Kitabı oku: «The Antiquities of Constantinople», sayfa 10

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 Byzantium

 
Great Theodore, who beautify’d the City
With four extensive Arches, highly merits
The 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 Statues
Of Byzas, and his lov’d Phidalia.
 

And on the Statue of Phidalia:

 
This is the Statue of the fair Phidalia
Young 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 Basilica

 
This Dial was erected at the Cost
Of 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 Julian
An 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 Byzantium

 
This Place was built for all th’ unletter’d Youth
Whose 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.

Chap. XXI.
Of the Chalcopratia

IT is plain from what has been observed, that the Chalcopratia, or Places where they work’d their Brass, stood near the Basilica. Cedrinus reports, That Theodosius the Less built the Church of the Chalcopratia, and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary. Others say, that the Jews, who had lived there from the Time of Constantine the Great, had obliged Theodosius the Less to retire from thence, and built that Church; and that afterwards, when it had been shatter’d by an Earthquake, it was rebuilt by Justin Curopalatos, tho’ Zonaras is of another Opinion. Theodosius the Great, says he, marching into the Western Parts, the Jews took the Opportunity, and made Honoratus the Prefect of the City, their Friend, and obtain’d of him the Freedom to build a Synagogue in the Chalcopratia: The People being enraged at this, set it on fire, and burnt it down. When Theodosius was made acquainted with the Fact, he lay’d a Fine upon those who were concern’d in it, and gave them a fresh Licence to build another. St. Ambrose, who was then Bishop of Milan, being inform’d of the Matter, lay’d before Theodosius the Greatness of the Crime, in suffering the Jews to build a Synagogue in the very Centre of the Queen of Cities, upon which he remitted the Fine, and stopp’d their Proceedings. There are no Braziers Shops in this Place at present, they being removed into another part of the City, tho’ I was inform’d by some of the Inhabitants, that not many Years since they follow’d their Trade near the Chalcopratia. The unknown Author of the History of Constantinople, describing the Boundaries of Old Byzantium, tells us, That the Chalcopratia were not far from the Miliarium. Others say, that they were near the Church of St. Sophia. Strabo speaking of the Palace of Alexandria, relates, that in Conformity to this at Constantinople, it had a Library, a Portico, a Convocation-House, or Place of Assembly upon publick Affairs, and a large publick Foundation for the Encouragement of Persons of Literature and Science.

Chap. XXII.
Of the Portico’s situate between the Palace, and the Forum of Constantine

BESIDES the Imperial Portico, which stood near the Library, there were also other Portico’s at a little Distance from it, which reach’d from the Palace to the Forum of Constantine. The first Fire, which happen’d in the Reign of Justinian, consumed the Palace and the Church of St. Sophia, both the long Portico’s, as far as the Forum of Constantine. Cedrinus says, that besides these, it destroy’d also the Chalca and the Augusteum. The Fire that happen’d afterwards in the Reign of Basiliscus, began at the Chalcopratia, burnt down the two adjoining Portico’s, all the neighbouring Buildings, the Basilica, in which was the Library, two Portico’s which stood between the Palaces, and all the fine Ornaments of the Lausus. These Portico’s have been often burnt, and as often rebuilt; first of all by Justinian, then by others, and last by Domninus, which is confirm’d by a modern Historian, who says, That when Constantinople was taken by the Gauls and the Venetians, the cover’d Portico’s of Domninus reaching on both Sides of the Way, from the Miliarium to the Forum of Constantine, were burnt to the Ground. Some say, That in the Time of Constantine the Great, Eubulus built four double Portico’s, which were arch’d at Top, and reach’d from the Palace to the Land Wall of the City; one of which stretch’d as far as the Church of St. Anthony, at the End of the City, another from the Port of Sophia, to the Church named Rabdon; the other two extended themselves from the Chalca, and the Miliarium to the Forum of Constantine, the Street call’d Taurus, and the Brazen Bull. All of them were paved with square Marble, and adorn’d with infinite Numbers of Statues. These Relations, though they come from unknown Authors, who, as I have sometimes observed, have not so strictly adhered to Truth, yet seem to carry with them a good Face of Probability, since it is evident from Historians of more Veracity, how industrious Constantine was in adorning the City; and ’tis no less evident from the Treatise of the ancient Description of the Wards, that Constantinople, in the Reigns of Arcadius and Honorius, had no less than fifty two publick Portico’s, five of which the Author places in the fourth Ward, in which stood the Basilica, the Imperial Portico, and the Portico of Fannio; besides which, he places four large Portico’s in the sixth Ward. In the same Ward he places another large Portico. He adds, that the seventh Ward abounds with Portico’s, and that the eighth Ward had six Portico’s more. In the ninth Ward were two large Portico’s. The tenth had six, the eleventh four. From which it is credible, that the Portico’s stood very thick from the Chalca to the Land Wall, but I cannot say they were contiguous beyond the Taurus.

Chap. XXIII.
Of the Miliarium Aureum and its Statues, and of the Fortune of the City, and her Statue

THE Miliarium Aureum was a gilded Pillar, from whence they used to adjust the Mensuration of their Miles, and the Distances from the City. Pliny tells us, that it was set up at Rome in the highest Ground of the publick Forum; but whether the Miliarium at Constantinople was like that of Rome, the Greek Historians have been so far from declaring their Opinions concerning it, that in all their Writings they have not so much as mention’d the Name of it. Yet it seems very probable to me, that it was like it, and was also seated in the Forum, or near it. For the Ancient Description of the Wards places it in the Ward where the Forum Augusteum and the Basilica stood, to which it adjoin’d. They who have written the History of the Atchievements of Alexius Comnenus the Emperor, tell us, that at Break of Day, the Forces of Alexius, marching out of the great Palace, under the Command of Sabatius their General, enter’d the Church of St. John the Divine, and when they had got to the Top of the Church, they express’d themselves in a provoking manner, so that a Battle began about three in the Morning, and that many People in the Forum were wounded, who fought from the Roof of the Miliarium, and the Top of St. John’s Church. The Inhabitants say, that this was the Church where the Elephants of the Grand Seignor are now stabled. ’Tis near the Hippodrom, and the Forum Cupedinis, famous for Niceties, situate near the Church of St. Sophia, and was formerly called the Forum Augusteum. But to come closer to the Point: Suidas says, That in the Basilica, behind the Miliarium, were placed a gilded Statue of a Man, as also of an Elephant and his Keeper; others, with more Probability, say, that these Statues were erected behind the Basilica, near the Miliarium. Suidas adds, that the Statue of Theodosius was placed in the Miliarium, and that upon the setting it up, he distributed large Donations of Corn among the People. Upon the Equestrian Statue of Theodosius, not remaining at present, were inscrib’d these Verses.

 
Not the bright Sun, which gilds the Eastern Sky,
With greater Lustre shines, than Theodosius.
See how he sits aloft in radiant Arms,
And with mild Aspect views his loving People!
The fiery Steed, pleas’d with the Royal Burthen,
In warlike Posture seems to move, and live.
 

Suidas proceeds farther, and tells us, that the Statues of Sophia, the Consort of Justin the Thracian, of his Daughter Arabia, and his Niece Helena; as also the Equestrian Statues of Arcadius and Theodosius his Son, were placed in the Miliarium, near the Statue of Theodosius the Great. Cedrinus writes, that there stood two Statues above the Nich of the Miliarium, one of Constantine the Great, the other of his Mother Helena, with a Cross between them: Behind them was placed the Statue of Trajan on Horse-back, and that near him was placed the Statue of Ælius Hadrianus. Suidas adds, that the Cross which was placed between Constantine and Helena, had this Inscription; una sancta, & duo celeres Cursores. From whence it is evident, that the Forum, the Miliarium, and the Basilica stood so near together, that they are not only placed by different Authors in different Places, but sometimes by one and the same Historian. The same Writer says, that there was also in the Miliarium a great Piece of Antiquity, which was a Chariot drawn by four Fallow Horses, supported by two square Pillars, in the Place where Constantine was received by his Army with joyful Congratulations, after he had conquered Azotium; but originally, because Byzas, the Founder of Byzantium, had there been highly applauded by the People. The Chariot of the Sun was carried into the Hippodrom, in which was seated a small Statue, made by the Order of Constantine. This Statue was the Fortune of the City, which on great Festivals, and the Day of the Celebration of the Foundation of the City, was set up with a Cross on her Head, in the Senate-House. Julian the Apostate demolished it in the same Place, where Arius died in a miserable Manner, which was at a small Distance from the Senate-House. In the same Place, the pious Emperor Theodosius had ordered the Statues of Arius, Macedonius, Sabellius, and Eunomius, which were cut in Marble, to be placed in a sitting Posture on the Ground, to be polluted with the Excrements, and receive the Curses of the People, in Token of their flagrant Perfidiousness. Other Historians say, that the Statue of the Fortune of the City was brought from Rome by Constantine the Great, and placed in a Nich in the Palace. Zosimus writes, that Constantine placed the Fortune of Rome, on the Side of one of the four Portico’s that surrounded the great Forum. ’Tis very probable, that the People of Constantinople celebrated a Festival in Honour of her, as was customary at Old Rome, both by Natives and Foreigners, the same Day, in which the Palilia, (the Festivals of Pales) were celebrated. Socrates tells us, that Julian, when he was publickly sacrificing to the Fortune of Constantinople, in the Basilica, where her Statue was set up; Mares, the Bishop of Chalcedon, being led thither by the Hand, for he was blind with Age, sharply reprimanded him, and called him an Apostate from the Christian Religion. Julian in Return, called him a blind old Fellow, adding sarcastically this Question; Is your God, the Galilean, able to cure you? For thus, by Way of Contempt, he used to call our Saviour. Upon which the good old Bishop replied, I thank my God, who has taken my Sight from me, so that I cannot behold the Man who is fallen into so great an Apostacy; upon which Julian was silent. Zonaras, and some Historians who lived before him, have recorded, That in the Time of Anastasius, the Statue of Fortune, made in Brass, stood with one Foot in a brazen Ship, and was placed in some Part of the City; but that when this Ship began to decay with Age, or some Parts of it were stolen, or shattered by Treachery, it happened, that no Ships of Burthen came into the Port of Constantinople, but that upon their Arrival near the City, a Storm prevented their coming into Harbour; and if their Cargo was taken aboard the Long-boats, and brought into the City, they tell you it was soon consumed, by Reason of the Scarcity, which then prevailed. Upon this, the Curatores of the City were obliged to enquire into the Reason of it. When the Magistrates of the City, upon Information, began to suspect the Cause, they found, upon Enquiry, the Fragments of the Ship, which were fitted to their proper Places, when on a sudden, Navigation was open and free, and the Sea was constantly full of Vessels sailing into the Port. And that they might fully discover the real Cause of this Calamity, they repeated the Experiment, by stripping the Ship again of some Pieces of it, and the Ships coming into Harbour, were prevented as before; so they repaired the brazen Vessel she stood in, and took a particular Care of it. Eunapius, who wrote the History of the Lives of the Philosophers and wise Men, says, that in the Reign of Constantine, the Inhabitants attributed this Difficulty of coming into Harbour to another Cause. There was no entring the Port at Constantinople, says he, unless the Wind stood full South. When this had frequently happened, the People, oppressed with Famine, assembled in the Theatre, enraged at Constantine. The Chief of the Courtiers having conceived a Resentment against Sopatrus the Philosopher, brought him before the Emperor, and impeached him in the following Manner: This Sopatrus, Sir, who is so high in your Favour, has by his excessive Wisdom chained up the Winds, for which you so far admire him, as to admit him too near your Imperial Person. Constantine, believing the Allegations, ordered him to be beheaded.