF MARMORA 262
CHATEAU AND MARBLE TOWER NEAR THE WESTERN EXTREMITY OF THE WALLS BESIDE THE SEA OF MARMORA To face 266
MAP OF THE SHORE OF CONSTANTINOPLE BETWEEN THE SERAGLIO LIGHT-HOUSE AND DAOUD PASHA KAPOUSSI To face 269
MARBLE FIGURES OF LIONS ATTACHED TO THE BALCONY IN THE PALACE OF THE BUCOLEON To face 272
RUINS OF THE PALACE OF THE BUCOLEON 274
PORTION OF THE PALACE OF HORMISDAS 277
RUINS OF THE PALACE OF HORMISDAS To face 282
TOWER GUARDING THE HARBOUR OF ELEUTHERIUS AND THEODOSIUS 297
PORTION OF THE WALL AROUND THE HARBOUR OF ELEUTHERIUS AND THEODOSIUS 299
MAP OF THE TERRITORY BETWEEN THE HEBDOMON AND THE CITY WALLS To face 316
TRIUMPHUS THEODOSII 330
TRIUMPHUS HERACLII 334
BYZANTINE CONSTANTINOPLE. CHAPTER I. THE SITE OF CONSTANTINOPLE—THE LIMITS OF BYZANTIUM.
Without attempting any elaborate description of the site occupied by Constantinople, such as we have in Gyllius’ valuable work on the topography of the city,[1] it is necessary to indicate to the reader, now invited to wander among the ruins of New Rome, the most salient features of the territory he is to explore.
The city is situated at the south-western end of the Bosporus, upon a promontory that shoots out from the European shore of the straits, with its apex up stream, as though to stem the waters that rush from the Black Sea into the Sea of Marmora. To the north, the narrow bay of the Golden Horn runs inland, between steep banks, for some six or seven miles, and forms one of the finest harbours in the world. The Sea of Marmora spreads southwards like a lake, its Asiatic coast bounded by hills and mountains, and fringed with islands. Upon the shore of Asia, facing the eastern side of the promontory, stand the historic towns of Chrysopolis (Scutari) and Chalcedon (Kadikeui). The mainland to the west is an undulating plain that soon meets the horizon. It offers little to attract the eye in the way of natural beauty, but in the palmy days of the city it, doubtless, presented a pleasing landscape of villas and gardens.